The ketogenic diet, colloquially called the keto diet, is a popular diet containing high amounts of fats, adequate protein and low carbohydrate. It is also referred to as a Low Carb-High Fat (LCHF) diet and a low carbohydrate diet. Ketogenic diets are basically designed to induce a state of ketosis in the body. When the amount of glucose in the body becomes too low, the body switches to fat as an alternative source of energy. The glycerol molecule goes into the liver where three molecules of it combine to form one glucose molecule. Therefore, as your body burns fat, it also produces glucose as a by-product. This glucose can be used to fuel parts of the brain as well as other parts of the body that cannot run on FFA. However, while glucose can travel through the bloodstream on its own, cholesterol and triglycerides need a carrier to move around in the bloodstream. Cholesterol and triglycerides are packaged in a carrier called low-density lipoprotein, or LDL. Thus, the larger the LDL particle, the more triglycerides it contains. The overall process of burning fat deposits for energy produces carbon dioxide, water, and compounds called ketones.
Ketones are produced by the liver from free fatty acids. There are composed of 2 groups of atoms linked together by a carbonyl functional group. The body has no capability to store ketones and therefore they must be either used or excreted. The body excrete them either through the breath as acetone or through the urine as acetoacetate. Ketones can be used by body cells as a source of energy. Also, the brain can make use of ketones in generating about 70-75% of its energy requirement. Like alcohol, ketones take priority as a fuel source over carbohydrates. This implies that when they are high in the bloodstream, they must be burned first before glucose can be used as a fuel. When you start eating less amounts of carbohydrates, your body gets smaller supply of glucose to use as energy compared to before. The decrease in the amount of consumed carbohydrates and the subsequent reduction in the amount of available glucose, slowly forces the body to move into the state of ketosis.
Thus, the body goes into a state of ketosis when there is not enough amount of glucose available to the body cells. Fasting and starvation states usually involve reduced or no intake of food that the body can digest and convert into glucose. While starvation is involuntary, fasting is a more conscious choice you make to intentionally not eat. However, the body enters into a "starvation mode" whenever you are sleeping, when you skip a meal or when you intentionally go on a fast. The lack of food intake results in a reduction in blood glucose levels. As a result, the body starts to break down it glycogen (stored glucose) stores for energy. The glycogen is converted back into glucose and used as energy by the body. In this state, the body also starts to burn its stored fats. Thus, the production of ketone bodies (ketogenesis) is induced by a lack of available glucose.
Most people find the keto diet as the most difficult method of weight loss. They are hardly able to get through the first few days. They are the worst part of this whole dieting experience. You may experience flu. This flu is the body’s natural reaction when shifting to fat for energy instead of glucose. It is an experience that is quite similar to withdrawal from drugs. Or addictive substances. You may experience such flu during the first few days of the diet. Drowsiness, pain, nausea, dizziness, and migraines are also symptoms of the keto flu. This experience makes most people want to quit. And in other cases, people fail to get through with the diet. It is important to remember that the keto flu is a common experience for everyone during the first stages. It is also the hardest stage. To get through this flu, you may utilize a few remedies. This includes drinking water, resting more, taking electrolyte supplements and consuming meat.
Therefore, as the body forgets the typical everyday diet, the keto flu becomes an unfortunate result. A rash could be another symptom of the keto diet. Also referred to as the ‘keto rash'. It is a yeast that survives on your skin. While fading off, Candida forms an itchy rash. But it doesn’t last for long. Any topical cream like hydrocortisone or calamine lotion can be used to treat or manage the symptoms. Who Should Not Take The Keto Diet? People who have a history of diabetes, kidney and liver diseases, genetic defects, eating disorders and pregnant or nursing women. The keto diet is considered to be safe and healthy but can have dangerous effects on these people. Anyone can accomplish the keto diet but with enough effort and persistence. Also, a number of body functions can be moderated naturally with the keto diet. Unhealthy conditions such as blood sugar, inflammation, and diabetes can be stabilized with the keto diet. Hence, if you are a victim of such health problems, a keto diet will not disappoint you. Low Carb Bread Recipe - Easy and Yummy! Sign in or sign up and post using a HubPages Network account. No HTML is allowed in comments, but URLs will be hyperlinked. Comments are not for promoting your articles or other sites.
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