What The Heck Is Ketosis Anyway?
Filed under Low Carb FAQs
When you hear someone talking about the Atkins diet, one of the notable effects of the diet is when your body reaches a state of “ketosis”. Ketosis is what helps your body use your fat stores for energy, and is a very exciting thing when you realize you’re in ketosis. The only setback is, not everyone understands ketosis and what it involves, so we’ll try to explain how it fits into the big picture.
You see, a large portion of diets out there rely on reducing calories. That’s all fine and dandy, and you’ll lose weight, but you have to keep in mind that you’re going to lose weight not only from fat, but also from lean muscle tissue. This, in turn, will reduce your metabolism, which could, in the long term (assuming you don’t exercise a lot) make it harder to lose weight and make it real easy to gain it back. We don’t want that, right?
A low carb diet (which is mostly known as Atkins) revolves around reducing carbohydrates. When you drastically slow down the consumption of carbs, your body will most likely go into a state of ketosis, because since your body doesn’t have carbs to burn (which is the first source it turns to for energy), it has no choice but to burn fat stores to maintain your energy level. The ketones that are created from the fat is what is being burned as energy, and they will quickly be turned into the primary source of energy. Your good old friend Mr. liver will convert your fat stores into ketones, and any extra ketones will be excreted in your urine.
These “ketones” we speak of are actually a very healthy and highly efficient source of energy, and after a few days, your body will be thanking you for making the switch. Since you’re reducing the amount of sugar and glucose while on a low carb diet, your blood sugar levels out, which is a great feeling. No more ups and downs, after a small “adjustment period”, you’ll have a very steady supply of energy.
One of the quickest ways to find out if you’re in a ketosis state is to head over to your local pharmacy (Walgreens, CVS, etc…) and pick up a package of Ketone Test Strips. They typically come in packs of 50, and cost around $15. Once you get used to testing your urine (you just slip it into your stream real quick, and its color coded), you can find out how your body reacts to certain foods. If you cheat one day and have too many carbohydrates, test yourself later that night, and you’ll notice the ketone count is lower. It’s kind of fun, actually and very encouraging when you continually test positive for ketones. It means you’re doing it right!
I have to add though, that in some circumstances, even if you’re following a low carb diet to the letter and aren’t seeing positive tests for ketones while using a testing strip, don’t worry. There are quite a few people that even if ketones are in fact being produced, your strips won’t show it, or it may show a small amount. This seems to be somewhat common in women more than men. It’s just the way we’re designed, and as long as you’re losing weight and inches off your waistline, there is nothing to worry about!
Make sure you stay hydrated while on a low carb diet, and always check with your physician if you have even the slightest of concern or question. Once you’re cleared by the doctor, low carb diets are an outstanding way to lose all those extra pounds!
Online Pharmacy on Tue, 25th Aug 2009 12:25 pm
These testing trips work wonders. When on the Atkins this is the only true way to know whether you are doing it right or not. I used these strips and found that my body went into Ketosis after 15 days. Before that, I saw only marginal weight loss and was about to quit the diet. That’s when I got the strips, and found out I was getting too much sugar. After I hit Ketosis, I dropped 22 pounds in 4 weeks.
millie from medicalequipment on Tue, 6th Oct 2009 9:21 am
I must say – the label on this product is very good looking!! Has anyone ever used this product – does it work???
Dennis from fat burning secrets on Sat, 10th Oct 2009 7:27 pm
This is something I never heard of and I find it very interesting, especially the fact that one can measure their ketone levels. I’m sure there are a lot of people out there that have never heard of this either, but it sounds like something that can be very useful for anyone trying to lose weight. Thanks for sharing this information. I am also finding the rest of your site very helpful, too.
Dennis @fat burning secrets´s last blog ..Fat Loss 4 Idiots Review
Explore Talent on Thu, 5th Nov 2009 4:37 am
ou will experience water weight gain when you go off plan and if you were at a ketogenic level while dieting this will mean you gain 3-8 lbs (the same as what you you lost the first four days of the diet.)
It is water, not fat, but many people find it fightening.
Dave from lose weight on Thu, 19th Nov 2009 4:42 am
Agreat idea to help check your diet’s progress – or even if it’s working at all! I wonder if these strips are available in the UK.
David from Ketogenic diet online on Sun, 22nd Nov 2009 11:01 am
Ketogenic type of nutrition is really an excellent way to lose excess body fat. One should also mention that this is also a very effective diet for anyone into sports, and especially body building, because by being on a ketogenic diet, you not only burn up your own body fat with time, but you also take food rich in proteins (and fats), so the reduction of muscle mass is minimal. On the contrary, since you take large amounts of proteins, you even benefit the growth of new muscle tissue.
Angie from Foam Wedge Pillow on Wed, 9th Dec 2009 11:10 am
Interest articles. I never knew about the state of ketosis. I have been on a low carb diet many times and lost weight. I will get this the next time so i can monitor it. Thanks for the post.
liver enzymes on Tue, 15th Dec 2009 1:13 pm
ou will experience water weight gain when you go off plan and if you were at a ketogenic level while dieting this will mean you gain 3-8 lbs (the same as what you you lost the first four days of the diet.)
liver enzymes´s last blog ..Liver enzymes
brandi from winstrol online on Fri, 18th Dec 2009 7:46 pm
I’m sure there are a lot of people out there that have never heard of this either, but it sounds like something that can be very useful for anyone trying to lose weight.
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Randy from Commercial Solar Energy on Mon, 4th Jan 2010 2:29 pm
I would try and stick to a lifestyle change as opposed to diets. Diets have a lot of bad tendencies that come with them and often allow for the weight to be regained after you go off the diet.
Low Carb Foods on Tue, 5th Jan 2010 7:58 am
[...] What The Heck Is Ketosis Anyway? [...]
Online Slimming on Wed, 6th Jan 2010 9:03 am
Instead of the Atkins diet try some sensible dieting. Healthy balanced eating. See http://www.superlim.co.uk for good online advice
payday advance company on Thu, 7th Jan 2010 8:56 pm
Wow those are cool. I have never heard of them before, but I think they sound cool. I’ll have to get some and try them.
Personal Training London on Tue, 19th Jan 2010 2:33 am
Thanks for the enlightenment. I never knew about the state of ketosis. I have been on a low carb diet many times and lost weight. Thanks a bunch for sharing. Keep blogging. Looking forward to reading your next post.
Ashley on Fri, 22nd Jan 2010 4:02 am
Interesting article.. I like to share what is ketosis diet
The ketosis diet is actually another term for the ‘low carb’ diet, but it’s often called the ketosis diet because individuals who switch from high carbohydrates to low carbohydrates often go through a process called ketosis. This is when the body releases ketones, which happens when the liver works to turn fats into fatty acids that can be used to provide energy to the body. This is a process that also happens when someone is starving.
Thanks for sharing…
Keep on Blogging more about the article.
Ganar dinero on Tue, 26th Jan 2010 7:39 am
Thanks for this, very informative article.
Ganar dinero´s last blog ..Otras formas de ganar dinero en internet
Jerry from Hopkins real estate on Thu, 28th Jan 2010 9:15 am
I’ve heard of ketosis before and I remember my aunt uses the diet you mention above. Low carb diet. I think its really effective since my aunt got lighter and smaller figured. I just don’t know if its a healthy diet.
Ashley on Fri, 29th Jan 2010 3:58 am
Hi.. I like to share some of the ketosis symptoms.
You can actually develop ketosis symptoms that will let you know this is happening in your body. For a lot of people who begin a low-carb diet, this seems to happen three or four days into the process.
Some ketosis symptoms include:
* Tiredness or fatigue
* Headache
* Feeling thirsty all the time
* Bad breath
* Metallic taste in the mouth
* Weakness
* Dizziness
* Nausea or stomach ache
* Sleep problems
Ketosis symptoms usually last for several days—up to a week in some people—until the body is used to burning fat instead of glucose. The levels of ketones in the body (which can be measure through a urine test) will go down, but that does not mean that you are no longer losing weight. It simply means that your body has found balance and is no longer producing excess ketones.
Sometimes low-carb dieters never seem to reach ketosis, or at least never have the urine test strips indicate excess ketones (the strip turns purple when there are excess ketones). This could be because exercising has used up the excess ketones or the urine is diluted from drinking a lot of water. This doesn’t mean these people aren’t burning fat, just that they aren’t registering as technically being in ketosis.
rose from diet@weight loss on Thu, 4th Feb 2010 3:08 am
So is ketosis dangerous or not? Too much ketones in the body can be dangerous right? So it is best to get rid of them through exercise to avoid any organ damage. Am I right?
low carb diet on Sun, 7th Mar 2010 2:21 am
To be in ketosis you need low carbohydrate diet and it is not dangerous except in the following conditions: alcholism, severe, pregnancy and diabetes.
burn fat with ketosis on Sun, 7th Mar 2010 2:24 am
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Atkins diet on Sun, 7th Mar 2010 2:27 am
Atkins Diet is effective that anyone can now burn fat faster and easier than they ever imagined and without counting calories and starving.