In healthy individuals who want to loose fat fast, it is proving to be one of the most efficient ways to burn fat. In the past, the ketogenic diet has been used in the medical profession to treat specific conditions, like neurological challenges in adults, seizures in children, cancer of various kinds and many more, but it’s making its way into the mainstream now, thanks to its fat-burning, muscle-building potential.

Want to know more how it works. Keep reading and find out yourself! 

What really happens when we cut carbs?

The food we eat fuels our bodies on a mixture of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and minerals. In a typical diet plan, when carbohydrates are highly restricted or removed, the body’s small stores are quickly depleted. The body is then forced to find an alternative fuel to provide energy to our various organs. Most organs automatically choose free fatty acids (FFA). But there is caution here: Your brain and nervous system, which are normally fueled by glucose, cannot use FFA—they rely on ketone bodies for fuel.

What are ketone bodies?

The human brain is like a hybrid car; it can feed on two forms of power—glucose, and ketones. When the brain doesn’t have glucose to run on, then it starts using ketone bodies, which is a by-product of the incomplete breakdown of free fatty acid (FFA) in the liver, serving up a non-carbohydrate, fat-derived fuel. By eating high-fat diet ( which may sadly not include fats from cheeseburgers and fries etc., but the fats found in almonds, coconut oil, nuts, avocado, and fatty fish like salmon or sardines), you increase the amount of FFA in your blood, producing ketone bodies at accelerated rates.

Ketosis: Fast muscle-maintaining weight loss.

The accumulation of ketones in the bloodstream induces a metabolic state called ketosis (aka the end-goal of the ketogenic diet). During ketosis, there is a decrease in the production and utilization of glucose. There is also a decrease in the breakdown of protein (found in your muscles) to be used for energy. So, your body burns fat, without sacrificing any muscle—your basic low-fat diet can’t say the same. This is the only known “protein-sparing” weight-loss technique; therefore, many individuals use ketogenic diets to lose body fat while maintaining muscle mass and keeping their metabolism running (try doing that on your average low-cal diet).

Hormones hold the key to weight loss.

Ketogenic diets cause our bodies to burn stored fat as fuel by affecting two hormones: insulin and glucagon. Restricting carbohydrates from the diet decreases insulin and increases glucagon. As a result, our bodies quickly move from storage mode to burn mode—we release triglycerides from fat cells and burn FFA, producing ketones as brain fuel. In addition to insulin and glucagon, a number of other hormones are also affected, all of which help to shift fuel use away from carbohydrates and towards fat. What’s the catch?

When given the choice, your body will always choose storage mode and carbohydrates in the form of glucose. Without carbohydrates, which are needed for energy, it can be very hard to sustain your high impact exercises like hot yoga, running etc. For this reason, individuals who wish to use a ketogenic diet to burn body fat and still go full-force with their workouts must integrate carbohydrates. There are two ways to do this: You can consume carbohydrates immediately before and after exercise to sustain performance without affecting ketosis, or you can alternate periods of ketogenic dieting with periods of moderate carbohydrate consumption. The period of carbohydrate eating is a must to sustain explosive or demanding exercise. If you’re planning to keep up with your intense fitness routine and want to try a ketogenic diet, talk to your doctor or nutritionist to make sure you’re going about it the right way.

How do you know when you’ve reached Ketosis?

Everyone will have a different carbohydrate ceiling that pushes the needle from storage mode into fat-burning mode. Some people may need to restrict carbohydrate consumption to 20g a day, while others may get away with eating close to 30g. Urine test strips (available with your chemist) are the easiest way to test for the presence of ketones.

Attaining ketosis happens most efficiently when carbohydrates are limited, fat consumption (but only the healthy fats!) is high, and protein intake is moderate. In fact, overeating protein is one of the most common mistakes, because too much protein actually causes glucose production.

Would you try the ketogenic diet? Sound off below! For expert nutrition guidance and ketogenic weight loss diet program mail or call us @ info@aadyantalife.com, +91-9953779369

Be Well. Be Beautiful. Be YOU!

About the Author

Dr. Amitabh Singh is the founder of AadyantaLife and  Bio-Energetic & Crystal Healer and Wellness Coach. He provides Alternative and Complementary Healing therapies to difficult ailments including Cancer. He specializes in Mindfulness Meditation Coaching for Corporate and Business Leaders. His thought-provoking Enlightening Lectures are for those who are interested in Alternative ways to improve their Lifestyle and Well Being.