The Keto diet has grown in popularity, with more and more people opting for the low-carb diet to shed off unwanted kilos. However, some women are reporting unwanted side-effects after going on the Keto diet, including the Keto crotch: an intense, unpleasant odor coming from their vagina.
People have been warned of the “Keto flu”, “Keto diarrhea” and even “Keto breath” – all side-effects from the change in food you eat and the changes your body undergoes as it enters into ketosis, a process that takes place when your body produces ketone bodies – a fuel the liver produces from stored fat.
The keto flu, which is basically a bunch of flu-like symptoms that often appear at the beginning of the keto diet. People complain of headaches, fatigue, body aches, dizziness, and nausea. It’s like the “real” flu, but with a different cause. In general, you can expect the keto flu to last anywhere from 24 hours to up to two weeks, as your body adjusts to being in ketosis.
But, as if these side-effects are not enough: here comes the “Keto crotch.” Female users of the keto diet started posting about it years ago, writing how they have that “not-so-fresh feeling” and share that now they are on the keto diet, their vagina smells funny.
So, can this really happen?
Well, food can change the pH of the body. pH stands for potential of Hydrogen. It uses a number scale of zero to 14 to measure the amount of acid or alkaline of a substance. When this happens, the body will emit certain odors. The keto diet [may] change your vaginal pH, which alters your vaginal odor.
Registered dietitian nutritionist, Lisa De Fazio told Insider that people with a pH imbalance can develop irritation, odor, and infections such as bacterial vaginosis— the most common vaginal infection for menstruating people.
A vagina should have a pH level between 3.8 and 4.5, per De Fazio. This means that it is moderately acidic. De Fazio, however, is quick to point out that what constitutes a normal pH level can vary slightly based on your stage of life.
But a vagina with a high pH level — above 4.5 — provides the perfect environment for unhealthy bacteria to grow. It also puts you…
… at risk for certain infections.
Experts agree that if you notice you have a weird odor going on down there right after you go keto, you may want to give it a few days to see if it goes away.
But if the smell persists or you start to notice other symptoms like itchiness, burning, and abnormal discharge, it’s time to see your doctor. It’s entirely possible that you may have developed an infection or another gynecological issue at the same time as you went keto, and that it has nothing to do with your diet. Bottom line is, you need to get it looked at by a professional.
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