Is Keto Diet Halal or Haram? Top 7 Questions Answered
18/05/2020
On a general scale Keto diet is not haram. There are various diet plans that have become popular around the world. Keto, paleo, Atkins, whole 30, zero carb are some of them and out of these diet plans Keto diet is arguably the most famous among them.
As a Muslim it could cause doubts of whether this is accordance with Islam or not. In this article I would like to answer the top ten questions specifically relating to Keto diet in the light of the Quran and the authentic hadiths.
1. What is Actually Keto Diet
Ketogenic or Keto diet is a diet plan with low carbohydrates. The plan from a Keto diet is to cut the carbohydrates from a diet and to get more calories from protein and fat to the body. Keto diet is used medically to treat and control epilepsy in children. People get in to a Ketogenic diet to control the carbohydrate intake in to the body which would convert in to sugar which is a main concern on people with diabetes. A Keto diet typically has the following foods,
☆ Sea foods
☆ Avocado
☆ Cheese
☆ Meat and poultry products
☆ Lemons
☆ Raspberries
☆ Vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, cucumber etc.
☆ Tomatoes
☆ Peanuts and peanut butter
Keto is generally good for people with diabetes, childhood or adult epilepsy, cholesterol and high blood pressure.
2. Is Keto Diet Halal?
Keto diet is halal in Islam and if a Muslim wants to stay healthy and fit he or she can make use of a Ketogenic plan. For something to be haram there needs to be clear textual evidence to prove that it is haram and as far as the Quran and the sunnah is concerned there is nothing pointing to be haram in a Keto meal. As long as the Keto diet does not cause any harm to the body, it is halal to follow such a diet. Ubadah ibn al-Samit (rali) reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, issued a decree, “Do not cause harm or return harm.”
(Ibn Majah-graded sahih by Albani)
3. Are There any Haram Foods in a Keto Meal?
A Keto diet is only a lifestyle choice of an individual and should not be taken too seriously. You do not need a Keto diet plan to be healthy. Like every other diet plan there are haram and halal mixed in a Keto diet as well. Intoxicants and pork are a part of a Keto diet but you can simply avoid them and eat all the others which are halal.
4. Is Keto Diet Harmful?
Keto diet has negative side effects as well. People who follow a Ketogenic diet tend to develop ketosis due to the low carbohydrates in the food. Molecules called ketones build up in the blood stream and it causes low blood sugar levels and as a result of this the body uses the fat stored in the body as energy. Ketosis helps people reduce their weight but it could be dangerous for people having diabetes because it causes a condition called ketoacidosis which makes the blood become too acidic as a result of the body burning fat in the and it could cause serious illnesses such as kidney failure, liver and even brain damage. Keto diet could cause constipation in the body due to not getting the nutrients needed to the body and because Keto diets have high saturated fat this could cause heart disease. Keto diet is good for people who are overweight and need to reduce their body weight as published in a study (Link https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2716748/). The study also found that a Ketogenic diet can help people with bipolar illnesses. The research said the following,
"In some cases, a Ketogenic diet is far better than modern anticonvulsants. Recently, it has been shown that a Ketogenic diet is a safe potential alternative to other existing therapies for infantile spasms. It was further shown that a Ketogenic diet could act as a mood stabilizer in bipolar illness"
(Long-term effects of a Ketogenic diet in obese patients-Hussein M Dashti, MD PhD FICS FACS, Thazhumpal C Mathew, MSc PhD FRCPath, [...], and Naji S Al-Zaid, BSc PhD-Link-https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2716748/#!po=36.2903
A research found that Keto diet can cause cardiovascular disease. The research titled "Gut Microbiota Metabolites and Risk of Major Adverse Cardiovascular Disease Events and Death: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis of Prospective Studies" (Link-https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.116.004947) found that trimethylamine-N-oxide which is an organic compound in the gut can increase a person's risk of cardiovascular disease by 62%. Trimethylamine-N-oxide increases in the body when whole grains are not eaten and people following paleo or Keto diets often skip whole grains and this can cause the increase of trimethylamine-N-oxide. Keto diet can also cause kidney stones, diarrhoea and flu like symptoms called Keto flue.
5. Is Keto Diet Scientific?
Keto diet helps fight epilepsy especially in children. An article published in healthline.com dated July 30, 2018 stated that over twenty research studies have found that a Ketogenic diet can fight seizures.(Link to article-https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/ketogenic-diet-101)
Another study found the following,
"In some cases, a ketogenic diet is far better than modern anticonvulsants. Recently, it has been shown that a ketogenic diet is a safe potential alternative to other existing therapies for infantile spasms. It was further shown that a ketogenic diet could act as a mood stabilizer in bipolar illness"
(Long-term effects of a ketogenic diet in obese patients-Hussein M Dashti, MD PhD FICS FACS, Thazhumpal C Mathew, MSc PhD FRCPath, [...], and Naji S Al-Zaid, BSc PhD-Link-https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2716748/#!po=36.2903
6. What Could Make Keto Haram for a Muslim?
Islam encourages a Muslim to eat what is healthy. All the foods that are halal are healthy in Islam and all that is haram are harmful to the body. Allah(swt) says in the Quran as follows,
"This day (all) the good things are allowed to you; and the food of those who have been given the Book is lawful for you and your food is lawful for them; and the chaste from among the believing women and the chaste from among those who have been given the Book before you (are lawful for you); when you have given them their dowries, taking (them) in marriage, not fornicating nor taking them for paramours in secret; and whoever denies faith, his work indeed is of no account, and in the hereafter he shall be one of the losers. "
(Al-Quran-5:5)
Keto diet although is generally halal can still become haram if it causes any harm to a Muslim. Ubadah ibn al-Samit (rali) reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, issued a decree, “Do not cause harm or return harm.”
(Ibn Majah-graded sahih by Albani)
Islam forbids harming yourself or others and there are certain diet strategies in a Keto diet that could cause serious illnesses if followed. Keto diet can work for one person and harm another depending on the individual. If you have any underline conditions, you should first consult a competent doctor or dietician and after a full body check-up let the doctor decide whether the diet is good for you or not. If you are a healthy person you should make sure that certain foods cannot be taken when following a Keto plan such as rice, whole grain or bread and if you fear that not taking certain foods could harm your body then skip the Keto diet fully or adjust it to suite your needs.
The other reason a Keto diet could turn haram is the inclusion of pork or intoxicants and if the diet plan is emphasizing on taking such haram foods and beverages then don’t take it. The best food is what Islam has made halal and if Keto or any other diet plan is prohibiting it then don't follow the plan. Another reason that is haram is to think that Keto diet is an obligation or criticizing or forbidding any foods which Islam has made halal.
Anas (Rali) reported that some of the Companions of Allah's Apostle (Sal) asked his (the Prophet's) wives about the acts that he performed in private. Someone among them (among his Companions) said:
"I will not marry women; someone among them said: I will not eat meat; and someone among them said: I will not lie down in bed. He (the Holy Prophet) praised Allah and glorified Him, and said: What has happened to these people that they say so and so, whereas I observe prayer and sleep too; I observe fast and suspend observing them; I marry women also? And he who turns away from my Sunnah, he has no relation with me"
(Sahih Muslim)
Keto diet is like vegetarianism and is halal as long as it is a personal choice but prohibiting what Allah (swt) has made as halal is totally haram. No one has the right to forbid what Allah (swt) has made as halal.
7. Is There a Thing Called Keto Flu?
Keto flu is a flu that is experienced by some people who follow a strict Keto diet. The low carbohydrate diet can take some time for the body to adopt and due to the low carb diet the sugar intake is low and the body will start taking energy from the fat in the body. Sugar is essential for body strength and the brain and when the body has no other choice but to gain energy through the fat in the body, this causes the following symptoms in some people,
One of the best ways to ease these symptoms is to drink plenty of water and get a lot of sleep.
Conclusion
Keto diet is a strict to moderate diet plan depending on the person's choice and needs and in Islam it is not generally haram because a ketogenic diet has many benefits such as lowering obesity and seizures. But this diet also has harmful side effects and such harm causing elements should not be followed. The best diet is what is allowed in the Quran and the authentic Sunnah and a Keto diet should not be followed in a way that causes harm to the individual. The Keto plan is only a personal choice and should not be used as a way to forbid something made halal in Islam or to degrade the teachings of Islam.
C.J Ahmed
On a general scale Keto diet is not haram. There are various diet plans that have become popular around the world. Keto, paleo, Atkins, whole 30, zero carb are some of them and out of these diet plans Keto diet is arguably the most famous among them.
As a Muslim it could cause doubts of whether this is accordance with Islam or not. In this article I would like to answer the top ten questions specifically relating to Keto diet in the light of the Quran and the authentic hadiths.
1. What is Actually Keto Diet
Ketogenic or Keto diet is a diet plan with low carbohydrates. The plan from a Keto diet is to cut the carbohydrates from a diet and to get more calories from protein and fat to the body. Keto diet is used medically to treat and control epilepsy in children. People get in to a Ketogenic diet to control the carbohydrate intake in to the body which would convert in to sugar which is a main concern on people with diabetes. A Keto diet typically has the following foods,
☆ Sea foods
☆ Avocado
☆ Cheese
☆ Meat and poultry products
☆ Lemons
☆ Raspberries
☆ Vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, cucumber etc.
☆ Tomatoes
☆ Peanuts and peanut butter
Keto is generally good for people with diabetes, childhood or adult epilepsy, cholesterol and high blood pressure.
2. Is Keto Diet Halal?
Keto diet is halal in Islam and if a Muslim wants to stay healthy and fit he or she can make use of a Ketogenic plan. For something to be haram there needs to be clear textual evidence to prove that it is haram and as far as the Quran and the sunnah is concerned there is nothing pointing to be haram in a Keto meal. As long as the Keto diet does not cause any harm to the body, it is halal to follow such a diet. Ubadah ibn al-Samit (rali) reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, issued a decree, “Do not cause harm or return harm.”
(Ibn Majah-graded sahih by Albani)
3. Are There any Haram Foods in a Keto Meal?
A Keto diet is only a lifestyle choice of an individual and should not be taken too seriously. You do not need a Keto diet plan to be healthy. Like every other diet plan there are haram and halal mixed in a Keto diet as well. Intoxicants and pork are a part of a Keto diet but you can simply avoid them and eat all the others which are halal.
4. Is Keto Diet Harmful?
Keto diet has negative side effects as well. People who follow a Ketogenic diet tend to develop ketosis due to the low carbohydrates in the food. Molecules called ketones build up in the blood stream and it causes low blood sugar levels and as a result of this the body uses the fat stored in the body as energy. Ketosis helps people reduce their weight but it could be dangerous for people having diabetes because it causes a condition called ketoacidosis which makes the blood become too acidic as a result of the body burning fat in the and it could cause serious illnesses such as kidney failure, liver and even brain damage. Keto diet could cause constipation in the body due to not getting the nutrients needed to the body and because Keto diets have high saturated fat this could cause heart disease. Keto diet is good for people who are overweight and need to reduce their body weight as published in a study (Link https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2716748/). The study also found that a Ketogenic diet can help people with bipolar illnesses. The research said the following,
"In some cases, a Ketogenic diet is far better than modern anticonvulsants. Recently, it has been shown that a Ketogenic diet is a safe potential alternative to other existing therapies for infantile spasms. It was further shown that a Ketogenic diet could act as a mood stabilizer in bipolar illness"
(Long-term effects of a Ketogenic diet in obese patients-Hussein M Dashti, MD PhD FICS FACS, Thazhumpal C Mathew, MSc PhD FRCPath, [...], and Naji S Al-Zaid, BSc PhD-Link-https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2716748/#!po=36.2903
A research found that Keto diet can cause cardiovascular disease. The research titled "Gut Microbiota Metabolites and Risk of Major Adverse Cardiovascular Disease Events and Death: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis of Prospective Studies" (Link-https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.116.004947) found that trimethylamine-N-oxide which is an organic compound in the gut can increase a person's risk of cardiovascular disease by 62%. Trimethylamine-N-oxide increases in the body when whole grains are not eaten and people following paleo or Keto diets often skip whole grains and this can cause the increase of trimethylamine-N-oxide. Keto diet can also cause kidney stones, diarrhoea and flu like symptoms called Keto flue.
5. Is Keto Diet Scientific?
Keto diet helps fight epilepsy especially in children. An article published in healthline.com dated July 30, 2018 stated that over twenty research studies have found that a Ketogenic diet can fight seizures.(Link to article-https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/ketogenic-diet-101)
Another study found the following,
"In some cases, a ketogenic diet is far better than modern anticonvulsants. Recently, it has been shown that a ketogenic diet is a safe potential alternative to other existing therapies for infantile spasms. It was further shown that a ketogenic diet could act as a mood stabilizer in bipolar illness"
(Long-term effects of a ketogenic diet in obese patients-Hussein M Dashti, MD PhD FICS FACS, Thazhumpal C Mathew, MSc PhD FRCPath, [...], and Naji S Al-Zaid, BSc PhD-Link-https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2716748/#!po=36.2903
6. What Could Make Keto Haram for a Muslim?
Islam encourages a Muslim to eat what is healthy. All the foods that are halal are healthy in Islam and all that is haram are harmful to the body. Allah(swt) says in the Quran as follows,
"This day (all) the good things are allowed to you; and the food of those who have been given the Book is lawful for you and your food is lawful for them; and the chaste from among the believing women and the chaste from among those who have been given the Book before you (are lawful for you); when you have given them their dowries, taking (them) in marriage, not fornicating nor taking them for paramours in secret; and whoever denies faith, his work indeed is of no account, and in the hereafter he shall be one of the losers. "
(Al-Quran-5:5)
Keto diet although is generally halal can still become haram if it causes any harm to a Muslim. Ubadah ibn al-Samit (rali) reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, issued a decree, “Do not cause harm or return harm.”
(Ibn Majah-graded sahih by Albani)
Islam forbids harming yourself or others and there are certain diet strategies in a Keto diet that could cause serious illnesses if followed. Keto diet can work for one person and harm another depending on the individual. If you have any underline conditions, you should first consult a competent doctor or dietician and after a full body check-up let the doctor decide whether the diet is good for you or not. If you are a healthy person you should make sure that certain foods cannot be taken when following a Keto plan such as rice, whole grain or bread and if you fear that not taking certain foods could harm your body then skip the Keto diet fully or adjust it to suite your needs.
The other reason a Keto diet could turn haram is the inclusion of pork or intoxicants and if the diet plan is emphasizing on taking such haram foods and beverages then don’t take it. The best food is what Islam has made halal and if Keto or any other diet plan is prohibiting it then don't follow the plan. Another reason that is haram is to think that Keto diet is an obligation or criticizing or forbidding any foods which Islam has made halal.
Anas (Rali) reported that some of the Companions of Allah's Apostle (Sal) asked his (the Prophet's) wives about the acts that he performed in private. Someone among them (among his Companions) said:
"I will not marry women; someone among them said: I will not eat meat; and someone among them said: I will not lie down in bed. He (the Holy Prophet) praised Allah and glorified Him, and said: What has happened to these people that they say so and so, whereas I observe prayer and sleep too; I observe fast and suspend observing them; I marry women also? And he who turns away from my Sunnah, he has no relation with me"
(Sahih Muslim)
Keto diet is like vegetarianism and is halal as long as it is a personal choice but prohibiting what Allah (swt) has made as halal is totally haram. No one has the right to forbid what Allah (swt) has made as halal.
7. Is There a Thing Called Keto Flu?
Keto flu is a flu that is experienced by some people who follow a strict Keto diet. The low carbohydrate diet can take some time for the body to adopt and due to the low carb diet the sugar intake is low and the body will start taking energy from the fat in the body. Sugar is essential for body strength and the brain and when the body has no other choice but to gain energy through the fat in the body, this causes the following symptoms in some people,
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Constipation
- Diarrheal
- Headache
- Irritability
- Weakness
- Muscle cramps
- Dizziness
- Poor concentration etc.
One of the best ways to ease these symptoms is to drink plenty of water and get a lot of sleep.
Conclusion
Keto diet is a strict to moderate diet plan depending on the person's choice and needs and in Islam it is not generally haram because a ketogenic diet has many benefits such as lowering obesity and seizures. But this diet also has harmful side effects and such harm causing elements should not be followed. The best diet is what is allowed in the Quran and the authentic Sunnah and a Keto diet should not be followed in a way that causes harm to the individual. The Keto plan is only a personal choice and should not be used as a way to forbid something made halal in Islam or to degrade the teachings of Islam.
C.J Ahmed