Ketogenic diets are all the rage as they have been shown in studies to reduce inflammation, improve metabolism and enhance brain function. Many individuals do not know how to successfully enter into and maintain ketosis. Natural ketosis is an incredible physiological state that can be measured and cycled or maintained for excellent health.
Many people continue to confuse natural ketosis with the pathological ketoacidosis. Ketoacidosis is due to an extreme insulin deficiency such as in type I diabetes and advanced type II diabetes. In this condition the concentration of ketones are 10 times higher than in natural ketosis. In ketoacidosis, the blood sugar is also extremely high while in natural ketosis the blood sugar and stable and low.
How are ketones formed
The body has two major energy sources, it burns glucose or ketone bodies. The majority of people burn glucose primarily because they are constantly supplying a steady form of sugar, starches and proteins that can be turned into blood sugar. When one either fasts or goes on a low-carb, moderate protein and high fat diet they switch their energy source to fat.
In particular, the fatty acids are broken down into ketone bodies. The three major forms of ketones produced in the body include Acetoacetate, Acetone and Beta HydroxyButyric acid. These are released into the blood from the liver when insulin levels are low and hepatic liver metabolism is increased.
Measuring ketone levels
There are three ways to measure ketone body formation: breath, urine and blood. Breath testing measures acetone, urine measures acetoacetate levels and blood looks at beta-hydroxybutyric acid. Blood measurements are the most accurate but the testing is more expensive. All three areas can help guide you to understand how to maintain ketosis with your unique biochemistry.
The skin prick blood spot test is the most accurate way to measure ketosis. Most people will enter into a light nutritional ketosis (between 0.5-1.0 mmol/L on the meter) within two or three days. It typically takes two to three weeks to get into a stable optimal ketosis of 1.5-3.0 mmol/L.
Urine ketosis shows the amount of ketones that are not being used through metabolism. Some people will be in ketosis, yet only show low levels of ketones on their urine strips. Others will show higher levels. The more energy you are expending (exercise, physical work, etc.) the more you will use ketones as an energy source and the less ketones will be in your urine. However, if you were relatively sedentary you may very well notice more ketones in your urine.
The ketogenic nutrition plan
The body stores protein as lean muscle tissue and carbohydrates in the form of glycogen. During ketosis the body is primarily burning fatty acids in the form of ketosis and it is preserving protein and glycogen stores. This creates a physiological state of fat adaption where the body is burning through fat stores.
The result of fat adaption is improved lean body tissue, better brain function, overall satiety and well-being, improved energy and more restful sleep among other things. You become fat adapted by building all your meals around good fats sources such as avocados, coconut oil, olive oil, pastured butter, nuts and seeds and organ meats.
This nutrition plan has good fat sources making up 60-80 percent of total calories. Protein makes up 10-25 percent of calories based on physical demands. Someone who is exercising more intensely will need about 20-25 percent of calories from protein whereas someone is sedentary or doing lighter forms of exercise who should be on 10-15 percent of calories from protein. Carbohydrates make up around 10-15 percent of total calories.
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