Ketosis is a natural metabolic state.
It involves the body producing ketone bodies out of fat, and using them for energy instead of carbs.
You can get into ketosis by following a very low-carb, high-fat ketogenic diet (1).
In addition to fast weight loss, ketosis may have several health benefits, such as reduced seizures in epileptic children.
Ketosis is quite complex, but this article explains what it is and how it can benefit you.
What is Ketosis?
Ketosis is a metabolic state in which fat provides most of the fuel for the body.
It occurs when there is limited access to glucose (blood sugar), which is the preferred fuel source for many cells in the body.
Ketosis is most often associated with ketogenic and very low-carb diets. It also happens during pregnancy, infancy, fasting and starvation.
To go into ketosis, people generally need to eat fewer than 50 grams of carbs per day and sometimes as low as 20 grams per day.
This requires removing certain food items from your diet, such as grains, candy and sugary soft drinks. You also have to cut back on legumes, potatoes and fruit.
When eating a very low-carb diet, levels of the hormone insulin go down and fatty acids are released from body fat stores in large amounts.
Many of these fatty acids are transferred to the liver, where they are oxidized and turned into ketones (or ketone bodies). These molecules can provide energy for the body.
Unlike fatty acids, ketones can cross the blood-brain barrier and provide energy for the brain in the absence of glucose.
Bottom Line: Ketosis is a metabolic state where ketones become the main sources of energy for the body and brain. This happens when carb intake and insulin levels are very low.
Ketones Can Supply Energy for the Brain
It’s a common misunderstanding that the brain doesn’t function without carbs.
It’s true that glucose is preferred and that there are some cells in the brain that can only use glucose for fuel.
However, a large portion of your brain can also use ketones for energy, such as during starvation or when your diet is low in carbs.
In fact, after only three days of starvation, the brain gets 25% of its energy from ketones. During long-term starvation, this number rises to around 60%.
In addition, your body can use protein to produce the little glucose the brain still requires during ketosis. This process is called guconegenesis.
Ketosis and gluconeogenesis are perfectly capable of fulfilling the brain’s energy needs.
Here is more info about ketogenic diets and the brain: How Low-Carb and Ketogenic Diets Boost Brain Health.
Bottom Line: When the brain isn’t getting enough glucose, it can use ketones for energy. The little glucose it still needs can be produced from protein.
Ketosis is NOT the Same as Ketoacidosis
People often confuse ketosis and ketoacidosis.
While ketosis is part of normal metabolism, ketoacidosis is a dangerous metabolic condition that can be fatal if left untreated.
In ketoacidosis, the bloodstream is flooded withextremely high levels of glucose (blood sugar) and ketones.
When this happens, the blood becomes acidic, which is seriously harmful.
Ketoacidosis is most often associated with uncontrolled type 1 diabetes. It may also occur in people with type 2 diabetes, although this is less common.
In addition, severe alcohol abuse may lead to ketoacidosis.
Bottom Line: Ketosis is a natural metabolic state, while ketoacidosis is a serious medical condition most often seen in uncontrolled type 1 diabetes.
Effects on Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a brain disorder characterized by recurring seizures.
It’s a very common neurological condition, affecting around 70 million people worldwide.
For the majority of patients, anti-seizure medications can help control the seizures. However, around 30% of patients continue to have seizures despite using these medications.
In the early 1920s, the ketogenic diet was introduced as a treatment for epilepsy in people who don’t respond to drug treatment.
It has primarily been used in children, with some studies showing remarkable benefits. Many epileptic children have had massive reductions in seizures on a ketogenic diet, and some have even seen complete remission.
Bottom Line: Ketogenic diets can effectively reduce epileptic seizures, especially in epileptic children who don’t respond to conventional treatment.
Effects on Weight Loss
The ketogenic diet is a popular weight loss diet that is well-supported by science.
In fact, many studies have found that ketogenic diets lead to much greater weight loss than low-fat diets.
One study reported 2.2 times more weight loss for people on a ketogenic diet, compared to those on a low-fat, calorie-restricted diet.
What’s more, people tend to feel less hungry and more full on a ketogenic diet, which is attributed to ketosis. For this reason, it is generally not necessary to count calories on this diet.
More details here: A Ketogenic Diet to Lose Weight and Fight Disease.
Bottom Line: Studies show that ketogenic diets lead to more weight loss than low-fat diets. In addition, people feel less hungry and more full.
Other Health Benefits of Ketosis
Ketosis and ketogenic diets may also have other therapeutic effects. They are now being studied as a treatment for a wide variety of conditions:
- Heart disease. Reducing carbs to ketosis levels may improve heart disease risk factors like blood triglycerides, total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol.
- Type 2 diabetes. The diet may improve insulin sensitivity by up to 75%, and some diabetics are able to reduce or even stop diabetes medication.
- Metabolic syndrome. Ketogenic diets can improve all major symptoms of metabolic syndrome, including high triglycerides, excess belly fat and elevated blood pressure .
- Alzheimer’s disease. A ketogenic diet may have benefits for patients with Alzheimer’s disease.
- Cancer. Some studies suggest that ketogenic diets may aid in cancer therapy, possibly by helping to “starve” cancer cells of glucose.
- Parkinson’s disease. A small study found that symptoms of Parkinson’s disease improved after 28 days on a ketogenic diet.
- Acne. There is some evidence that this diet may reduce the severity and progression of acne.
Bottom Line: Ketosis and ketogenic diets may help with a number of chronic diseases, including metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s.
Does Ketosis Have Any Negative Health Effects?
There are a few potential side effects you may experience from ketosis and ketogenic diets.
These include headache, fatigue, constipation, hight cholesterol levels and bad breath.
However, most of the symptoms are temporary and should disappear within a few days or weeks.
Also, some epileptic children have developed kidney stones on the diet.
And although extremely rare, there have been a few cases of breastfeeding women developing ketoacidosis likely triggered by a low-carb or ketogenic diet.
People who are taking blood sugar lowering drugs should consult with a doctor before trying a ketogenic diet, because the diet may reduce the need for medication.
All that being said, ketosis is generally safe for healthy people.
Nevertheless, it will not suit everyone. Some people may feel great and full of energy in ketosis, while others feel miserable.
Bottom Line: Ketosis is safe for most people. However, some people may experience side effects, including bad breath, headaches and constipation.
Take Home Message
Ketosis is a natural metabolic state that can be achieved by following a ketogenic diet.
It has a variety of health benefits, including weight loss, lower blood sugar levels and reduced seizures in epileptic children.
However, following a strict diet to induce ketosis can be very difficult. Additionally, some people experience negative side effects or simply don’t feel good.
Ketosis is not for everyone, but it can have powerful benefits for certain people.
You can find even more info about the ketogenic diet on this page: The Ketogenic Diet 101: A Detailed Beginner’s Guide.
And here’s a short video about how beneficial a Ketogenic diet can be for you:
*Article originally appeared on Authority Nutrition.
