• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Carb flu/illness

Is carb flu a real thing? Or am I just ill?
Carb flu is most certainly very, very real. (Fatigue, headaches, joint pain etc, etc...) If you think you have it, make sure you drink enough, and get something in you with plenty of electrolytes. Supplements, bone broth, coconut milk, stuff like that. When you start a low carb lifestyle, your body sheds a lot of water weight, because carbs retain water. When you pee for England, you also lose a lot of electrolytes, and your body tends to feel that rather keenly if it is an abrupt thing. Solved easily enough, and your body'll find an equilibrium after a bit, but it takes a little while.

Unless, of course, you picked up a virus, which could also kick you around. I don't have any way to tell, but if the feeling-like-a-dishrag/hurting-all-over/ye-gods-my-poor-head rings a bell... Quite likely, keto/carb flu.
 
Thank you. I'm so cold. Been shivering for 2 days. But head and face burning. Whole body aches. Super sleepy. Had gloves on, along with the heating and lots of layers but didn't help much. I can ride it out if it's keto flu, but some people say it isn't real so I wasn't sure if viral. Thanks
 
Hot and cold sounds more like covid or similar, than Keto flu. That doesn't do anything about your temp regulation, in my experience anyway... Keep fluids coming in, electrolytes are a good idea in any case, and please, take good care of yourself eh.
 
I really wasn't sure. I do have a slight cough, I've covid tested today and it's negative. I've had covid twice before (even tho Wass vaccinated!).. I feel worse than I did both times. Bonus is my bloods seem to be staying in 6s/7s over last few days which is a big change from before. That's why I wondered if keto/ carb flu. I'm drinking plenty, will take some electrolytes. Any recommendations? Mine have lots of glucose x
 
Main electrolytes are sodium and Potassium, both contained in low sodium salt, which you can get as brand Lo-Salt or own brand in Sainsburys and other supermarkets.
As has been said, reducing carbs means less water retention, which in turn means reduced electrolyte retention. So you may want to switch to low sodium salt and use it more than you did normal salt.

Another electrolyte is Magnesium, found in legumes, dark leafy veg, nuts, seeds, fish, poultry and meat.
 
Thank you. That's a great help!
 
Vegetable stock cubes can help as well.
 
re salt, I've had hyponatraemia, hypo=low natraemia = sodium chloride related, which is 99 % or so table salt.
Sodium is one of a range of electrolytes, the things we need to keep the body working. Potassium and magnesium also act as electrolytes. They are needed to make the heart and other organs work.

The low salt level cramps are not nice but neither is the water retention. Your electrolytes need to be tested regularly, but adding table salt to food may help. Husband and I decided as salt was unhealthy we would cut it out, our mistake! Lo-salt is not worth buying, just use small amounts of supermarket cheap table salt
With high blood pressure I have to watch my electrolytes, regular blood tests and pressure readings are needed.

Re Covid, I tested negative for months until the day I collapsed - with Covid. So much for the NHS testing kits. We've got coughs, sneezing, infected sinuses which may be a recent bug going round (south of England). It is not as bad as Covid so far, but exhausting for a couple of weeks. Temperature normal.
If you have Covid you are supposed to be offered antivirals, but Husband never got any and I have no idea what the hospital gave me. ( no its not on the discharge sheet)
So try and get a doctor to check you. Hope they sort things out soon so you can feel better. Carol
 
this is the only salt i have used for 40 years
 

Attachments

  • 4C92D04F-BE40-4341-9E32-CE5846C8FC94.jpeg
    1 MB · Views: 93
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn More.…