Why Dka & Nutritional Ketosis Are Not The Same
There’s a very common misconception and general misunderstanding around ketones. Specifically, the misunderstandings lie in the areas of: ketones that are produced in low-carb diets of generally less than 50 grams of carbs per day, which is low enough to put a person in a state of “nutritional ketosis” ketones that are produced when a diabetic is in a state of “diabetic ketoacidosis” (DKA) and lastly, there are “starvation ketones” and “illness-induced ketones” The fact is they are very different. DKA is a dangerous state of ketosis that can easily land a diabetic in the hospital and is life-threatening. Meanwhile, “nutritional ketosis” is the result of a nutritional approach that both non-diabetics and diabetics can safely achieve through low-carb nutrition. Diabetic Ketoacidosis vs. Nutritional Ketosis Ryan Attar (soon to be Ryan Attar, ND) helps explain the science and actual human physiology behind these different types of ketone production. Ryan is currently studying to become a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine in Connecticut and also pursuing a Masters Degree in Human Nutrition. He has interned under the supervision of the very well-known diabetes doc, Dr. Bernstein. Ryan explains: Diabetic Ketoacidosis: “Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA), is a very dangerous state where an individual with uncontrolled diabetes is effectively starving due to lack of insulin. Insulin brings glucose into our cells and without it the body switches to ketones. Our brain can function off either glucose or fat and ketones. Ketones are a breakdown of fat and amino acids that can travel through the blood to various tissues to be utilized for fuel.” “In normal individuals, or those with well controlled diabetes, insulin acts to cancel the feedback loop and slow and sto Continue reading >>
What Happens If You Either Eat Only Carbs Or Only Fat (and You Somehow Get Enough Vitamins And Minerals)?
Supplements can’t compete with whole foods. To prevent all the major diseases, you need fruits (especially berries), veggies, beans, nuts and seeds, and to avoid salt, oils and sugar (SOS). You do need supplements if you’re a vegan (no animal products), but B12, Vitamin D and DHA/EPA (in the form of algae oil) should be enough. (I like Joel Furhman’s multi-vitamin and his DHA/EPA oil.) With a plant-rich diet, you’re likely to be among the healthiest people on the planet, assuming you avoid most packaged foods, fried foods, junk foods, etc. Of the two options, all fats would be the worst, since you’d be lacking in fiber and all the nutrients that veggies and fruits bring to you. Your body would be wide open for attack, your immune system very weak. But there’s no reason to ever starve yourself of healthful foods. If it’s for weight loss purposes, keep in mind that vegans have been shown to be the thinnest of all cohorts. You can find delicious recipes at Vegan Recipes - Oh She Glows and Plant Based Dietitian and by Googling “nutrient dense plant-rich recipes.” Continue reading >>
What's An Unforgettable Statement That Your Boss Told You?
I sucked at my work. I failed to complete most tasks on time. My peers would joke about how me to sticking to a deadline was akin to a politician living up to his word. I would put in 10 — 12 hours each day. But I never moved forward. One day, my boss emailed me asking for a list of tasks I perform during that day. I freaked out. Surely I was going to lose my job. I sent him my list after 3 days — after all, I had to live up to my reputation of missing deadlines. I didn’t sleep that night. The next day, my boss called me into his cabin. This is it, I thought. I’m gonna get fired for the first time in my life. I should start preparing for the handover process. But that didn’t happen. He made me sit down and offered a glass of water. Then he said, “Vishal, I noticed you cannot perform important tasks. You do a hundred things, but I can’t see any results.” “I try sir, but I keep getting burdened with additional work,” I said. Beads of sweat formed on my brow despite the cool temperature in his cabin. “Team members tell me their work is urgent. I know I get distracted. But I want to help everyone. When I try to say ‘no’, it doesn’t work. Yesterday Nishant scolded me for turning down his work.” The last sentence was a (harmless) lie. But hey, I was trying to defend myself. The ABCD of the Professional World I think my boss saw through the lie. Because he smiled and said, “Vishal, today I’ll share a piece of wisdom with you, which I got from the boss I learned the most from. It’s this: When you work in the corporate, prioritize your work as ABCD. A — Apna kaam (your own work) B — Boss ka kaam (your boss’ work) C — Company ka kaam (your organization’s work) D — Doosron ka kaam (others’ work).” How to Apply ABCD 1. Apna Kaam P Continue reading >>
Would You Eat Food That Was Genetically Modified?
Not only do I eat GMOs, I willingly inject myself with GMOs 5–8 times a day! It is my secret to a long life. “What?” I can hear your gasping disbelief from here. “Why would you do something so harmful to yourself? Don't you realize how BAD GMOS are?” I have Type 1 diabetes. For those of you who don't know, it is an autoimmune disease that causes the islet cells of the pancreas (they are responsible for producing insulin) to die off. When your body cannot produce its own insulin, you must inject man made insulin several times a day. If you don't, your blood glucose levels will rise to dangerous levels and your blood chemistry goes wonky (scientific medical term). Without insulin, your blood begins burning fat and muscle for fuel instead of carbs. The acidic byproduct is called ketones. You may have heard of low-carb diets that suggest you check your urine for ketones and applaud you if you manage to get a pink square on the ketone strip. However, with Type 1, that pink square is terrifying. It means you are going into ketoacidosis, which is a life threatening emergency. Without treatment, you will die. Quickly. If you have Type 1 diabetes (only loosely related to Type 2 diabetes, which is what most people recognize as diabetes) you must be on insulin. No matter how healthy your diet. No matter how few carbs you eat. No matter how thin and fit you are. You must be on insulin. Commercially produced insulin used to be made from cows and pigs. Now it is created in a lab, by genetically modifying yeast spores. Lab created insulin is the perfect example of a genetically modified organism. Without GMOS, I would be dead within a week or two. Yes, I allow GMOS into my body. Gladly. Continue reading >>
What Does A Doctor Do When A Patient Comes In For An Exam And Smells Really Bad?
I was a doctor in China, and grew up in a hospital because my father is a doctor too. (in the old days, the government run organizations usually have apartments for their employees, :) don't know if it's a good part of this communist country, at least you don't need to buy a house and maintain it, just kidding) So part of my childhood is weird compared to other kids.I usually did my homework with my father’s nurse in a small room next to my father’s office. I saw many things, people came here in a very severe health situation, people died here leaving their crying families alone. The most in my memory is crying, you can hear that everywhere in a hospital. About smell, I don't think they have time to think about this. Then, as a doctor, I don't care about that too. When I pick my friends or I teach my kids, an important thing is to “respect others”, that means I want them to be “appropriate” in normal life ( I don't know if I use this word correctly, English is not my native language) including a well dress style and being clean. But, a patient, not “normal”, sometimes they can't take a shower because they are very sick, sometimes they forgot taking a shower because they are too old, since they almost forget everything, how could you expect they still remember to shower? Sometimes they can't control pee or incontinece of fecal. I feel sorry for them, I lost my grandma before and I know “keep yourself alive” is the most important thing that time, smell, who cares? And, I have the “smell” sometimes too. When I have my babies, because of the surgery, I can not take a shower for several days, and I really sweat a lot. The doctors and the nurses, they are so nice. They help me changing my cloths many times a day and never a look on their faces sort of Continue reading >>
What Are The Dangers Of The Ketosis Diet?
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, when the "Atkins" and low carb dieting thing was just coming on in a big way, there was a terrific number of idiotic claims made about the dangers of it -- many of them confusing (as the questioner points out) diabetic ketoacidosis, a serious condition, with voluntary nutritional ketosis, even though there is no relation whatever. But, leaving all that aside, some caution is in order. The diet seems to stress the adrenals. This has been noted anecdotally by many people who've followed the diet. It was also noted by Dr Wolfgang Lutz, one of the early pioneers of the diet, who personally practiced the diet for 40-odd years, as well as advocated the diet to thousands of his patients. He noted in his book on the subject ("Life Without Bread" was the title, though it was published later I believe under a different title) that some patients would suffer mild autoimmune reactions that required small doses of corticosteroids to control. This sounds like what would happen if the adrenals are failing to produce a normal amount of steroids. You can find a lot more of a mostly-anecdotal nature by searching for "ketogenic jaminet". Paul Jaminet is a popular health blogger who has written about what he perceives to be problems with the ketogenic diet, including the possibility of deficiency of mucus and other key glycoproteins. He has some scientific backing for what he is saying, but it is far from air-tight. Read and judge for yourself. You can also learn a lot from the comments below his posts. Jaminet and others have also written about the risk of kidney stones on the ketogenic diet, and this is a serious concern, albeit a rare occurence. As far as the kidney stress goes: this would I believe be easy to avert simply by taking some alkali during Continue reading >>
Ketosis Vs. Ketoacidosis: What You Should Know
Despite the similarity in name, ketosis and ketoacidosis are two different things. Ketoacidosis refers to diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and is a complication of type 1 diabetes mellitus. It’s a life-threatening condition resulting from dangerously high levels of ketones and blood sugar. This combination makes your blood too acidic, which can change the normal functioning of internal organs like your liver and kidneys. It’s critical that you get prompt treatment. DKA can occur very quickly. It may develop in less than 24 hours. It mostly occurs in people with type 1 diabetes whose bodies do not produce any insulin. Several things can lead to DKA, including illness, improper diet, or not taking an adequate dose of insulin. DKA can also occur in individuals with type 2 diabetes who have little or no insulin production. Ketosis is the presence of ketones. It’s not harmful. You can be in ketosis if you’re on a low-carbohydrate diet or fasting, or if you’ve consumed too much alcohol. If you have ketosis, you have a higher than usual level of ketones in your blood or urine, but not high enough to cause acidosis. Ketones are a chemical your body produces when it burns stored fat. Some people choose a low-carb diet to help with weight loss. While there is some controversy over their safety, low-carb diets are generally fine. Talk to your doctor before beginning any extreme diet plan. DKA is the leading cause of death in people under 24 years old who have diabetes. The overall death rate for ketoacidosis is 2 to 5 percent. People under the age of 30 make up 36 percent of DKA cases. Twenty-seven percent of people with DKA are between the ages of 30 and 50, 23 percent are between the ages of 51 and 70, and 14 percent are over the age of 70. Ketosis may cause bad breath. Ket Continue reading >>
What Are The Main Differences Between Nutritional Ketosis, And Ketosis?
I believe these can be used interchangeably. Ketosis is ketosis - this term describes a metabolic state characterized by elevated level of ketone bodies in your blood and low blood glucose levels, induced either by consumption of exogenous ketones or medium-chain triglycerides that are quickly metabolized into ketones, or by starvation (or, at least, restriction of carbohydrates), which switches your body’s metabolic machinery to utilizing fat oxidation as the main source of energy (byproducts of fat oxidation in the absence of glucose are then metabolized further into ketone bodies that can be used as energy substrate by most tissues). “Nutritional ketosis” is more often used to describe a voluntary exercise of inducing ketosis through certain dietary practices (in other words, this is ketosis as a result of a specific nutrition). But, given that nutrition (or lack thereof) still remains a primary method of inducing ketosis (barring direct consumptino of ketone esters, etc.) - most of the time, any ketosis is nutritional ketosis. Continue reading >>
What Are The Negative Side Effects Of Following A Ketogenic Diet?
Switching to a ketogenic diet can come with several side effects. Fortunately, most of the commons ones are as minor as they are short lived. Let’s take a look at them, what causes them, and what you can do about them: “Keto Flu” When you first cut off your carbs and enter dietary ketosis you are likely to experience flu-like symptoms: headache, fatigue, nausea, and irritability. However, your symptoms aren’t caused by a virus; they’re caused by a combination of carbohydrate withdraw, dehydration, and your body adjusting to burning fat for fuel. These symptoms should go away within a week. And increasing your water intake above the normally recommended eight cups a day may help speed things up. Bad Breath Okay, if you’re not kissing someone while you become keto adapted, maybe this one isn’t such a big deal. But you (and those around you) may notice your breath smelling like overly ripe apples as you adjust to ketosis. This is caused by a type of ketone called acetone that’s excreted in your breath and urine. The smell tends to dissipate on its own in time, and again, water can help. Leg Cramps Early on in your transition to a keto diet most of the weight you lose is water weight. As this happens you also lose electrolytes and this can lead to a few choice words in the middle of the night as you jump out of bed in pain! To help prevent that make sure you’re getting plenty of magnesium, calcium, and potassium. If you find it difficult to get them in the foods you eat on a keto diet, not to worry. You can get all three together in one pill with Country Life Target Mins Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium. Constipation If a high percentage of your pre-keto calories came from carbs, it make take some time for your digestive system to adapt to the extra fat and p Continue reading >>
