Truth and Lies About Food

Often media, and unfortunately experts, are mixing up the terms ketosis and ketoacidosis.

Ketosis is a normal and harmless state of the body, that burns fat as energy, while ketoacidosis is a state which occurs from untreated diabetes and can be fatal.

Ketosis or a nutritional ketosis is a natural human state in people with low carbohydrates intake. The human body uses glucose (sugars), fat, acids, and ketones. On a diet with low carbohydrates, usually 50g per day, from a fat burning metabolism ketones are created. This is when the body is in the state of ketosis.

This is called ketones diet. Usually, even on the standard diet which is based on the higher intake of carbohydrates, the body is naturally switching to the state of ketosis, so that it could in the morning after the first meal return to the state of glucose (burning glucose for energy).

Ketoacidosis, or diabetic ketoacidosis, has nothing to do with lower intake of carbohydrates, and it is a very dangerous state which can lead to uncontrolled diabetes. If a diabetic in need of insulin does not take insulin, it leads to a release of new glucose under the effects of hormones opposite of insulin glucagon and adrenaline. Fat and proteins are also dissolved and ketones in high concentration are created.

So Ketoacidosis is defined by the abnormally high concentration of ketones at the same time blood sugar is very high due to lack of insulin. This state can lead acid in the blood and can be deadly.

Diabetics who have high sugar and ketones must take insulin, drink a lot of water, and ask for medical help.

In the state of healthy ketosis, with lower carbohydrates intake, ketones are not even close in concentration like in ketoacidosis.

Ketones are not "poisonous" as media claims, they are the exact opposite. They are cleaner "fuel" as they cause less damage. Some experts claim that the heart and brain work 25% better on ketones instead of glucose, and that is what we experience as a surge of energy, better body endurance, concentration, and lack of often feeling hungry.

To summarize, ketosis is a natural state and has nothing to do with ketoacidosis. Ketosis even has a therapeutic effect in many illnesses.

The ketones diet has been used since 1920 as an epilepsy therapy, and recent researchers claim that it has a therapeutic effect in many other illnesses such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease and even cancer.

So how to start with ketones diet?

First, you need to determine how many calories your body wastes in a state of inaction, in other words, to keep the state same. For that, there are few equations some simple and some more complicated.

For men > kcal = weight in kg times 35,2

For women > kcal = weight in kg times 33

Then you need to determine how many calories you are going to intake; of course, to lose fat tissue we need to lower calorie intake. Most people tend to be in a calorie deficit which causes metabolism to slow down and weaken the effects of a diet.

You should always have in mind that caloric deficit is not caused only by lower intake but with training as well.

When you first start the diet, calorie intake should not be lowered more than 10-20% from the calculated % in the inactive state. It is reasonable to expect 0,75 to 1 kilogram per week.

Anyone who loses weight faster should increase calorie intake or lower the aerobic training because they are probably losing muscle tissue.

Always consult your physician before beginning any diet program, this general study is not intended to diagnose any medical condition or replace your healthcare professional. Consult with your healthcare professional to design an appropriate diet plan.