What Is Keto Flu ?
So What is Keto Flu Anyways!? I posted this What is Keto Flu article below back in the summer of 2013 when I had no idea what I was doing or what keto flu was. All I knew is that I was sick as a dog! I’ve learned so much since then and so many people manage to find this article, so I thought I should update it with the solutions that work! The Keto flu is also called Ketosis Flu, Ketogenic Flu, Induction Flu and Carb Flu depending on what groups you hang out in. It normally is what happens after your first couple of days without carbs. Not to every single person, but most people go through some sort of carb withdrawal and/or carb detox. What actually causes the Keto Flu Symptoms? Keto flu happens when our bodies shift from glucose or sugar burning mode to fat burning mode. It is basically an electrolyte imbalance. On a keto diet we need more magnesium, potassium and sodium. Luckily, this is a pretty easy problem to solve and I wish I had known about this 3 years ago! Can You Stop Keto Flu ? You know, for some of us, the keto flu is something we just have to go through for a few days. Think of it as a detox because bottom line, that is what is happening. You are detoxing from sugar, carbs, wheat, all those things that are holding you back from optimal health. But even though you likely can’t stop keto flu, you sure can minimize the symptoms! Drink lots of salty chicken broth. Use a magnesium supplement. You will be amazed at how helpful this will be! I recommend using Lo Salt or any similar blend that has potassium and sodium. My other go to remedy is a nightly drink of Calm. This is a magnesium drink that I swear by and I still use it almost every night. Not only does Calm prevent leg cramps but it also keeps me regular, which can be an issue for low carbers. It is Continue reading >>
Ketogenic Diets For Psychiatric Disorders: A New 2017 Review
If you have a brain, you need to know about ketogenic diets. The fact that these specially-formulated low-carbohydrate diets have the power to stop seizures in their tracks is concrete evidence that food has a tremendous impact on brain chemistry and should inspire curiosity about how they work. I first became interested in ketogenic diets as a potential treatment for bipolar mood disorders, given the many similarities between epilepsy and bipolar disorder. Ketogenic diets have been around for about 100 years, and have proved to be invaluable tools in the treatment of stubborn neurological conditions, most notably epilepsy. They have also shown promise in the management of other brain-based disorders such as Parkinson’s Disease, ALS, Traumatic Brain Injury, Multiple Sclerosis, and chronic headaches, as well as in metabolic disorders like obesity, cancer, and type 2 diabetes. But where does the science currently stand on the ketogenic diet and psychiatric disorders like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer’s Disease? How many human studies do we have, and what do they tell us? If you are struggling with mood, attention, or memory problems, should you try a ketogenic diet? If you are a clinician, should you recommend a ketogenic diet to your patients? A recent review article “The Current Status of the Ketogenic Diet in Psychiatry” by researchers at the University of Tasmania in Australia [Bostock et al 2017 Front Psychiatry 20(8)] brings us nicely up to date on all things ketogenic and mental health. I summarize the paper below and offer some thoughts and suggestions of my own. [Full disclosure: I am a psychiatrist who studies nutrition and eats a ketogenic diet.] First, some basics for those of you who are unfamiliar with these special diets. Definition Continue reading >>
How To Quit Weed Without Withdrawals Or Sleepless Nights
Plus: Natural Marijuana Detox At Home Nice Click… Why? Simple… I’m about to share with you the best strategy to help you quit weed Plus, you’ll also learn some modern techniques now available to you Because if you’re anything like I was… You’ve tried to quit weed before (honestly) – and you’ve still failed. You probably already know there isn’t much help out there for us weed smokers… …and the longer you keep smoking pot, the harder it is to quit: So What’s The Good News? You’ve just discovered a solution that has helped over 10,000 people quit weed. This guide helps weed smokers go from stoned to 100% clean in both body and mind… Discover The 2 CRITICAL REASONS Many Regular Smokers Trying To Quit Weed Fail Within 2 Weeks 1) STRONGER MARIJUANA The active ingredient in marijuana (and the reason you smoke weed) is THC and THC content in the weed you smoke is rising all the time! Weed grown in 2017 is twice as strong as marijuana grown just 7 years ago. It isn’t up for debate – weed is now a much harder drug. This is often overlooked – and many people that smoke weed regularly (or for a long time) are now experiencing serious problems when they try to quit smoking pot. Every regular weed smoker already knows this… …but let’s talk about the main reason you have trouble quitting weed: 2) NO MARIJUANA DETOX It’s crazy, but most people trying to quit weed do nothing to help detoxify. Detox is more important in marijuana than in any other drug… Marijuana detox is becoming more popular for people quitting weed because the chemicals in weed have an ability to stay in your body for a long time. Detox designed for marijuana will flush your system of built up toxins which helps you quit weed. This can also help stop cravings to smoke wee Continue reading >>
Ketosis – Advantaged Or Misunderstood State? (part Ii)
When I wrote part I of this post, I naively assumed this would only be a two-part series. However, so many great questions and comments emerged from the discussion that I realize it’s worth spending much more time on this important and misunderstood topic. In terms of setting expectations, I suspect this series will require at least four parts, after which I hope to get back to finishing up The Straight Dope on Cholesterol series. So, back to the topic at hand…. (You may want to read or maybe reread part I for a biochemistry refresher before diving into part II.) Is there a “metabolic advantage” to being in ketosis? Few topics in the nutrition blogosphere generate so much vitriolic rhetoric as this one, and for reasons I can’t understand. I do suspect part of the issue is that folks don’t understand the actual question. I’ve used the term “metabolic advantage” because that’s so often what folks write, but I’m not sure it has a uniform meaning, which may be part of the debate. I think what folks mean when they argue about this topic is fat partitioning, but that’s my guess. To clarify the macro question, I’ve broken the question down into more well-defined chunks. Does ketosis increase energy expenditure? I am pretty sure when the average person argues for or against ketosis having a “metabolic advantage” what they are really arguing is whether or not, calorie-for-calorie, a person in ketosis has a higher resting energy expenditure. In other words, does a person in ketosis expend more energy than a person not in ketosis because of the caloric composition of what they consume/ingest? Let me save you a lot of time and concern by offering you the answer: The question has not been addressed sufficiently in a properly controlled trial and, at bes Continue reading >>
53 Effective Ways To Fall And Stay Asleep (even For The Worst Insomniac)
I used to have terrible insomnia, but after overcoming HPA axis activation and excessive inflammation, I now sleep great. I have also helped over 1,000 clients, over 80% of which have sleep issues. Check out my new book Biohacking Insomnia for a practical and comprehensive guide to overcoming insomnia and poor sleep quality. Contents Approximately 30% of the general population suffers from insomnia. According to the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), almost six out of ten Americans report having insomnia and sleep problems at least a few nights a week (R). I used to have terrible insomnia. I realize now that it was caused by HPA activation as a result of inflammation. This would derange my circadian rhythm and I’d make it worse by staying up late often. I also had general anxiety about life and this would keep me up as well. I’ve been sleep-hacking for years and this list has been the product of years of experimentation. I don’t utilize all of these tools simply because I don’t need to anymore. But I have them if need be. I try to always do the minimum that is effective. I have not seen anyone implement these tips and still not be able to fall asleep. There are two main types of sleep that are responsible for the vast majority of cognitive and health benefits of sleep. These are slow wave and REM sleep. Combined they make up 40-45% of sleep. Slow Wave Sleep is the part of your sleep that is known as deep sleep. It’s also called Delta wave sleep or stage 3 sleep because it’s the third stage of non-REM sleep. It makes up about 20% of total sleep time (R). Slow-wave sleep is considered important to consolidate new memories. Slow-wave sleep improves episodic, memory (R). The primary function of slow-wave sleep may be to allow the brain to recover from its daily ac Continue reading >>
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10 Signs And Symptoms That You're In Ketosis
The ketogenic diet is a popular, effective way to lose weight and improve health. When followed correctly, this low-carb, high-fat diet will raise blood ketone levels. These provide a new fuel source for your cells, and cause most of the unique health benefits of this diet (1, 2, 3). On a ketogenic diet, your body undergoes many biological adaptions, including a reduction in insulin and increased fat breakdown. When this happens, your liver starts producing large amounts of ketones to supply energy for your brain. However, it can often be hard to know whether you're "in ketosis" or not. Here are 10 common signs and symptoms of ketosis, both positive and negative. People often report bad breath once they reach full ketosis. It's actually a common side effect. Many people on ketogenic diets and similar diets, such as the Atkins diet, report that their breath takes on a fruity smell. This is caused by elevated ketone levels. The specific culprit is acetone, a ketone that exits the body in your urine and breath (4). While this breath may be less than ideal for your social life, it can be a positive sign for your diet. Many ketogenic dieters brush their teeth several times per day, or use sugar-free gum to solve the issue. If you're using gum or other alternatives like sugar-free drinks, check the label for carbs. These may raise your blood sugar levels and reduce ketone levels. The bad breath usually goes away after some time on the diet. It is not a permanent thing. The ketone acetone is partly expelled via your breath, which can cause bad or fruity-smelling breath on a ketogenic diet. Ketogenic diets, along with normal low-carb diets, are highly effective for losing weight (5, 6). As dozens of weight loss studies have shown, you will likely experience both short- and long Continue reading >>
A Never-ending List Of Keto Tips + Tricks (add Yours!)
I’m going to start this list of keto tips I’ve discovered from my own keto diet adventures, but I’d love for you to jump in and add your tips and tricks! I’ll also keep adding to the list as I discover new things. Ghee is the shit. I mean, butter is awesome, but ghee is amazing, especially if you throw it on steak. Take Omega-3! Seriously! You need to have more Omega 3 in your system than Omega-6 (all those fats you are consuming) otherwise all that oil and stuff will do you harm. Don’t drink alcohol unless you’re having a cheat day, because it literally stops your weight loss. Cream cheese is not your friend, to make anything half decent you need a ton of it and it usually has a decent amount of carbs. If you whisk up heavy cream and peanut butter (I like Teddie Flax PB) you can use less peanut butter to make more and create a creamy delicious mousse we like to call “Peanut Butter delight” around here – add a little stevia if you want! Lemon water is awesome (helps your ph which gets screwy on keto and makes you want to drink more). I LOVE True Lemon packets. There are naturally low-carb dark chocolate chips out there that’ll solve any sweet craving. Cast iron pans will make all of your meat taste better. Toast coconut flakes to make keto cereal! Land O’ Lakes makes a whipped cream that’s sugar-free because it’s made with heavy cream. It has zero carbs and it’s amazing. Cool Whip also makes a heavy cream version that’s super low carb too, even lower than their sugar-free tub. Anything that’s “light” or “sugar free” is usually still full of carbs, sometimes more than the original one. Don’t waste your time with low-fat anything, you need to have the highest percentage of fat in your diet, versus protein and carbohydrates otherwi Continue reading >>
Does The Ketogenic Diet Cure Candida? The Ketosis-candida-mercury Link
You’ve been on the Ketogenic Diet for a while now and you’ve been promised weight loss, more energy, clearer head, better sleep or possibly even ascension? But instead you got some or all of the following? weight gain stiff neck fatigue brain fog heart palpitations head pressure burning sensation in the mouth insatiable thirst impaired breathing / coughing / shortness of breath headaches nausea stiff joints muscle stiffness depression insomnia rash bloated, painful intestines constipation or diarrhea white coated tongue phlegm or mucus or the feeling of having a “frog” in your throat just overall feeling more miserable But you aren’t willing to give up on the diet just yet because you were told all those negative symptoms you’ve started to experience were due to your body adjusting from a sugar to a fat burning metabolism? Or that your mtDNA was being repaired? That you just need to stick through it, or drink more water or take a few supplements? That in order to get well you have to get sick first? That the insomnia really is you having more energy and hence needing less sleep? And yet it’s been weeks, months, or more than a year but you still experience those symptoms and you’re not really feeling well and – surprisingly – you have actually GAINED some weight?! If so, then it might be time to consider that the Ketogenic Diet is actually making you sick. WHAAAAAT??!! How could that be? You ask. And: Who am I to suggest such blasphemy? I’m a former Keto Fanatic, someone who had been on the Ketogenic Diet for over 1 year until I realized that ketosis was wrecking havoc with my body, and now I’m here to tell you all about it. How did I get into the Ketogenic Diet? Did I go from eating pizza and drinking Cola straight to eating 4 eggs for breakfast Continue reading >>
Brain, Livin’ On Ketones – A Molecular Neuroscience Look At The Ketogenic Diet
Edited October 3, 2013: A 2.0 version of this post can be found at Scientific American MIND Guest blogs, here. And here’s me talking about it. Feel free to check it out! WARNING: Wall of text on the yummy neuroprotective effect of ketosis from a molecular neuroscience point of view. Proceed with caution. Remember when your high school biology teacher said that the brain absolutely NEEDS glucose to function? Well, that’s not entirely true. Under severe carbohydrate restriction, the brain can adapt and start burning ketones as fuel. Originally devised as a therapy for drug-resistant epilepsy in children, the ketogenic diet (keto) has been gaining popularity lately. It’s a high fat, moderate protein and low carbohydrate diet (LCHF) designed to force the body to go into a state called metabolic ketosis. With the advent of books like “Good Calories, Bad Calories” and “Why we get fat”, LCHF diets are increasingly touted as the magic bullet to weight loss. While there is considerable interest in the medical community in using the ketogenic diet to manage metabolic syndrome or prevent cardiovascular disease, more attention has focused on its role in drug-resistant seizure management and (potentially) neuroprotective effects in brain damage. In the last decade, keto has been shown to improve memory in patients at risk for Alzheimer’s disease, stabilize mood in type II bipolar disorder, reduce symptoms in Parkinson’s disease and even ameliorate some behavioral and social deficits in autism. Keto also seems to decrease brain cancer progression. ALL without observable side effects. Although most of these studies were unblinded (hence placebo can’t be ruled out), the effect is still amazing. What is going on in the brain? And why aren’t pharmaceutical companies Continue reading >>
Ketosis For Cancer Treatment
DISCLAIMER: The information provided here is for discussion purposes only. In no way should it be considered as offering medical advice. Perfect Keto assumes no responsibility for how this material is used. Please check with a physician if you suspect you are ill. We’ve talked about the benefits of ketosis for many aspects of the body and brain, so you might be wondering whether ketosis could support those who are dealing with a cancer diagnosis or going through treatment. This is a complicated topic, so this article will explore ketosis for cancer treatment and any connections we’ve seen on the subject. Ketosis for Supplementing Treatment Cancer affects so many people worldwide, and diagnoses have unfortunately only gone up in recent years. Could a change in diet that spurs ketosis help in the treatment process? Let’s look at some aspects of cancer and how it might relate to the effects of ketosis on our cells: The Warburg Effect Besides being able to live in environments where normal cells can not, cancer cells have many differences from healthy ones. Understanding these differences helps researchers in developing possible effective cancer treatments. One example of this is the Warburg effect. The Warburg effect is a well-known and recognized biochemical observation in which most cancer cells are seen to make energy differently than normal cells. Cancer Cells vs Normal Cells: Cancer cells produce energy through a high rate of glycolysis (when glucose is broken down for energy) followed by the fermentation of lactic acid within the liquid inside cells. Normal cells break down glucose at a slower rate. Tumor cells that are rapidly growing can have rates of glycolysis that are up to 200 times higher than the normal cells. The Warburg Hypothesis The Warburg effect h Continue reading >>
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Perfect Keto Base Reddit | What You Need To Know
Although I absolutely have a stockpile of supplements that I maintain on hand, with everything from protein powder and also vitamin D to electrolytes as well as BCAAs, I was always pretty cynical about adding exogenous ketones to that collection. I’ve been keto for even more than 2 years at this point, so absolutely my body should be a professional at making it’s own ketones now, right? And also obviously, the pushy sales pitches from MLM sellers on social networks didn’t help in any way; ketosis can definitely feel wonderful occasionally, yet I don’t such as any supplement being sold as some kind of magic instant weight reduction option. I was constantly curious concerning them however, so when I lastly came across a brand of exogenous ketones that really did not cost a fortune and didn’t need me to sign up with an MLM program, I chose to offer it a shot. Perfect Keto Base is made to offer the advantages of exogenous ketones while “sampling better and also being even more affordable” than various other alternatives. I’ve been utilizing it over the past couple of weeks, and considering that I recognize a great deal of people have questions about exogenous ketones, I figured I would share a few of my experience with Perfect Keto Base Reddit. What Is Perfect Keto Base Reddit? The main component in Perfect Keto Base Reddit is beta hydroxybutyrate (BHB), one of the ketones that your body makes use of for power while in ketosis. Supplementing with BHB through exogenous ketones raises your blood ketone levels, which is connected with enhanced mood/focus, boosted power, and the various other effects you may be familiar from a keto way of living (such as fat burning, minimized yearnings, and so on). I’ve heard supplementing ketones explained as resembling a ke Continue reading >>
Cure Your Insomnia – Trouble Sleeping Keto Reddit
Persistent insomnia is prevalent within our society. It is one of the most frequent medical grievances and sometimes why people seek specialist. Do you can wake up too soon in the morning or get up up frequently, during the night, and then have a problem going again to sleep? Some people are definitely more at risk then others. Should you be age 70 or older, a female or struggling with a mental disorder already you could be one of those people? Stress reeks havoc in our lives and sometimes seems like it is overtaking our life? Chronic sleep problems is a health risk you could have a peaceful, restorative sleep again!. When insomnia prevails among a notable proportion of men and women, children too suffer from sleep disorders. Insomnia in children is seen as symptoms of wakefulness or uneasyness daily at night, easily annoyed or heaviness on waking up from sleep, mood golf swings, lack of concentration, and unusual difficulty with knowing how. Causes of Insomnia in Children In children, what causes insomnia are generally more easy to exercise that in grown ups. Understanding the cause of your insomnia, there are solutions available to you a long time before your insomnia progresses to the point it has a negative impact on your life. The more you know with what keeps you awake at nighttime the better chance of curing your insomnia and getting that rest you need. The effectiveness of curing your insomnia increases when the source for your sleeplessness is addressed. Addressing your insomnia is the harder personal work and it has the longest enduring effect on your rest and overall health. What Can Insomnia Do To Your Body Anyone can become addicted to sleep medications, and these medications can affect how elderly people think during and after long-term use1. Many medicati Continue reading >>
Ketogenic Diet Faq: All You Need To Know
Below is an list of the most commonly asked questions about the ketogenic diet. Simply click on the question you're interested in and it will take you right to the answer. If you have any more questions, please let me know by leaving a comment and I'll add it to the list! KetoDiet Basic Facts Foods & Diet Plans Health Concerns Troubleshooting 3 free diet plans to help you kickstart your diet, lose weight and get healthy Recipes, giveaways and exclusive deals delivered directly to your inbox A chance to win the KetoDiet app every week KetoDiet Basic Facts Why is it that conventional diets don't work? Most of us would say we get fat simply because we get lazy and eat more. But what if it's the other way round? What if we just get fat and as a result we eat more and become lazy? For the last decades we have been given wrong advice about nutrition and effects of fatty foods on putting on weight. What if the main problem is that due to our modern diets we cannot satisfy our appetite? A study on this subject concluded with a surprising result: the fatter people get, the more inactive they become, not the other way round. And what if the interests of the authorities offering advice are influenced by economic reasons? To learn more about this, I recommend you watch The Food Revolution on Youtube Ketogenic diets are, in fact, closely related to the Paleolithic diet. Both exclude carbohydrates and aim at eating real food. Today carbohydrates make the majority of our diet and have significant implications for our health including hormone balance. For example, insulin, which is responsible for storing fat in our body, is greatly affected by excessive carbohydrate consumption. Carbohydrates are without doubt the most fattening element in our diets. Based on studies performed over th Continue reading >>
14 Years In Ketosis, You Can Build Muscle On Ketogenic Diet – Darthluiggi Of Reddit Keto Interview
THE KETOGENIC EDGE COOKBOOK: A Training Manual for Low-Carb, Ketogenic, and Paleo Cuisine – free Maca EBOOK: For coaching, skype consultations: Known as Darthluiggi on reddit – Luis Villasenor moderates the r/keto, r/ketogains, and the new r/ketoscience boards and is always answering questions and helping people with their weight loss and health goals using the ketogenic diet. Not only has he been on a ketogenic diet for 14 years, he has proven that you CAN build plenty of muscle on a ketogenic diet. Check out his natural, ketogenic bodybuilding progress instagram: I talked to Luis about his transformation through keto, he gives tips for beginners to keto, talks about the best ketgenic diet resources online, shares his experience on cyclical ketogenic diet (CKD), and talked about his new method of using 15grams of carb preworkout (targeted ketogenic diet – TKD). Darthluiggi is a very helpful wealth of ketogenic diet information and experience and one of the few people who has proven that you can build muscle on a sustained ketogenic diet. Resource, links, ad where to chat with Darthluiggi: Reddit Keto forum: Reddit Ketogains forum: Reddit Keto Science forum: Luis’ first thread on reddit: More recent thread about his TKD experiment: Luis’ Instagram: Books mentioned: The Ketogenic Diet, by Lyle Mcdonald Underground Bodyopus – Militant Weight Recomposition, Dan Duchaine Anabolic Solution for Bodybuilders, Mauro Di Pasquale source Continue reading >>
Stress And Ketosis
Have you ever experienced stress? What about stress and ketosis? I do not think there is a human alive today who is not subject to some degree of stress. Our modern world is full of stressors. We constantly need to keep up with fast-paced lifestyles, technology, information…our lives have lost the harmonic rhythm of nature, substituted by a man-made frantic pace! Every day the demands on our tie and attention are greater: job, family, kids, school, even just watching the news. You know how it feels, right? But do you know what it DOES? Did you realize that stress and ketosis are inversely proportional? Stress can kick us right out of ketosis, or can make it extremely difficult to stay in it. How cortisol affects ketosis Cortisol is the hormone of stress. It is released in the body as a response to our flight or fight mechanism. Which is perfectly fine when the stimulation is quick and intense. But what happens when we are subject to stress for long periods of time? cortisol levels never have a chance to decrease, and this leads to a whole series of negative effects: Cortisol breaks down protein for sugar, so it will start eating up your muscles. It will also eventually start breaking down bone tissue leading to osteoporosis Cortisol burns fat but at the same time increases visceral fat, which increases insulin resistance and raises inflammation. increases appetite and cravings! suppresses the immune system in multiple ways But the main way it affects ketosis is by its main function, which is to elevate sugar levels in the blood through gluconeogenesis! The effects of long-term stress Prolonged stress will imbalance your hormones, suppress thyroid and adrenal function and imbalance hormones! And these conditions are the result of it: Inability to concentrate Digestive Continue reading >>
