Blaze the Daze

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Keto: How and Why it Works

The Science of Keto

I have been on a ketogenic diet for roughly 3 years now, and enjoyed moderate success with it. The mechanism behind how it works is when your body is deprived of sufficient levels of carbohydrates, and exhausts the supply of glucagon(stored sugars) within muscle tissue, the body will then begin to burn off it’s supply of stored fat by means of conversion to ketones. It’s kind of like comparing a flex fuel or hybrid vehicle to the human body. The body uses three types of macro nutrients for its energy supply: Carbohydrates, Protein, and Fats. The human body normally prefers carbohydrates for its preferred energy source. Carbs are burnt very quickly, as opposed to protein which is burnt more slowly and is generally considered the middle of the road for energy you receive from food and drinks, and fat which is burnt the slowest of all. Keto works by forcing your body to switch fuels from carbs to fat as it’s source of energy. This is done by limiting carb intake to no more than 25 to 30 grams of carbs per day, and eating predominantly a daily diet sourced of fats(~70%), moderate protein(~25%), and carbs(~5%), and maintaining this habit for at least 48 to 72 hours. After which time, your body enters ketosis(fat burning mode) and this begins the process of cellular recycling known autophagy.

-70% Fat

-25% Protein

-5% Carbs

When the body is forced into autophagy for a long enough time, your body gets rid of damaged cells, and replaces them with new cells with undamaged DNA structure. This is turns out to be the key way to fight most types of cancer, as a wide variety of cancers LOVE carbs, and carbs with cancer is like a helicopter dumping kerosene on a forest fire.

Consumption of 50 grams or more of net carbs(Net carbs = Total carbs – Fiber) in a day is often enough to kick you out of ketosis(fat burning mode). A carb heavy diet often leads to spikes in insulin levels as well as weight gain and the associated risks of insulin resistance, which leads to things like diabetes, heart disease, neuropathy(nerve damage; usually with pain), liver, kidney, and other major organ damage, and cancer.

Photo by Miguel u00c1. Padriu00f1u00e1n on Pexels.com

Simple carbs are often snuck into many types of foods and drinks that you might not suspect. Breads, pasta, soda, juices, alcohol, fructose from fruit, high fructose corn syrup, cane sugar, and others).

Alcohol from beverages are converted to sugar, and count toward your total carb count.(yes even to so-called low carb kind, so don’t be fooled.)

Also, sugar alcohols such as sorbitol, xylitol, and manitol, which can be found in sugar-free gum and in keto products such as keto cereals and keto icecream are not as useful as you think at cutting carb cravings, because these products will cause an insulin spike because your body literally can’t distinguish between real carbs and “fake” carbs. This means when you consume them, even though they may not count toward your daily net carbs(total carbs, minus dietary fiber, equals net carbs), your blood sugar will drop and you’ll be more likely to go hunt for REAL CARBS, or overeat, so don’t fall for that trap!) Not to mention, many people are prone to dietary dsicomfort over these indigestible alcohols, which can cause a “purging effect” when consumed in sufficient doses. (While not necessarily for the faint of heart, feel free to look up reviews for sugar-free gummies, if you’re curious and would like a decent laugh.)

Combination of these dietary habits with a healthy dose of moderate sweat inducing exercise, for a recommended 30 minutes minimum, 4 to 5 days a week, and it is shown to be a more healthy way to maintain consistent blood sugar levels, AND shed those unwanted pounds. Also, did I mention the mental clarity and excess energy levels that come from this lifestyle? Many on keto report not only accelerated weight loss, but many also enjoy an easier time going to sleep and enjoying more restful sleep. All of this equals up to greater productivity during the waking hours.

THE RISKS

As with all diets there is an inherit risk to wellbeing if followed too stringently, or incorrectly. While the macro nutrient profile of 70/25/5, with fat being the dominant percentage, it should be noted that following this formula alone is only one aspect of this diet. The more difficult part is the micronutrient profile. Nutrients such as Calcium, Iron, Vitamin D(Calciferol), B3(Niacin), Vitamin C(Ascorbic Acid), Vitamin A(Retinol; Carotenoids) and others are necessary to account for for long term success with this diet. Some reports of strange side effects such as hair loss have been reported with some practitioners. Much of this is due to a nutrition deficiency that can occur over time. Also, it should be noted that those bitten by the Lone Star Tick, and infected with a sugar that they can carry (Alpha-gal) can lead to Alpha-gal syndrome, which leads to a meat allergy. There are other risks, and thorough research as well as consultation with a licensed physician is strongly recommended prior to any dietary change.

You might give up soda and cake to follow keto, but hey the cheese and sausage is a decent trade off, in my opinion.

(DISCLAIMER: THE INFORMATION IN THIS ARTICLE IS FOR INFORMATIVE PURPOSES ONLY, AND SHOULD NOT CONSTITUTE MEDICAL ADVICE. THIS AUTHOR IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY HARM INCURRED DUE TO THE FAILURE OR ADHERENCE TO THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS ARTICLE. YOU ASSUME THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR OWN HEALTH CHOICES! As with all diets, your experience may vary, and consulting with your physician is strongly advised when considering undergoing any major dietary change.)

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