Ketosis is the
word we use for the body's state when it's burning fat for fuel. As the fat burning occurs, ketones are released, used as
fuel, and discarded. The discarding happens through our urine, and we need to drink loads of water to help flush the extra
ketone bodies out of our systems.
This is what we want when we're dieting.
Fat burning is Good.
In a 'normal' food regimen, our bodies choose glucose
for fuel. If we deprive it of glucose, it's next choice for fuel is fat, either consumed or stored. Ketosis occurs
when we're burning fat that's stored in our bodies.
We want our bodies to use our 'stored' fat
(that stuff that's giving us a nonexistent waist!)
When carbohydrates are consumed, our bodies turn them
into glucose (sugar) to use as fuel for our metabolism. If we don't need all that we've eaten, the hormone insulin delegates
some of the glucose to our liver, and what's left is stored as fat to use as fuel later. No ketosis here :-(
The problem is that usually at our next meal, we eat
more carbohydrates. The body changes them to glucose and the insulin causes the excess to be stored as fat (since the
liver is full) for later use.......again. :-(
Fat burning may happen with a lot of exercise, but
we're usually too tired!
When this happens three times a day, pretty soon there's
enough fat stored to fuel us for quite a while. So, we try a low fat diet (sounds sensible:too much fat, cut down on fat)
with no particular attention paid to carbs. Our bodies change the carbs to glucose, use some of it for fuel, and store the
extra as fat for later use!
Sound familiar?
Well, if one were to cut back on the carbs using a
low carb diet (such as Dr Atkins or the Zone), there would be little or no glucose to use for fuel and the body would naturally
switch to fat burning. Beginning the state of ketosis. :-)
Ketones are what result when fat is used for energy.
The body uses the ketones it requires and discards the rest; through sweat, breath, urine and stool. That's why, if you test
your urine with ketostrips, you have visible evidence that you're 'in ketosis' and burning fat.
You can buy ketostrips at Wal-Mart, or online through
Netrition online.
While you're shopping for ketostix, check out the
vitamins at Netrition Atkins vitamins are formulated especially for a low carb diet. It may be my imagination, but I don't seem as hungry or have
as many cravings.
There's also a new product from Atkins supplements
called Accel.
It's an ephedrine free thermogenic (burns fat for
fuel) for low carb dieting. I'm still trying it so don't know how it works. I don't have the same side effects as with Metabolife.
My only problem is remembering to take it an hour before a meal. This little product ought to have you in Ketosis in no time!
To learn more about how to stay in ketosis (especially
during the holidays) and some recipes, subscribe to my monthly ezine, Low Carb Low Down, by clicking here
Dietary ketosis is often confused with ketoacidosis,
which occurs as a result of no insulin production in a person with diabetes. This leads to elevated blood glucose and extreme
breakdown of fat and muscle tissue. This happens when there is no insulin production by the pancreas, a condition known as
Diabetes. This also may happen if you're not drinking enough water to flush the ketones out of your body. I recommend at
least 2 quarts of water per day, in addition to the other things you drink
With Ketosis, you'll be a fat burning machine!
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Fasting and Ketone Bodies-
After the third day of a fast, the body begins to make ketone bodies in the liver (Enters ketosis). In the absence of food
(Energy), Ketone bodies are produced by the body as an alternate energy source. Normally, ketone levels in the blood are less
than 0.2mm. After several days of fasting they approach 3.0mm, and steadily rise thereafter. Importantly, never eat, even
an extremely amount of food during a fast. This will quickly shift the body out of ketosis, back to its normal metabolism
of glucose (food), decreasing ketone bodies, decreasing growth hormone and increasing hunger.
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Fasting and Hunger Levels-
The only challenge to fasting, and a challenge for many it is, is completing the first 1-5 days. During days 1-5 hunger
levels can flucuate from average, to well above average many actually experience their greatest hunger on day 3 (Just prior
to ketosis, when both blood sugar, and ketone body levels, are lowest). After day 3, hunger levels noticeably decrease. After
day 5, hunger levels, and the "desire" for food in general (So strong initially), dramatically decrease. After day 10, hunger
levels, for the most part, are non-existent.
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Fasting and Energy Levels-
During days 1-5, energy levels can flucuate from average to well below average (Feeling light headed, at times, is not
uncommon). During days 5-10, energy levels very noticeably improve after day 10, with sharply elevated levels of both growth
hormone, and ketone bodies, energy levels are tremendous, as is mental clarity.
Expect (in general) to lose 1 pound each day of fasting!
Contrary to what many people believe, fasting is not starvation. During the fast, the body is breaking down the non-essential
tissue (Fat) for energy. While conserving essential tissue. Starvation, is the point where the body has used up all of its
non-essential tissues (Reserves) ,and begins to break down its own essential tissues. This point (The point of starvation),
even for the average individual (Of normal weight), takes quite some time to reach (Some 42 days or more).
Its important that when you do eat, you eat healthily. Make sure to take a multi vitamin everyday.Without protein and other
things your body needs, you will start to lose hair, your skin with become discolored and such. So when you do eat...pick
up an apple (neg cals!) And again..vitamins, vitamins, vitamins!!
