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  • Is Ketosis Healthy
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  • Is Ketosis Healthy

Is Ketosis Healthy

Ketosis is a metabolic process that takes place naturally. In this process, the human liver breaks down fat instead of carbs to produce ketone bodies.  In turn, these ketone bodies act as a source of energy for the body.

Many people wonder if ketosis is a healthy process. We answer that question in this article. First, let us look at what is ketosis before we discuss its effects on the human body.

Defining Ketosis in detail

When in ketosis, most of the body’s energy comes from fat.  Ketosis ketosis lose inches fasthappens when we restrict the level of glucose in the bloodstream. Many body cells prefer this fuel as a source of energy.  To get into ketosis, start eating a diet that is low in carbohydrates and high fats.

Mostly, ketogenic and strict low-carb diets trigger ketosis. Also, ketosis is common during starvation, fasting, infancy, and pregnancy.

The easiest way to get into ketosis is by reducing your carbohydrate to less than 50 grams per day.  There are times you will reduce your intake to 20 grams per day.  To achieve this, you have to get rid of some foods from your diet.  You have to cut back on grains, legumes, fruits, sugary soft drinks, candy, and potatoes. Once you adapt to a low-carb diet, insulin levels will reduce. Consequently, your body’s fat stores will release fatty acids in large amounts.

After the release of the fatty acids, the body transfers these molecules to the liver through a physiological process.

Here, the fatty acids undergo oxidation and get converted into ketone bodies (ketones).  Ketones can be an alternative source of energy for both the body and brain.

Different from fatty acids, ketones are capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB).  BBB is a mechanism that creates a barrier between brain tissue and circulating blood. Its purpose is to protect the nervous system.

Therefore, in the absence of glucose, they can be a source of energy for the brain.

 One of the benefits of following a ketogenic diet is improved memory. Which is why so many doctors recommend that their patients with Alzheimers follow a ketogenic diet

Ketones can provide the brain with energy

You have probably heard or read somewhere that without glucose, our brain is incapable of carrying out its normal functions. However, that is untrue; it is just a common misunderstanding.

When the intake of carbohydrates is low or during starvation, the brain can switch to an alternative energy source. It can rely on ketones for energy. For instance, ketones provide around 25% of energy to the brain when you have starved for only three days. This figure shoots to up to 60% during long starvation periods.

Studies have shown that being in ketosis can provide your brain with the nutrients its needs to prevent the development of dementia.

Many people confuse ketoacidosis with ketosis. They are 2 VERY different things. One is good for you while the other is extremely harmful. Click here to learn the difference!

Differentiating between ketosis and ketoacidosis

Many people are unable to distinguish between ketosis and ketoacidosis. Some health care professionals have gone to the extent of telling patients that ketosis is a condition that is life-threatening.  If your doctor said the same thing, they are probably confusing these two terms as well.

First, ketosis is a natural and nutritional metabolism condition.  On the other hand, we cannot say the same for ketoacidosis. Ketoacidosis a.k.a acidosis is the accumulation of ketone bodies.  Primarily, it occurs in patients suffering from diabetes mellitus. The condition can become fatal if the patient does not seek treatment.

During ketoacidosis, glucose (blood sugar) and ketone accumulate in the bloodstream in high levels.  When this happens, the acidic level in the blood rises. It can be dangerous when the blood turns acidic.

Ketoacidosis is common in patients with uncontrolled type 1 diabetes. However, it can as well happen to type 2 diabetes people. With the latter, the cases are less common.

There are more benefits of being in ketosis besides losing weight! You will experience increase energy, improved mood (mental clarity) decrease is belly fat and much much more!

Health benefits of ketosis

Reducing your carbohydrate intake to less than 50 g a day has someThe health benefits of ketosis healthy benefits. Here are some of them:

Treating epilepsy.
Epilepsy is a disorder of the nervous system, which is characterised by loss of consciousness and convulsions. Worldwide, this neurological condition affects approximately 70 million people.  Many patients are instructed to take anti-seizure medications that help control the seizures. However, some patients continue to experience the seizures even after taking medications.

However, during the early 1920s, people started using the ketogenic diet to treat epilepsy. Also, for epileptic children who have not been able to reduce the seizures through conventional treatment, a keto diet has shown remarkable results.

Boosting weight loss

Many people use the keto diet for weight loss. This is a fact that is backed up by science.  Various studies conducted in the past have demonstrated that a low-carb diet is more effective for weight loss compared to a low-fat diet.

In one such study, people on a ketogenic diet lost 2.2 times more weight than those who followed a low-fat, calorie-restricted diet.  On top of that, people on ketogenic diet rarely feel hungry. Rather, most of the time, they feel satisfied. This alleviates the need to count the intake of calories.

Additional Benefits of ketosis

Other therapeutic effects of a ketosis and ketogenic diets include:

  • Heart disease. Keto diets improve the risk factors for heart diseases, including total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and blood triglycerides.
  • Type 2 diabetes. Evidence from studies suggests that a keto diet can boost the sensitivity of insulin.  It can improve insulin sensitivity by roughly 75%. Some people with diabetes have treated their underlying condition with this diet.
  • Metabolic syndrome. Keto diets can help treat symptoms related to metabolic syndrome. Examples of common symptoms include high blood pressure, excess belly fat and high triglycerides.
  • Alzheimer’s disease. Patients with this medical condition can reap many benefits from a ketogenic diet.
  • Cancer. According to some studies, keto diet can be effective in treating cancer.  Probably, the cancer cells “starve” due to the absence of glucose.
  • Parkinson’s disease. According to a particular study, you can improve the symptoms of Parkinson disease with a keto diet. Improvements are seen within 28 days of following a keto diet.
  • Acne. Evidence from various studies reveals that a ketogenic diet is capable of reducing the severity and growth of acne.

There are some side effects of putting your body into a state of ketosis. Such as keto breath and the keto flu! These side effects are TEMPORARY!

Do people in Ketosis experience any side effects?

what you need to know about ketosisWhen you begin to follow a ketogenic diet, you may experience some potential side effects.  Some common symptoms include bad breath, constipation, high cholesterol levels, fatigue, and headache.

Nonetheless, you should know that most of the symptoms do not last. The symptoms last several days or weeks.

Also, some epileptic children on a ketogenic diet have reported growth of kidney stones. Although it is not common, some breastfeeding women have developed ketoacidosis. Eating a strict low-carb diet probably triggers the ketoacidosis.

Talk to a specialist first before you try a ketogenic diet if you are using medication to lower your blood sugar.  A ketogenic diet may alleviate the need to take medication.

All the same, for people who are healthy, ketosis is a safe process. Keep in mind that does not work for everyone.  While some people may feel great and have bursts of energy, others may feel in the beginning, like they have the flu (often called keto flu).  Just remember, it will pass.

 

What is ketosis and why its so important to low carb dieting!

70 Comments
  • Reply

    candy

    December 15, 2016

    Honestly I have never ever heard of any of this before. After reading your post and learning more about this subject it is leading me to want to know more.

    • Reply

      Chiara C

      December 16, 2016

      That’s great! Education is really important. We don’t want you to just dive into a diet without properly knowing what it is. One way of sustaining a diet too is education. = )

  • Reply

    Dee

    December 15, 2016

    This is some very interesting information. I have never thought about Ketosis and what it does for you body. Diabetes run in my family so this is some great information to have.

    • Reply

      Chiara C

      December 16, 2016

      There are more about the low carb diet in our site. Feel free to browse and hopefully you learn more about the diet. = )

  • Reply

    Jacqui @FlightsFancyMom

    December 15, 2016

    My dr put me on a low carb diet in association with my takeaway my Phentermine. So far I’m doing well with this. Lost 17 lbs so far!

    • Reply

      Chiara C

      December 16, 2016

      Congratulations on your weight loss! We are very happy for you! = )

  • Reply

    Jeanette

    December 15, 2016

    I learned a lot from this post! I am trying to cut down on carbs and this post actually helps me understand why it helps!

    • Reply

      Chiara C

      December 16, 2016

      We’re very glad that you’re learning something each time you come and visit our site. Education is one of our goals here on Low Carb And Loving It. = )

  • Reply

    Emily

    December 15, 2016

    This is all really helpful! I have been making goals for my health recently and knowing the right direction to go with my health is key. There is so much information out there! Thanks for explaining Ketosis and the health benefits!

    • Reply

      Chiara C

      December 16, 2016

      You’re very much welcome and we wish you success in your goal to be healthy. Please do come back for more information on the diet. = )

  • Reply

    Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle

    December 15, 2016

    I love this post. There’s a big difference between ketosis and ketoacidosis. One can help you lose a ton of weight, and one is super dangerous.

    • Reply

      Chiara C

      December 16, 2016

      Yes, there is a lot of misinformation regarding ketosis and ketoacidosis. Even medical professionals get confused with the two that’s why we thought of making this article to help educate people. This facilitates for a healthy and safer weight loss too!

  • Reply

    Paula Schuck

    December 15, 2016

    Thanks for this great read. I was on the fence about trying a ketosis diet, because I was afraid it wasn’t healthy. Great info!

    • Reply

      Chiara C

      December 16, 2016

      Wow! Isn’t that a coincidence that you stumbled on this post then? We hope this article doesn’t make you adamant on the diet anymore. Cheers! = )

  • Reply

    Ricci

    December 15, 2016

    I work in a hospital and have seen the benefits of a ketogenic diet. It really is healthy if you do it right.

    • Reply

      Chiara C

      December 16, 2016

      Yes, that is very true. That is why we try to educate our readers as much as we can so that they don’t go into the diet blindly. = )

  • Reply

    lisa

    December 15, 2016

    I don’t know anyone that has tried ketosis. And it was great to see the difference between ketosis and ketoacidosis. Not a lot of people actually know the difference.

    • Reply

      Chiara C

      December 16, 2016

      that is very true that’s why we put out this article so that people become more aware now. = )

  • Reply

    Alli Smith

    December 15, 2016

    I’m glad you took the time to learn all about the low-carb lifestyle. So many people don’t know anything about ketosis and back in the day, many people who opposed low carb gave out the wrong info.

    • Reply

      Chiara C

      December 16, 2016

      Thank you so much. It is a big responsibility to be out here on the net and write about something that can possibly affect so many lives. It is just important that we learn first hand about the things we write about so we don’t share wrong information to readers. = )

  • Reply

    Pam

    December 15, 2016

    I have heard lots of great things from people on a ketogenic diet. Thanks for the overview of what ketosis is.

    • Reply

      Chiara C

      December 16, 2016

      You are very much welcome, pam! = )

  • Reply

    Jenn @ EngineerMommy

    December 15, 2016

    I have been wondering about the differences between ketosis and ketogenesis. Thanks for explaining it all. I will be looking into making some diet and lifestyle changes.

    • Reply

      Chiara C

      December 16, 2016

      That is great to hear, Jenn! Let us know how you’re doing with the diet once you’ve taken the plunge. Maybe we can help support you in your journey. = )

  • Reply

    Bella

    December 15, 2016

    Wow, this is a lot of great information I really wasn’t aware of. Thanks for breaking it down so I could actually understand it!

    • Reply

      Chiara C

      December 16, 2016

      You’re very much welcome, Bella! = )

  • Reply

    Paula Bendfeldt

    December 15, 2016

    This was very interesting information. I did not know anything about ketosis.

    • Reply

      Chiara C

      December 16, 2016

      Well now you can say, “now I know!” = )

  • Reply

    Chris Lewis

    December 15, 2016

    This is great information! I had heard of this before but never really knew much about it. Thanks for sharing!

    • Reply

      Chiara C

      December 16, 2016

      You’re very much welcome and we always believe that it is better to share whatever information we have on the low carb lifestyle. = )

  • Reply

    rika

    December 16, 2016

    Thanks for sharing this useful info. I am a low carb dieter and always try to increase my protein intake

    • Reply

      Chiara C

      December 16, 2016

      You’re welcome and keep going in your diet. If you need help please holler us. = )

  • Reply

    Dawn Gibson-Thigpen

    December 16, 2016

    wow great info. i never thought Ketosis and how it can cause weight gain. that is really interesting.

    • Reply

      Chiara C

      December 16, 2016

      Thank you. And I guess you mistook weight gain with weight loss. = )

  • Reply

    Lisa Favre

    December 16, 2016

    I had never heard of ketsosis before but your post is super informative. Definitely something I’ll look more into now because I’m super interested now.

    • Reply

      Chiara C

      December 17, 2016

      That’s great! Please do check our other articles for further information. = )

  • Reply

    Rebecca Swenor

    December 16, 2016

    This is all great information about ketosis or low carb diets. I didn’t know all this great information about ketosis and the benefits. This is awesome information between ketosis and ketoacidosis. I find it interesting that the ketogenic diet is used to treat epilepsy. Thanks for sharing all this great information.

    • Reply

      Chiara C

      December 17, 2016

      Yes, it was first used as an epileptic treatment until doctors observed it’s weight loss benefits. = )

  • Reply

    Debra @ Traveling Well For Less

    December 16, 2016

    This was a really interesting post. I’ve never heard of Ketosis before. I hadn’t realized that all those low carb diets are using Ketosis to their benefit.

    • Reply

      Chiara C

      December 17, 2016

      Yes, a lot of high protein diets are basically using this science to achieve weight loss. = )

  • Reply

    Ann Bacciaglia

    December 16, 2016

    Thanks for the great information. I was wondering what Ketosis was exactly and if it was safe.

    • Reply

      Chiara C

      December 17, 2016

      Yes, it is safe when used properly. = )

  • Reply

    uprunforlife

    December 16, 2016

    Thank you so much for the detailed information. I have seen other’s talk about following a ketosis diet. I was kinda skeptical if it was healthy. I am trying to lose weight and this would help boost it since I am kinda at a plateau.

    • Reply

      Chiara C

      December 17, 2016

      Try using Pruvit too if you’re having a plateau. We’re giving away free 5 day samples. Just click on our Pruvit page.

  • Reply

    Kathy

    December 16, 2016

    I’ve honestly never heard of Ketosis til now. I’m glad you wrote all this great info. It’s nice to be able to learn something new.

    • Reply

      Chiara C

      December 17, 2016

      You’re welcome! = )

  • Reply

    Eloise

    December 16, 2016

    I never knew about this Ketosis! it sounds pretty beneficial to those in need! I love learning new things every day! thanks!

    • Reply

      Chiara C

      December 17, 2016

      Yes, always great to learn new things! = )

  • Reply

    Echo

    December 16, 2016

    I have always wondered what ketosis is. Thank you so much for explaining it so thoroughly. It is a huge help.

    • Reply

      Chiara C

      December 17, 2016

      This kind of information will definitely help you since you have gestational diabetes. = )

  • Reply

    Kate | My Mommy Brain

    December 16, 2016

    I have never heard of ketosis. This was very interesting to read. I am a carb addict but I’ve been slowly cutting back.

    • Reply

      Chiara C

      December 17, 2016

      That’s good that you’re slowly cutting. You do have to start somewhere. = )

  • Reply

    kendall

    December 16, 2016

    Wow! There’s so much information here I had no clue about! It’s awesome that it can help with weight loss. So much I didn’t know about! Thanks for sharing!

    • Reply

      Chiara C

      December 17, 2016

      You’re welcome!

  • Reply

    Terri Beavers

    December 17, 2016

    I didn’t realize that I need to reduce my carbohydrate to less than 50 grams per day. This is great information, I’m searching for tips to help me lose a few pounds.

  • Reply

    Lori Vachon

    December 17, 2016

    I’m very familiar with Ketosis, I did the Atkins diet back in the 90’s. Low carb is something that helps many people, no doubt about it.

  • Reply

    Anosa

    December 17, 2016

    I remember learning about ketosis at school but after I finished never thought much about it. It’s so beneficial

    • Reply

      Liz Roberts

      December 18, 2016

      Hi Anosa,
      Yeah the health benefits of ketosis are really great. Its sad that so many people confuse it w/ ketoacidosis. Hopefully I’ve cleared up some of the misunderstandings w/ this article!

  • Reply

    Gabriel

    December 17, 2016

    Good information. Also good that it confirms most of what I already knew about it, makes me know I’m not crazy.

  • Reply

    Garf

    December 18, 2016

    I have heard about this kind of diet before but haven’t checked it out further. Thanks for sharing the info.

  • Reply

    Jo

    December 18, 2016

    Wow! I didn’t know both terms and I am glad I read about it here. Some relatives have diabetes and oh my goodness I don’t think I can’t leave without sweets but I guess I have to think about it.

    • Reply

      Liz Roberts

      December 18, 2016

      They really don’t need to give up desserts! I made a low carb lemon tart for my mom at Thanksgiving and she LOVED it! There are lots of low carb recipe sites on the web! So no need to give up the sweets. But even w/ low carb sweets, you shld still it it in moderation.

    • Reply

      Chiara C

      December 19, 2016

      You can still enjoy your favorite sweets but with a low carb twist. There are a lot of low carb versions available on the net already. We’ll be posting some on the site too soon. = )

  • Reply

    LaShawn

    December 18, 2016

    I have heard of Ketosis. I just learned recently that people were using it for weight loss. I have only heard of using ketosis for health reasons. Good information.

    • Reply

      Liz Roberts

      December 18, 2016

      Hey LeShawn,
      There are a lot of benefits to ketosis I never knew about until I started to do my research. I’ve been low carb dieting on and off for years, so I just knew I wanted to get into ketosis to lose weight. But then I learned about all the health benefits! As a Pruvit distributor I’ve approached several elderly ladies in my neighborhood, and told them about ketosis. And 1 of the ladies introduced me to her doctor who became a distributor! Its awesome when someone like that backs your product and sees the health benefits.

  • Reply

    Nikka Shae

    December 18, 2016

    Wow, great info!! I had no idea about this and thanks for sharing!’

  • Reply

    CourtneyLynne

    December 19, 2016

    Ooooo lots of great info here!!!! I never knew that much about Ketosis until I read this!

    • Reply

      Chiara C

      December 19, 2016

      Read on! We’re constantly updating the site with new articles. = )

  • Reply

    sara

    December 20, 2016

    This is such an interesting blog! I did not know much about eating low carb and now after reading your blog I am much more knowledgeable!

  • Reply

    Rachael Mills

    January 12, 2017

    Finally, I have been trying to find out the side effects of ketosis for some time now, this piece was really informative and educative, keep up the good work.

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