Ultimate Guide to Ketosis

Ketosis is a state in which your body uses ketones as fuel. Although we live most of our lives believing that energy is based on sugar, ketones can be used as energy and can be a good solution for weight loss plans. Reaching a ketones level of 0.5mm/L, your body will be able to enter the metabolic  that allows it to harness this energy and burn fat. To reach ketosis, you can follow a low carbohydrate diet combined with fat and protein intake.

What is Ketosis

Ketosis is the state in which your body transforms foods such as fats into ketones which are then used for energy. Instead of basic your energy on carbohydrate content for your daily activities, ketones can prove to be an alternative, especially when you enter a metabolic state.

High protein and high fat diets represent the foundation to a state of ketosis. There are many types of foods which can be used in this situation and with additional supplements you can boost the natural ketones production.

Ketones

Ketones represent an interesting source of energy which is specific to the period with no available carbohydrates. For example, babies are born in a state of ketosis as they do not immediately have access to nutrition with carbohydrates. From an evolutionary perspective, ketosis came with good adaptation principles for people all around the world. During winter, the access to carbohydrates was significantly reduced. For example, there were not fruits and vegetables so humans had to rely on fats and meats as a primary source of nutrition and energy. This meant that the ketones in the blood would support the high energy levels needed for everyday activities.

There are three primary types of ketones:

  • Acetoacetate AcAc
  • Beta-Hydroxybutyrate BHB
  • Acetone

Acetoacetate is first created from the digestion of fats. So if you eat animal or vegetable fats, the first ketones in your blood will come as AcAc. Beta-Hydroxybutyrate is then formed from AcAc. Acetone is created on the spot from AcAc as needed. These ketones are different and they have their own role. For example, Acetone breaks down quickly and can be eliminated through breath.

The Benefits of Ketosis

Ketosis is a state which can come with many benefits. Before jumping on such a diet, you need to better understand it and compare the benefits and drawbacks of the diet. But if you manage to limit your ketosis to a small period of time, there are reduced risks associated with it, if any. This has more to do with the adaption capacity of the body which is following a state in which it is easier to adapt to the ketosis state the more you do it.

Weight Loss

One of the primary benefits of ketosis comes with weight loss. The complex inner-working of the ketones means that you can enter a catabolism state if you do not have enough nutrients and even carbohydrates. But the protein and fat-based diet means that you will see less muscle loss and more fat loss which will change the balance in your body.

Furthermore, with repeated ketosis you will get to a lower percentage of body fat and this is why it can be important to know that you can benefit from even more fat burn long after you exit ketosis. This simple principle is based on the fact that the more muscle you have the more fat you will burn. This can be seen in top athletes who are masters at burning fat as they have a better muscle to fat ratio.

Since you will not be consuming carbohydrates or you will be only consuming small quantities, you will enter a state of ketosis which is beneficial to fat loss. It also means that you are fully capable of delivering improved overall results with your fat burning process not specifically due to the fact that ketones were not present in your body but due to the fact that their concentration in your blood is boosted by the lower carbohydrate intake.

There are two other factors which affect the weight loss process under ketosis. It is important to know that you can see better benefits with solutions that allow you to maximize the: hormone regulation and appetite suppression.

Hormone regulation is one of the best benefits of ketosis. It can be seen in the level of many hormones which tend to be normalized in this state. This is why you will also tend to keep your new lower weight as your hormones will also be working at an optimum level. Beyond this classic approach of boosting weight loss during the diet, the long-term benefits of ketosis include better hormonal response. Even more, it is also important to know that you can also benefit from better overall health and stress levels as many of the carbohydrates we consume are actually in conflict with our energy levels, especially if they come from unhealthy sources.

One of the main problems for fat loss seems to come with the combination of certain proteins with carbohydrates which doesn’t allow the protein to fully digest. This can lead to weight gain or to simple digestion problems which will not allow you to fully see the benefits protein can have on your body.

Appetite suppression seems to be one of the effects of ketosis. It can be caused by multiple factors but with a diet that is high in fats, it is clear that your appetite will reduce dramatically. Since protein takes longer to digest, it will also represent a different state with appetite control as it will take considerably longer to breakdown compared to carbohydrates. It is also important to know that you can see good overall results with your appetite control when you plan to lose weight and since it might not come with the level of cravings you are used to, it will facilitate the weight loss process. Furthermore, it will also keep this state for longer as it will be easier for you to introduce healthy carbs into your diet once you are back on your regular meal plan.

Blood Glucose Levels

Since carbohydrates are drastically reduce from your diet, you will soon realize that they are not as important as you think and can actually benefit your blood glucose levels. Certain groups of people can truly benefit for a controlled glucose level and this includes diabetics. Carbohydrates are transformed into glucose when they reach your blood and this is why it is important to control them when you want a healthy circulatory system.

With one of the best benefits in the area of better heart health, ketosis seems to trigger a different type of response to foods and this is primarily due to the fact that your blood levels with see a drop in glucose.

Stable Hormones

One of the interesting effects of ketosis comes with more natural hormone levels. As you might be battling different types of hormonal problems, it is important to know that you can benefit from a better heart health but combined with normalized hormones, you will see great overall health as well. Many women can struggle with hormone reactions and this is where the state of ketosis comes to meet the needs in the area which allows you to enjoy a better quality of life.

For example, with normal estrogen levels you will experience better cycle reactions. Men can use the high fat diets to boost their testosterone levels. High fats have been associated with a healthy reproductive system which is influenced by the testosterone levels in the body. This is where ketosis represents one of the most prevalent solutions to actually boost this hormone. However, to really see normalized levels in your hormones, you need to ensure that other influencing factors are at their best as well.

For example, if you constantly sleep less than recommended or the hours your body really need according to your lifestyle, it will be difficult for the ketosis to normalize your hormones. This also means that you will see greater overall results when working with ketosis if you also take care of the other influencing factors for hormones such as stress, adequate resting intervals and even totally avoiding highly processed foods.

Gaining Muscle

One of the most debated benefits comes with muscle gain. Since for many years muscle gain or bulking as it was called in the bodybuilding community was associated with caloric surplus of all types, the ketosis state which promotes low carbohydrate intake represents one of the most interesting characteristics to consider, especially since you might even be battling fat gain as well.

There are different approaches to muscle gain and they all involve calculating your caloric need and consuming the right foods while following a strength exercise plan. BHP has been shown to promote muscle gain and this is why it can be one of the important elements for a healthy muscle development. With better overall results in terms of weight control, the ketosis state which promotes muscle gain comes with the high protein intake which facilitates it. So rather than seeing this only as a solution for weight loss, you can also see it as a solution for muscle gains, even if in a smaller percentage.

Highly debated in the fitness community, the principle needs to follow the simple caloric intake calculations. If you want to build muscle, you will need to have increased calorie consumption, even if these calories are not actually based on carbohydrates. Even more, it is also important to know that you can see the benefits you want with muscle gain if you know how to combine the foods which include protein, vegetables and fats for optimum results. Since fat can be a source of energy, you can use it to fuel your workouts. Before going to bed, you can also consume protein which is slow to digest and which allows your muscle to recover and be fed during the night. These important principles go beyond the first scope of ketosis as seen with modern diets and which are limited to weight loss only.

Decreased Inflammation

There is scientific evidence to support the fact that ketosis can be a state which facilitates decreased inflammation. This is why it can be one of the best solutions when you want to see better joint health with reduced pain and even reduced acne.

BHP has a major role in reducing the effects of inflammation and it can be seen as a good solution if you are going through long periods of joint inflammation and pain. While there might be many causes to this problem, it is also true that BHP can inhibit the inflammation and it can lead to reduced pain. One of the cosmetic problems which are hard to control is acne. This is where BHP will act to reduce it and to improve the natural look of your skin. Furthermore, the same principles apply when fighting other skin problems such as eczema. With better inflammation control, you will also be looking towards a better quality of life which can be triggered in some cases with ketosis

Ketosis Products

There are a few areas which are important to ketosis. The most important area comes with nutrition. But modern solutions now offer top supplements which can help you reach ketosis faster. While these products are not mandatory, they can certainly come with added benefits, especially if you want better overall control over your diet and over the ketone levels in your blood.

Exogenous Ketones

The Best Exogenous Ketones come in the form of BHP supplements. They can help you boost the percentage of ketones in your blood and they can play an important role for many people who like to see improved results with ketosis.

They are consumed either in powdered form or in tablet form. You can easily mix them with water for a quick absorption. Of course, many of the products can also come with added nutrients such as certain vitamins or even amino acids which are the building blocks of protein and which can sustain muscles and which can also act as energy sources in some cases.

Exogenous ketones are also easy to consume since they come in different flavors, similarly to other types of supplements which come with added nutrition.

MCT Oil

MCT oil is one of the best sources of fat for ketosis. It comes to meet your body’s need for healthy fats which are very important for your ketones. The oil is directly derived from coconuts and can be used as energy as soon as it reaches your body. This is why it can be an important aspect to know when to consume the fats as they will be quickly turned into ketones. On the other hand, you will need to look at the oil as a source of calories as well as a single tablespoon can come with more than 100 calories. This is why it can be important to use the oil in either objective which aims to control your body weight.

Check out these great MCT Oil Resources:

Is Ketosis for Everybody?

Ketosis might seem like one of the best solutions for weight loss and better health. But it is hard to really quantify its role for all people, especially if you look at it from an evolutionary perspective. Thus, people used to naturally enter a state of ketosis during the winter months when carbohydrates were not as available. This is why it can even be important to look for a solution which can allow you to see the results you want when it comes to better health and when you want to see improved benefits which can also be sustainable.

It makes senses to try ketosis yourself if you have a hard time losing weight. It can also be one of the solutions which need no medication when it comes to controlling hormone levels. Furthermore, it can also be important to know that you can see better overall health when simply limiting the impact increased carbohydrates have on your circulatory system, especially if you are fighting diabetes.

If you are unsure about the diet, you can always discuss it with your doctor. In many cases, such as with pregnant women, ensuring a complex nutrition means that you should not aim to follow any weight loss diet as it can actually be detrimental. This is why it is important to know that you can see improved overall health results when you want to maximize your chances with the quality of the foods you consume as well. This is one of the areas of ketosis which doesn’t get discussed enough.

Since you limits carbs, you will have the opportunity to focus on the quality of the foods you eat. Thus, you will improve the protein quality avoiding highly-processed solutions. The same goes for fats. Since you will be limited in your food choices, you will start looking for the solutions which are actually beneficial for you. This is why it is so important to know that it is not only about the ketones in your blood, but ketosis is also an opportunity to learn more about the foods and the quality of the foods you consume. The final benefits of ketosis will also depend on these variables.

You can find the Best Ketosis Test Strips here to find out when you are in ketosis.

Becca Shaeffer

About 

Becca Shaeffer is our resident health nut. An Ohio native, she loathes for the day she can quit her day job and move to somewhere warmer. When she's not at the gym, she's either hacking her way through skin treatments or thinking about her favorite cheat meal - thin crust pizza with anchovies and jalapenos.

Share.

About Author

Becca Shaeffer

Becca Shaeffer is our resident health nut. An Ohio native, she loathes for the day she can quit her day job and move to somewhere warmer. When she's not at the gym, she's either hacking her way through skin treatments or thinking about her favorite cheat meal - thin crust pizza with anchovies and jalapenos.

Leave A Reply