Metabolism And Ketosis
Dr. Eades, If the body tends to resort to gluconeogenesis for glucose during a short-term carbohydrate deficit, are those who inconsistently reduce carb intake only messing things up by not effecting full blown ketosis? If the body will still prefer glucose as main energy source unless forced otherwise for at least a few days, is it absolutely necessary to completely transform metabolism for minimal muscle loss? Also, if alcohol is broken down into ketones and acetaldehyde, technically couldn’t you continue to drink during your diet or would the resulting gluconeogenesis inhibition from alcohol lead to blood glucose problems on top of the ketotic metabolism? Would your liver ever just be overwhelmed by all that action? I’m still in high school so hypothetical, of course haha… Sorry, lots of questions but I’m always so curious. Thank you so much for taking the time to inform the public. You’re my hero! P.S. Random question…what’s the difference between beta and gamma hydroxybutyric acids? It’s crazy how simple orientation can be the difference between a ketone and date rape drug…biochem is so cool! P.P.S. You should definitely post the details of that inner mitochondrial membrane transport. I’m curious how much energy expenditure we’re talkin there.. Keep doin your thing! Your Fan, Trey No, I don’t think people are messing up if they don’t get into full-blown ketosis. For short term low-carb dieting, the body turns to glycogen. Gluconeogenesis kicks in fairly quickly, though, and uses dietary protein – assuming there is plenty – before turning to muscle tissue for glucose substrate. And you have the Cori cycle kicking in and all sorts of things to spare muscle, so I wouldn’t worry about it. And you can continue to drink while low-carbing. Continue reading >>
Combine Nootropics & Ketosis For Peak Performance
Ketosis describes a metabolic state where the level of ketones in your bloodstream elevate and the body burns fat for energy. Ketosis may sound like a strange and exotic phenomenon, but it is quite natural - humans evolved to use fat as energy. Nowadays this seems weird because we are over-consumers of carbohydrate and live sedentary lifestyles. A state in which we are never short of a carb refuel. The rule of thumb for Nutritional Ketosis is that caloric intake is determined as follows: Carbohydrate (total, not “net”): less than 50 gm/day, but ideally closer to 30 gm/day Protein: up to 1 to 1.5 gm/kg, but ideally below about 120 gm/day Fat: to satiety People enter ketosis through some combination of intermittent fasting, endurance training, carbohydrate avoidance, increased fat consumption or ketone supplementation. Ketosis & Nootropics for Peak Mental Performance On some level, the brain-boosting power of ketosis is intuitive. In the evolutionary context, an organism without an abundance of energy sources had to be sharper and more focused to survive. I contend that ketosis can give people 'empty stomach intelligence.' The body burns stored fat for energy. This is good because excess stored fat is linked to reduced memory capacity and impaired learning. Ketosis returns the body to an optimal state. Just like a car getting a tune-up. During ketosis, the body relies on ketones (broken down fatty acid molecules) for energy throughout the body, including the brain. Think of this as switching the body's fuel from low-octane carbohydrate-based glucose to the high-octane fatty fuel it evolved to run on. Clinical studies have found that ketosis improves cognitive abilities like memory and reduces symptoms of Alzheimer's and epilepsy. Subjective reporting from n=1 biohacke Continue reading >>
Animal Models Of The Ketogenic Diet: What Have We Learned, What Can We Learn?
Abstract Despite its clinical use as a therapy for refractory epilepsy for more than 75 years, the ketogenic diet (KD) remains a therapy in search of an explanation. The mechanism of action of the KD is unclear and the optimal indications for its clinical use are incompletely defined. Animal models could help to elucidate these questions. Surprisingly, there have been very few animal studies of the KD, and those that have been performed are difficult to compare because of wide discrepancies in experimental methods. Earlier models concentrated on the effect of the KD on acute seizure threshold in normal (i.e. nonepileptic) animals. Recent studies are beginning to examine the longer term effects of the KD and its role in epileptogenesis. Some features of clinical experience have been replicated in animal models, including the role of ketosis, elevation of seizure threshold by both classic ketogenic and medium chain triglyceride diets, better effectiveness at younger ages, and rapid reversal of the seizure protective effect when the diet is discontinued. These parallels raise hope that pertinent clinical questions can be addressed in the more controlled setting of the research laboratory. As in the clinical arena, there has been a recent resurgence of interest in pursuing basic questions related to the ketogenic diet, using techniques of modern neuroscience. Experimental approaches such as brain slice neurophysiology, genetic models, dissection of metabolic pathways, and neurohistological techniques hold much promise in the effort to understand this intriguing alternative to standard anticonvulsants. Continue reading >>
High Fat, Low Carbs: A Ketogenic Diet May Be Key To Long Life
NEW YORK: Consuming a ketogenic diet -- which is high fat, low protein, and low carbohydrates -- may not only help in weight loss, but also increase longevity and improve physical strength, says a recent study. The study, conducted on mice models, showed a 13 per cent increase in median life span for the mice on a high fat versus high carbohydrate diet. "In humans, that would be seven to 10 years. But equally important, those mice retained quality of health in later life," said nutritionist Jon Ramsey from the University of California - Davis. In addition, the ketogenic diet increased memory and motor function (strength and coordination), and prevented an increase in age-related markers of inflammation. It also had an impact on the incidence of tumours as well, the researchers said. The older mice on the ketogenic diet had a better memory than the younger mice, which is really remarkable, the researchers said. According to the study, detailed in the journal Cell Metabolism, eating a ketogenic diet ramps up the production of the ketone body beta-hydroxybutyrate acid (BHB), which helps improve memory and increases lifespan. "This study indicates that a ketogenic diet can have a major impact on life and health span without major weight loss or restriction of intake. It also opens a new avenue for possible dietary interventions that have an impact on ageing," Ramsey said. For the study, mice were split into three groups: a regular rodent high-carb diet, a low carb/high fat diet, and a ketogenic diet (89-90 per cent of total calorie intake). The ultimate goal is to find a way for humans to benefit from BHBs without having to go on a restrictive diet, the researchers said. Continue reading >>
- Why High-Fat vs. Low-Fat Dairy May Be Better Suited for Those with Diabetes, Obesity, and Cardiovascular Disease
- The effect of a low-carbohydrate, ketogenic diet versus a low-glycemic index diet on glycemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus
- The Connection Between Insulin Resistance and the High-Carb, Low-Fat Diet
The Scoop On Keto
Ketogenic diets, sometimes referred to as “keto”, are currently riding a wave of popularity. This low-carbohydrate, moderate-protein, high-fat approach to nutrition has been credited with substantial weight loss, increased cognitive ability and mental focus, decreased hunger, and the reduction and/or resolution of symptoms related to many types of serious diseases. On most other nutritional plans, the body’s energy needs are fueled with carbohydrates. Fruits, starchy vegetables, grains, legumes and sugars are all sources of carbohydrates. Once consumed, these molecules – whether simple or complex – are broken down into individual molecules of glucose. The glucose enters the bloodstream and the hormone insulin shuttles it to cells requiring energy. This system works pretty well, until it stops working well. A variety of factors can break this system and lead to insulin resistance, metabolic dysfunction, pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes. A keto diet is designed to override the entire glucose-fueling system. One interesting component of a keto diet is that – when done properly – there is a specific and measurable biochemical change that happens in the body. After one to three days of eating very low carb with sufficient fat, a simple urinalysis test that can be done at home will begin to reveal the production of ketones. Ketones are to fat as glucose is to carbohydrates – the energy unit that can be used by the body to perform its many functions. The production of ketones indicates the body is becoming efficient at burning fat for fuel. This not only includes fat from the diet, but also the body’s own fat stores. Ketogenic diets are nothing new. Almost 100 years ago, the diet was used to effectively treat children with epilepsy – often reducing their se Continue reading >>
Any Other Animals In A State Of Ketosis
It's a good question - I think that we decided, from the little information available, that carnivorous cats have an upregulated gluconeogenesis pathway that would possibly meet their glucose needs without ketosis. I quite like Paul Jaminet's analysis (in his Perfect Health Diet Book) in which he shows that, at the intestine wall, all mammals digest very similar macro ratios (independent of what they actually put in their mouths): "It turns out that what differs among the animals is the composition of the digestive tract. Animals have evolved digestive tracts and livers to transform diverse food inputs into the uniform set of nutrients that all need. Herbivores have foregut organs such as rumens or hindgut chambers for fermenting carbohydrates, turning them into fats and volatile acids that can be used to manufacture fats. Carnivores have livers capable of turning protein into glucose and fat." "When we look past the digestive tract at what nutrients are actually delivered to the body, all mammals obtain a remarkably similar set of nutrients. By calories, mammalian diets are always composed of a majority, typically 50-75%, of saturated and monounsaturated fats (including the short-chain fatty acids produced by fermentation of fiber); a mix of carbohydrates and protein, usually totaling around 25-40%; and a modest amount of polyunsaturated fat, typically less than 10%. " Continue reading >>
The Truth About Ketosis & Low-carb Diets, Backed By Science
A lot of people are confused by the term “ketosis.” You may read that it is a “dangerous state” for the body, and it does sound abnormal to be “in ketosis.” But ketosis merely means that our bodies are using fat for energy. Ketones (also called ketone bodies) are molecules generated during fat metabolism, whether from the fat in the almonds you just ate or fat you were carrying around your middle. When our bodies are breaking down fat for energy, most of it gets converted to energy, but ketones are also produced as part of the process. When people eat less carbohydrates, their bodies turn to fat for energy, so it makes sense that more ketones are generated. Some of those ketones (acetoacetate and ß-hydroxybutyrate) are used for energy; the heart muscle and kidneys, for example, prefer ketones to glucose. Most cells, including the brain cells, are able to use ketones for at least part of their energy. Is ketosis a bad thing? There is an assumption that if a body is burning a lot of fat for energy, it must not be getting “enough” glucose. However, there is no indication, from studying people on reduced carbohydrate diets, that this is the case (though there is usually a short period of adjustment, less than a week, in most cases). It takes about 72 hours to burn up all of the reserve glycogen (sugar loads). Although it’s true that our bodies can’t break fat down directly into glucose (though, interestingly, they easily use glucose to make fat), our bodies can convert some of the protein we eat into glucose. Indeed, this works well for people who don’t tolerate a lot of sugar, because this conversion happens slowly so it doesn’t spike blood glucose. What is the danger of ketosis? It is important that if you are following a ketogenic nutritional pro Continue reading >>
Hunters Of Wild Game Can’t Remain In Ketosis
Below, I have another Duck Dodgers post for you, derived from a comment on a previous post. But first, you’ll recall a recent post; wherein, I made mention of Part 1 of a Catalyst episode on the gut microbiome: Australian Catalyst: Gut Reaction; It Signals The End of VLC and Ketogenic Diets For Everyone. Part 2 is now up and running. See what happens to the athlete’s insulin response after just a month on a high fiber diet. In other news, Tom Naughton, who has always been the kind of guy who can change his mind (evident even in how his views changed during his making of Fat Head), has now solidly come over to the The Dark Side. See: Reactions To Arguments About Ketosis. Alright, here’s Duck. ~~~ More nails in the coffin for those who think that it’s possible to stay ketogenic while consuming wild game. From: Energy Source, Protein Metabolism, and Hunter-Gatherer Subsistence Strategies Our concern is with periods of high lean meat (i.e., high protein) consumption, when carbohydrates and animal fat would have been scarce or unavailable to hunters and gatherers as sources of calories… …It should be pointed out, however, that the few minimum values that do exist for wild ungulate meat may nevertheless tend to underestimate somewhat the actual amount of fat available to hunter-gatherers in a carcass, because the values do not include subcutaneous and visceral fat deposits, fat in the bone marrow, and so forth. On the other hand, as will be discussed more fully below, many of these fat reserves may become largely or totally depleted during the winter and spring, bringing the available fat levels more in line with the values for meat alone… ……Second, hunter-gatherers may augment their supplies of storable fat through labor-intensive activities such as rend Continue reading >>
Ketogenic Diet: Lose Weight With Ketosis
If you’ve faced a health or weight loss plateau, you might have heard about the ketogenic diet. But what is ketosis? Going into ketosis, or a state of fat burning, isn’t complicated, but it takes motivation. It’s a way to burn stubborn fat and lose weight. Today we’ll explore questions like what is the ketogenic diet, what is ketosis and how does it work, what are keto foods, and the benefits and dangers involved in following a ketogenic diet plan. As a bonus: I’ll provide a 1 week ketogenic diet plan plus a complimentary workout plan. Together, they will help you burn stubborn fat. We try so hard to lose a few kilos or pounds, but most of the time we don’t manage to. Luckily, there is an easy way to turn the body into a fat burning machine: the ketogenic diet. Why the ketogenic diet? It’s commonly believed that consuming fewer calories will lead to weight loss. It looks something like this: Calories stored (or lost) = Calories consumed – Calories burned Following this equation, if we eat less, we’ll create a calorie deficit and in turn, use our stored fat . Assumably, we’ll lose weight. It seems easy to do. But, things go wrong. First, as many know from experience, eating less is torturous. Second, we often don’t lose weight with calorie restriction diets. Worse than that, we sometimes lose the weight and gain it back–and do damage to our metabolism in the process. Losing weight and gaining it back means a slower metabolism. This is because body fat storage is not just a matter of calories in and calories out. It is the result of millions of years of evolution. To understand what happens, we need to review some basic biochemistry. We know that an adult has: A glycogen (carbohydrate) reserve that lasts about 1 to 2 days of survival, maximum. Fat Continue reading >>
Is The Full Ketogenic Diet Bulletproof?
The word is getting out about ketogenic diets. Eating keto – getting about 75% of calories from fat, 20% from protein, and <5% from carbs – is a powerful way to shed body fat and sharpen your brain. Without access to glucose from carbs, your body turns to fat as its main fuel source. You begin to break fat down into ketones, little molecules that fuel your brain and curb hunger, and keep you lean while they do it. There’s been a lot of research on keto in the last few years. The science is starting to reveal just how powerful ketosis can be: It’s anti-inflammatory. Burning fat for fuel creates far less inflammation than burning sugar does [1], and ketones themselves turn off inflammatory pathways [2]. It builds a stronger, denser brain. Ketosis causes your brain to create more mitochondria, the powerhouses of your cells [3]. You can literally generate more energy when you strengthen your mitochondria, leaving you with excess willpower and a sharper mental state (shameless plug: for a full guide to building stronger mitochondria, check out Head Strong). It burns body fat. Ketones influence ghrelin and cholecystokinin (CCK), the hormones that control your hunger [4,5,6]. Hunger feels different when you’re in full ketosis – it fades from a pressing need to a background thought. In full keto it’s very easy to fast, and during that fast, your body is burning up your fat stores for energy. You can eat like a king (or queen). Bacon, grass-fed steak and butter, pastured eggs, olive oil, raw dairy (if you tolerate it and in moderation)…you can eat real, satisfying food on a ketogenic diet. Sounds pretty good, but don’t cut out all your carbs just yet. There are a couple possible downsides to keto, too. You may do better with a variation of keto, depending on yo Continue reading >>
Over A Decade Later
How fun is this, one of my college roommates was in town for work and we were able to meet up for a dinner. So fun! We hadn't seen each other for 11 years. Isn't she just the cutest!?!? Christel and Ashley joined us. It was hilarious, and fun, and I was again reminded of how lucky I am to have such a wonderful life :) Thank you for all of the uplifting comments on the blog, and the helpful hints! I should clarify a few things... 1. The majority of my days are on the restricted ketogenic diet. I have lost about six pounds because of it. Some days, on the weekends or if I'm just in the mood to eat more, I eat the generic ketogenic diet. It's very important to restrict my calories in order for the ketogenic diet to starve my brain tumor or alleviate my seizure problem, but in order for me to stay on the diet I have to allow myself days when I can eat as much ketogenic friendly foods as I want. That way I don't feel deprived. I have been in ketosis for almost two weeks now. I have not cheated, nor have I wanted to. Not yet anyway :). I keep my carbs lower than 20 grams per day. If you want more information, as Scott commented, check out Dr Thomas Seyfried one of the foremost researchers on the ketogenic diet, brain cancer, and seizures (along with other diseases). 2. I have been taking lion's mane mushroom (H. erinaceus) supplements in order to boost my t-cell growth and macrophages which together increase your body's ability to fight cancer. However, thank you for the anonymous comment lion's mane stimulating nerve growth factor (NGF), and the subsequent effect on tumor growth. That caused me to research further and learned some frightening things. The great thing about supplements is that there are many options to increase my immune system, and after further research I wi Continue reading >>
A Beginners Guide To The Ketogenic Diet
There is growing evidence that our society’s generally carb-heavy diet isn’t the healthiest option for most of us. Luckily, there is a growing list of alternative lifestyle options gaining popularity. Enter the ketogenic diet. Embarking on the journey of switching your body from burning carbs to burning fat is one with proven benefits, according to Time, such as reducing appetite, spur weight loss and improve markers of heart disease. Low carb, high fat diets have been popular for some time, but the ketogenic diet is by far the most restrictive. A true ketogenic limits not only carb intake, but protein intake as well, asking the follower to up their fat intake significantly. With our typical diet, our bodies normally burn carbs that have turned into glucose for energy. When you follow the ketogenic diet, your body goes into a state of ketosis; that is, your body switches from burning glucose to burning fat. Ketogenic diets are basically a form of fasting, in which your body burns fat instead of storing it, oftentimes resulting in weight loss. Depending on your height, weight, and amount of physical activity, ketosis can last from 3 days to a week as your body begins to burn fat rather than glucose. My partner and I decided to try the ketogenic diet after being referred to it by a friend. During the first week, my partner went through ketosis in about three days, and he lost eight pounds. I took a little longer to make the switch, and experienced the full spectrum of side effects that come from manually switching your body’s fuel: hunger, headaches, fatigue and moodiness. After going through ketosis, I had more energy than ever, needed less sleep, and never craved bread or sugar -- two of my biggest vices. (One caveat: I missed beer. A lot.) If you’re curious abo Continue reading >>
Ep. 59 - Ketogenic Diet: What It Is And How It Works
We're here to UNcomplicate nutrition, fitness & life-hacking This is the episode you've been waiting for... Over the last few weeks, Nat & Dhani have been making references to a "Diet" that is based on low carb, no refined sugars and really really high-quality sources of fat & protein. On Episode #5 of UPLOADED, we go in-depth on the ketogenic diet and discuss who should do it and why. In the episode we'll cover... How your body makes energy out of stored fat, and why it the best source of fuel How can ketosis help you think clearer and be less hungry The best kinds of fat and how can actually lose bodyfat by EATING MORE FAT How ketosis can help you become a better athlete How to start your own ketogenic experiment PLUS... We announce the winner of the last 1-Week Challenge: #SugarSquad We set-up the next 1-Week Challenge: #GreenCleanLean THE NEW 1-WEEK CHALLENGE Kermit was wrong - it’s SO easy to be green!! We are throwing down the gauntlet to our community to either eat or drink something green EVERY day for (or as part of) breakfast for one week. The Challenge starts Monday Feb 22nd. More details in the podcast. Post pics on Instagram - win prizes….! Must use the following hashtags & accounts to be eligible: #greencleanlean #inthis2gether @academyoflions @nathalieniddam Continue reading >>
A Comprehensive Guide To The Vegan Ketogenic Diet
Animal suffering, climate change, and health are three vitally important issues that can all be addressed with one solution — the vegan diet. At least, this is the idea that many health documentaries promote, however, the truth is much more nuanced. For example, some people have much better health when they go low-carb and eat some animal products, while others feel much better on a high-carb vegan diet. A vegan diet is not the best diet for every health issue either. For example, people with conditions like obesity, type 2 diabetes, type 1 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and epilepsy can be helped tremendously by the ketogenic diet, while a vegan diet doesn’t help nearly as much. Does this mean that vegans should forget about ethical concerns and swallow down animal products like a supplement? Not at all. So, what do you are supposed to do if a moderate to high-carb vegan diet doesn’t work for you and a standard ketogenic diet may be what you need, but it contains too many animal products? Combine the two. An Overview of The Vegan Ketogenic Diet The Vegan ketogenic diet is one of the most restrictive diets, but it is possible to pull it off while maintaining your sanity, decreasing animal suffering, and improving your health. To implement the diet correctly, you must follow these rules: Limit your total carbohydrate consumption to 35 grams or less per day. Eliminate all meat, fish, and other animal products from your diet. Get at least 70% of your calories from plant-based fats. Consume around 25% of your calories from plant-based proteins. Supplement with nutrients that you may not be getting enough of like vitamins D3, B12, & B6, DHA & EPA, iron, zinc, and taurine. Not a fan of math? Not sure how much of each macronutrient you need? Use Continue reading >>
Faq's
Who should do a ketogenic diet? Let's be clear about one thing: there is no one way of eating that is appropriate for every person. Even the American Dietetics Association now admits that it is essential to take an individualized approach to formulating nutrition plans. So the answer to this question simply is: anyone who is curious to see what effect a low carbohydrate/high fat diet has on their body. Every body is different, and the only way to find out how your body functions and feels burning fatty acids for fuel (ketones) is to actually put yourself into ketosis. You can do this DIY (and we’ll help you, please see our blog, social media pages and be sure to download our free keto 101 guide) OR, if you lack the time or skills to shop and prepare keto food from scratch, then we’ve got great products for you! What if I’m pregnant or breast-feeding? Very low carbohydrate diets are not recommended for pregnant or breast-feeding women. We advise pregnant or breast-feeding women to consult with their doctor concerning all matters to do with nutrition; especially if it involves making major changes to your lifestyle. What if I’m diabetic? Similarly, we must stress that Ketologie products are not intended to treat any medical condition, and that you should consult with your (hopefully up with the play), doctor. Having said that, here are some quotes that may be of interest to anyone who is curious about LCHF diets and Type 2 diabetes: “For people with diabetes or metabolic syndrome, or even those who are overweight, the data are clear. Total carbohydrate restriction is the most effective therapy, more effective than other diets and more effective than most drugs.” Dr. Richard Feinman, Biochemist and author of The World Turned Upside Down: the second low-carbohyd Continue reading >>
