Memory Hack If you've been on the keto diet —even for only a few days—you probably know about the loose, watery stools that are a side effect of the keto diet Known as keto squirts,” these disturbing offshoots of the keto can occur when you least expect, often almost spontaneously and uncontrollable. The keto diet can be a pain in the butt. Cortisol is a hormone, released as a response to stress, that suppresses immune function, stimulates muscle catabolism and even encourages the storage of body fat, especially around the waist. This is a diet approach that works for many people, and here are 5 benefits of ketogenic diets that you may not be aware of.