Are you a sugar burner or a fat burner? Often I can tell if clients are hypoglycemic and sugar burners by asking them a few questions as well as answering our nutritional assessment questions.
To burn fat is the processed of beta oxidation. Fat metabolism takes places in the liver by turning fat into acetyl-coenzyme A. If you look at a chart of how carbohydrates are broken down for energy (ATP) as compared to fat metabolism- you would notice how it is less steps to use fat (fatty acids and triglycerides) into usable energy.
Now we have heard the word KETOSIS a lot lately on podcasts and blogs. Ketones are a by-product of fat metabolism. The liver breaks down fat cells into fatty acids and ketones. The brain, muscles and even the heart use water soluble fats – ketones for energy. Ketones can actually work as fuel in the brain over glucose when needed.
Our body prefers to use fat for fuel but it can’t use fat for fuel if we are over eating an excessive amount of carbohydrates. Instead we become sugar burners and sugar addicts! If we consume good fats, clean proteins and unrefined carbohydrates (see podcast on Metabolic Typing).
Do you want to burn kindling to keep a fire going…or burn duraflame log?
If you are a sugar burner- you need to keep eating frequently to keep your fire burning.
If you are a fat burner- you don’t need to eat as frequently as you have a long slow burning fuel as your main energy source.
