What is Ketosis? A metabolic state where we are producing a certain number of ketones in the blood. Our energy supply will be coming from burning fat and from ketone bodies in the blood. Most of us are sugar burners and constantly burning sugar for fuel as we raise our blood sugar/glucose levels up high then signal the hormone insulin to be released from the pancreas to lower the blood sugar levels back to homeostasis – but since we often over consume sugar/glucose the amount of the hormone insulin released is so much that we now end up being hypoglycemic. Do we want to burn kindling in a fire to keep it lasting all day long- or burn a slow burning log for fuel? Sugar or fat for fuel? We were never meant to be sugar burners! Listen to my podcast episode on being a sugar burner
We don’t want to rely on energy from the blood glucose levels- not only because the liver and the muscles only store so many calories of glucose (stored as glycogen) but that excessive blood glucose levels can lead to hypoglycemia, insulin resistance, glycation, brain fog, memory issues, weight gain, adrenal issues, thyroid issues, gut infections and of course diabetes. We want to stabilize our blood sugar levels and the hormone insulin (also a fat storing hormone) so we can burn fat for fuel- and thus ketones as the byproduct.
Ketones are a metabolic alternative fuel we can use from the byproduct of fat breakdown or fat tissue. When we have low blood glucose levels, we release more fatty acids that are converted in the liver into ketones. We make three types of ketones -Acetone, Beta-Hydroxybutyrate and Aceto-acetate when blood glucose is decreased. To be in ketosis we are making ketones over night when we fast as while sleeping – or when eat lower carbohydrate, moderate protein, and higher fat. The range of ketones measured in Mmol = 1-3 (4-5 for therapeutic ketosis). Diabetic ketoacidosis is large number of ketones produced- over 20 ketones so we are obviously not striving for diabetic ketoacidosis. Nutritional ketosis and therapeutic ketosis is different than diabetic ketoacidosis.
A keto diet has a glucose to ketone ratio – closer to 1 when in therapeutic ketosis is the goal. Therapeutic approach to health for cancer, Parkinson’s, Autism, dementia, and other brain disorders. Well call it NUTRITIONAL Ketosis is a new area of research to improve our health from the inside out for performance and weight loss as well as brain clarity, focus and memory (which is why I am interested in learning more about ketosis).
Our bodies are designed to run on fat for fuel… not sugar as the politically correct nutrition guidelines and mainstream media has lead us to believe. The fat-cholesterol-heart disease theory was a hypothesis that was never proven so you must dig deeper behind the marketing, guidelines, and research to determine the accuracy of the research study and who funded the study!
So as ketogenic diet is new to most of us- we continue to wait for new upcoming research that is ongoing especially with the ketogenic supplements you can order online now as with Pruvit and other sources. Stay tuned in to The WHOLE Athlete Podcast and my blog as I continue to share new information to you to help decide if we need to be in ketosis or just be fat adapted. For sure we need to be burning fat for fuel and get off the blood sugar roller coaster- but it is not just nutrition changes that we need to make improvements. We need to eat a whole foods nutrient dense diet but be sure our digestive system is functioning correctly, we regulate our blood sugar levels to avoid spiking the fat storing hormone insulin, eating essential fatty acids, making sure we are balancing our minerals and staying hydrated! Benefits from nutritional ketosis are promoted as:
- fat loss
- fast and sustained energy
- reduce brain fog
- increased focus
- appetite suppression
- strength gain
- better mood
- better sleep
- better digestion
- clear skin
Learn more about Pruvit ketone supplement here. I know Pruvit Keto-OS suppresses my appetite for sure- this is how I keep going all morning when I train clients 530AM – 11:00 AM… sometimes I need a whole food snack as a hard boiled egg, mac nuts, pistachios or raw almonds. Exongenous ketone supplements CAN induce ketosis while we maintain our blood glucose levels. Remember the liver produces ketone bodies as a result of breakdown fatty acids (fat metabolism). When we have bioavailable ketones in the blood for cellular use, as when using products as Pruvit, we can create a state of nutritional ketosis in the body without having to eat under 50 grams or so carbohydrates per day (often required to get into ketosis naturally). Optimal range of elevated ketones in the blood are measured between 0.5-3.0 mmol to be called “nutritional ketosis”. You can test your ketone levels with a new product called Next LevL– don’t you want to know if you are burning fat for fuel in your body?? Stay tuned for more research updates as I interview the PhD behind LevL ketone breath analyzer.
Remember – every stress response is a blood sugar response so you need to not only your stress levels are managed but your are following The WHOLESTIC Method eight elements. Download my free book on the eight elements here
We are using Keto OS in my studio Fitness Forward as well as in my The WHOLESTIC Method 5-day and 21-day Detox & Reset Challenge! Learn more here.
