fatCan you share with me some information on ketosis?
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How low does carb intake need to be before ketosis sets in? I realise that a higher proportion of protein to carbs is needed to cut down fat but how low is too low? Is making sure you get plenty of fruit and veg enough carb intake (like 5 or so portions per day)?
Also what are the main symptoms of ketosis when it starts to happen? Is simply adding a few carbs to the diet enough to rectify any symptoms?
Cheers for the info in advcance.
Also what are the main symptoms of ketosis when it starts to happen? Is simply adding a few carbs to the diet enough to rectify any symptoms?
Cheers for the info in advcance.
By Craig Goodchild
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Personal Trainer
over 1 year ago
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The people at highest risk for ketosis are diabetics because of their high risk of regularly high blood sugar levels. In order for our bodies to completely metabolize, or break down, fat, we need carbohydrates. Our body likes to use carbohydrates for energy, especially when exercising. If there are no carbohydrates available for the body to use, the body switches over to fat to meet its energy requirements. However, when fat is metabolized without carbohydrates present, ketones are produced in the liver as a by-product of incomplete fat metabolism. When ketones are released into the blood in high concentrations, they are poisonous. If left untreated, ketosis can result in coma and death.
Signs to be on the lookout for include:
-Dehydration
-Drowsiness, fatigue, nausea, vomiting
-Fruity smelling breath
Ketosis is pretty uncommon in people without diabetes. So unless you’re regularly consuming almost zero carbohydrates, your risk for developing ketosis is low. Because I’m not a registered dietitian, I do not feel qualified to prescribe specific diet recommendations, but sticking to the general recommendations of choosing whole grain foods and eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, and lean protein should prevent ketosis.
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Clinical Exercise Physiologist
Only yesterday I was treating a patient quite sick due to the condition Diabetic Ketoacidosis or DKA.
This whole ketosis or ketogenic diet thing in the fitness world is quite interesting. DKA is life threatening. Because their bodies lack insulin, blood glucose can build up in a diabetic's body, leading to excessive urination, thirst, dehydration and the burning of fat. It also lowers the pH of the blood, which can be dangerous. But this only affects diabetics!
However, the sort of ketosis the body goes through in low-carb dieting is not this harmful type. Some people believe that ketone bodies are a preferred energy substrate to glucose by the organs in the body. They say the body does not actually need to consume glucose to properly function, and any glucose that is needed in the body can be manufactured from protein in the liver. This is not a truly researched statement however.
The only way to know if you are ketotic is to do a urine test. My personal preference is not to have any ketones in my urine, hence I do not follow this ketogenic form of dieting.
Yes... eating carbohydrate will correct the ketosis, as will drinking lots of water.
Health and Fitness Doctor
So basically you want low-carb not no-carb when it comes to stripping away fat and so long as you keep good protein levels, keep hydrated, and get plenty of vits and mins through fruit and veg you won't ever o into ketosis? I guess its quite an extreme condition then. I actually only asked this question due to something you (Dan) posted on the facebook page about that fitness model sharing her experience of ketosis and bloating etc.
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