Often when we hear about a diet that puts the body in a state of ketosis we are fearful having heard that ketosis is a potentially dangerous imbalance of blood glucose, the result of a low carbohydrate, high fat high protein diet. Ketosis results when the body switches from burning glucose for energy to burning ketones for energy. Glucose comes from carbohydrates which are the bodys first choice to metabolize for energy. Ketones are used for energy when there is not enough glucose (from carbohydrates) present in the bloodstream to use for energy. Most patients of bariatric surgery are instructed to follow a high protein, low carbohydrate diet with a modest amount of fat. The body only needs proteins and fats for building and repairing tissue and cells, carbohydrates do not play a part in this metabolic function. Additionally, the body can get all its energy from fats and proteins.
A ketogenic diet, which was first developed in the early 1900s, is a high-fat and low-carbohydrate diet. When following a ketogenic diet the body will switch from being a carb-burning machine to a fat-burning machine. As a result weight is lost. Perhaps the best known ketonic diet is the Atkins plan in which ketosis is deliberately achieved by way of high fat high protein and low carbohydrate diet. According to the Atkins program proper monitoring via urine tests will keep ketosis within safe limits and the dieter can reach an ideal body weight without suffering unbearable hunger. Most weight loss surgery patients are discouraged from following an Atkins-type diet because of the high fat content. Surgery reduces the amount of gastric juice available for digestion and many patients do not tolerate high fat foods. Speaking to the general population (not necessarily weight loss surgery patients) experts are divided regarding the health risk versus benefit of a ketogenic diet.
Some experts say it is dangerous because if keytone levels are not properly monitored there may be a strain on the kidneys, and a significant loss of calcium excreted through urine may cause kidney stones or osteoporosis. Proponents of a ketogenic diet cite human evolution in their argument saying during most of the time that humans have existed we have been a hunter-gatherer species living in a ketogenic state for extended periods. Documented studies suggest that after a 2 to 4 week period of adaptation human physical endurance is not affected by ketosis. Some studies go so far to suggest that humans do not necessarily need a high carbohydrate intake in order to replace depleted glycogen stores for energy. Patients of weight loss surgery should work closely with their bariatric center to develop a diet and lifestyle program specific to their condition of obesity and recovery. While many consider the primary goal of weight loss surgery to be weight loss to improve physical appearance, the higher goal is improved health, energy and longevity.
This means a variety of benefits you’re going to need to maximize to get the most from your diet. PUFAs, as they’re called, have a great reputation for excellence and providing a wide range of heart-and brain-health benefits. These are the reason that we put them at the top of our priority list when it comes to dietary fat. You’re going to want to maximize these - while saturates should be no more than 1/3 and MUFAs should be roughly 1/3, PUFAs should be at least 1/3 of your dietary fats. This category also includes Omega-3 fatty acids, the most important and beneficial type on the market. These are associated with more powerful versions of the nervous system benefits mentioned above, as well as supporting exercise performance and recovery. The 1:1:1 model (sat:MUFA:PUFA) is a really simple way of getting the most from a ketogenic diet. While it’s not a perfect system by any means, it’s a great jumping-off point for optimizing your keto diet.
This is one of the ways that macros play more of a role than you may expect - the type of carbs and fats you take in are going to adjust your outcomes. Getting the most from a ketogenic diet means prioritizing, not restricting or tracking obsessively. Macro-nutrients are a way of squeezing the absolute maximum from your diet and provide organizing principles for the very best ketogenic diet. We’re going to quickly cover the most important fats and why they’re so crucial to your keto diet’s success. Omega-3 fats are the best dietary support for joint inflammation and supporting cellular health. They keep membranes pliable, reducing the risk of inflammation and cell death. This also improves nutrient travel and supports recovery after exercise. Fish oil supplements are cheap and effective, as well as supporting the absorption of other key vitamins/minerals, so take your fish oil. MCT’s were discussed above but they deserve their own specific discussion. These are the compounds found in high concentrations in coconut oil, and they’re absolutely the best-saturated fats to put into your diet. They support the fat-oxidation process necessary for better overall fat-burning and especially for using fats as workout-fuel.
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