What Is Ketosis, and Is It Healthy?

Ketosis is a natural metabolic condition.

It involves the production of ketones from body fat and their use for energy instead of carbohydrates. You can enter ketosis by following a very low carb, high fat ketogenic diet.

A ketogenic diet can help you lose weight. In the short term, you can lose weight because it lowers the body’s glycogen and water stores.

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In the long run, it can suppress your appetite and reduce your calorie intake.

In addition to contributing to weight loss, ketosis can have several health benefits such as reducing seizures in children with epilepsy.

Ketosis is quite complex, but this article explains what it is and how it can benefit you.

What is ketosis?

Ketosis is a metabolic condition in which there is a high concentration of ketones in the blood. This occurs when fat supplies most of the body's fuel and there is limited access to glucose. Glucose (blood sugar) is the preferred fuel source for many cells in the body.

Ketosis is most often associated with ketogenic and very low carbohydrate diets. It also occurs in pregnancy, infancy, fasting, and starvation.

To start ketosis, you usually need to eat 50 grams fewer carbohydrates per day and sometimes at least 20 grams. However, the amount of proper carbohydrate intake that will trigger ketosis varies from person to person.

To do this you need to eliminate certain foods from your diet such as:

• Grain

• Sweet

• Sugary sodas
• 
  

You need to reduce:

• Vegetables

• Potatoes

• Fruit

When you eat a very low-carbohydrate diet, the hormone insulin drops and fatty acids are released in large quantities from the body's fat stores.

Many of these fatty acids are transferred to the liver, where they are oxidized and converted to ketones (or ketone bodies). These molecules can provide energy to the body.

Unlike fatty acids, ketones can cross the blood-brain barrier and provide energy to the brain in the absence of glucose.

SUMMARY:

Ketosis is a metabolic condition in which ketones become an important source of energy for the body and brain. It occurs when carbohydrate intake and insulin levels are low.

Ketones can provide energy to the brain

It is a common misconception that the brain does not function without carbohydrates in the diet.

It is true that glucose is preferred and some brain cells can only use glucose for fuel.

However, a large part of your brain can also use ketones for energy, such as when you are starving or when your diet is low in sugar.

In fact, just three days after starvation, the brain receives 25% of its energy from ketones. During long-term starvation, this number increases by about 60%.

Also, your body can use proteins or other molecules to make glucose that is still needed during ketosis in the brain. This process is called gluconeogenesis.

Ketosis and gluconeogenesis are perfectly capable of meeting the energy needs of the brain.

Here's some more information about the ketogenic diet and the brain: Low-carb and ketogenic diets improve brain health.

SUMMARY:

When the brain does not get enough glucose, it can use ketones for energy. The glucose you still need can be made from protein or other sources.

Ketosis is not like ketosidosis

People often confuse ketosis and ketoacidosis.

Although ketosis is a part of normal metabolism, ketoacidosis is a dangerous metabolic condition that can be fatal if left untreated.

In ketoacidosis, the blood flow is carried by extremely high levels of glucose (blood sugar) and ketones.

When this happens the blood becomes acidic which is very harmful.

Ketoacidosis is often associated with uncontrolled type 1 diabetes. It can also occur in people with type 2 diabetes, although it is less common.

Also, severe alcohol abuse can lead to ketoacidosis.

SUMMARY:

Ketosis is a natural metabolic condition, on the other hand, ketoacidosis is a serious treatment condition, often seen in type 1 diabetes that is not well controlled.

Effects on epilepsy

Epilepsy is a brain disorder characterized by recurrent seizures.

It is a very common neurological condition that affects about 70 million people around the world.

Most people with epilepsy use anti-seizure medications to help control seizures. However, about 30% of people who use these drugs also experience seizures.

In the early 1920s, the ketogenic diet was introduced as a treatment for epilepsy in those who did not respond to medication.

It has been used mainly in children, showing some benefits from the study. Many children with epilepsy have seen a significant reduction in seizures while on a ketogenic diet, and some have found complete relief.

SUMMARY:

Ketogenic diets can effectively reduce epileptic seizures, especially in children with epilepsy who do not respond to conventional treatment.

Effects on weight loss

The ketogenic diet is a popular diet for weight loss, and research has shown that it can be effective.

Some studies have shown that ketogenic diets are more conducive to weight loss than low-fat diets.

One study found that people on a ketogenic diet lost 2.2 times more weight than those on a low-fat, calorie-restricted diet.

Additionally, people on ketogenic diets feel less hungry and fuller, which is attributed to ketosis. For this reason, it is usually not necessary to count calories on this diet.

However, it is widely recognized that adherence to a diet is key to long-term success. Some people may find it easy to follow a ketogenic diet, while others find it inappropriate.

Some research suggests that the Keto diet may not be the best way to lose weight. The authors of the 2019 review concluded that it was no better than other diets at helping people lose weight and may not have specific benefits for people with metabolic disorders.

Here are more details: A ketogenic diet for weight loss and disease prevention.

SUMMARY:

Some studies have shown that ketogenic diets cause more weight loss than low-fat diets. Also, people feel less hungry and fuller.

Other health benefits of ketosis

Some scientists have suggested that ketosis and ketogenic diets may have other therapeutic effects, although it should be noted that not all experts agree on this.

Heart disease: Previous studies have shown that reducing carbohydrates to achieve ketosis can improve heart risk factors, such as blood triglycerides, total cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol. However, the 2019 review noted that people on a very low-carb diet can avoid heart-healthy foods, such as whole grains and legumes.

Type 2 Diabetes: Diet can improve insulin sensitivity and can lead to type 2 diabetes, including obesity due to several risk factors.

Parkinson's disease: A small study found that the ketogenic diet improved symptoms of Parkinson's disease after 28 days.

SUMMARY:

Ketosis and ketogenic diets can contribute to a number of chronic diseases.

Does ketosis have negative health effects?

A ketogenic diet can be beneficial for health and weight loss, but it can also trigger some side effects.

Short-term effects include headache, fatigue, constipation, high cholesterol levels, and bad breath, but they usually go away within a few days or weeks of starting the diet.

There may also be a risk of kidney stones.

Some women develop ketoacidosis while breastfeeding, probably due to a low-carbohydrate or ketogenic diet.

People taking medications to lower blood sugar should consult a doctor before following a ketogenic diet, as the need for diet medications may be reduced.

Sometimes the ketogenic diet is low in fiber. For this reason, it's a good idea to make sure you eat plenty of high-fiber, low-carb vegetables.

The following tips can help you stay healthy during ketosis:

Drink plenty of fluids, especially water.

Talk to your doctor before starting a diet and follow his advice.

Monitor your kidney function while on a diet.

If you are worried about negative effects, ask for help.

Ketosis may be beneficial for some people but you should consult your doctor before switching to a very low carb diet if it is not suitable for you.

SUMMARY:

Ketosis is safe for most people. However, some people may experience side effects such as nausea, headaches, and constipation.

BOTTOM LINE

Ketosis is a natural metabolic condition that can be achieved by following a ketogenic diet.

It can have a variety of health benefits, including:

Weight loss

Blood sugar levels are low

Reducing seizures in children with epilepsy

However, it is very difficult to follow a strict diet to induce ketosis and there may be some negative side effects. Also, not all researchers agree that a ketogenic diet is the best way to lose weight.

Ketosis is not for everyone, but it can benefit some people.

Article source healthline.com