Dr. Phinney changed all of that when he coined the term, “nutritional ketosis.” He also provided a lower and upper limit to the definition. By his definition, nutritional ketosis is the state of ketone production that lies between 0.5 mmol/dl and 5 mmol/dl.
If you’re producing ketones at a level betwen 0.5 mmol/dl and 5 mmol/dl, then you are in ketosis.
yes or no?
We have two sources of fuel to use for performance-
- Sugar
- Fat
Which one would you prefer to use?
When the body uses fat for its main fuel source- one of the by products are ketone bodies that our cells can use for energy…including our brain and heart.
The goal of the ketogenic diet is to burn fat for fuel instead of sugar/glucose.
What does “Keto-Adapted” or being in “ketosis” mean? being a fat burner and the body’s preferred metabolic state for the body.
How many of us have had a fear of getting a “low blood sugar” during a workout, training session or race? We were trained to believe that we need to keep eating throughout the day to keep our metabolism revved up and eat so many calories per hour during our endurance training sessions.
What is fat-adapted?
“Fat-adaption does not necessarily mean ketosis. Ketosis is ketosis. Fat-adaption describes the ability to burn both fat directly via beta-oxidation and glucose via glycolysis, while ketosis describes the use of fat-derived ketone bodies by tissues (like parts of the brain) that normally use glucose. A ketogenic diet “tells” your body that no or very little glucose is available in the environment. The result? “Impaired” glucose tolerance and “physiological” insulin resistance, which sound like negatives but are actually necessary to spare what little glucose exists for use in the brain. On the other hand, a well-constructed, lower-carb (but not full-blown ketogenic) Primal way of eating that leads to weight loss generally improves insulin sensitivity.”
-http://www.marksdailyapple.com/what-does-it-mean-to-be-fat-adapted/
As I shared in my book ‘LIFE IS NOT A RACE’ and my new “The WHOLESTIC Method Manual & Workbook”– I always wondered how I was to burn fat when I kept eating? We would always be burning the food we just ate for energy and not the fat stores on our body!
We are designed to be fat burners…that is how we were designed but industrialization of food and political nutrition changed our belief system. Now we are finally seeing the light… how our ancestors ate and stay fueled for hours. They fasted and they ate more healthy fats, animal proteins and vegetables when in season or available. Not processed manufactured food from a box or package with a long ingredient list on the label – most you can’t understand or pronounce.
A ketogenic diet is a lower carbohydrate, moderate protein and higher fat way of eating. The goal is to get the body to depend on breaking down fat for fuel and using ketones instead of high amounts of glucose to fuel the brain as well as the heart.
Did you know that protein can still be used as glucose via gluconeogenesis? The body will breakdown protein (muscles) to make glucose to help bring the blood sugar levels back up to homeostasis (with help of the adrenal glands sending cortisol to help the process). So many foods we think are healthy for us are actually high carbohydrate and sugar- as honey, breads, fruits, sweet potatoes and rice. Our digestive system breaks down carbohydrates into glucose- no matter if it is a natural sugar as honey or sweet potato.
How many carbohydrates can you consume and still stay in ketosis and burn fat? It depends.
Everyone is different – especially depends on what type of exercise you do and how long each day. Also, as I explain in my book “LIFE IS NOT A RACE”- the adrenal glands play a role in blood sugar regulation and storing fat so if you are stressed out as I have been then you can still store fat and burn sugar even if you eat low carb! Read my story for more on Amazon-
More later… and on my podcast The WHOLE Athlete.