The function of ketones

• Ketosis occurs when the body does not have sufficient access to its primary fuel source, glucose.
• Ketosis describes a condition where fat stores are broken down to produce energy, which also produces ketones, a type of acid.
• In small amounts, ketones serve to indicate that the body is breaking down fat, but high levels of ketones can poison the body, leading to a process called ketoacidosis, a serious condition that can prove fatal.
• People with type 1 diabetes are more likely to develop ketoacidosis, for which emergency medical treatment is required to avoid or treat diabetic coma.
• Some people follow a ketogenic (low-carb) diet to try to lose weight by forcing the body to burn fat stores.

Adhering to the ketogenic diet can lead to short-term weight loss, consuming fewer calories without feeling hungry while following the diet.

It supplies energy under circumstances such as fasting or caloric restriction to certain organs (e.g. the brain, heart, and skeletal muscle).

In ketogenesis, our livers start to break down fat into a usable energy source called ketones. Ketones can stand in for glucose as fuel for the body when there’s a glucose shortage. 

Once ketogenesis kicks in and ketone levels are elevated, the body is in a state called “ketosis,” during which it’s burning stored fat. 

That means eating mainly meats, eggs, cheese, fish, nuts, butter, oils, and vegetables while avoiding sugar, bread and other grains, beans, and even fruit.

• Weight Loss.
• Keto naturally lowers blood sugar levels due to the type of foods you eat.
• Mental Focus: Ketones are a great source of fuel for the brain.
• Increased Energy & Normalized Hunger: Fats are shown to be the most effective molecule to burn as fuel.
• Epilepsy: Keto diet has been used since the early 1900’s to treat epilepsy successfully.
• Cholesterol & Blood Pressure: shown to improve triglyceride levels and cholesterol levels most associated with arterial buildup.
• Insulin Resistance.
• Improvements in your skin health.

• Grains – wheat, corn, rice, cereal, etc.
• Sugar – honey, agave, maple syrup, etc.
• Fruit – apples, bananas, oranges, etc.
• Tubers – potato, yams, etc.

Carbohydrates account for about half the calories on average in the American diet. Rice, maize, and wheat provide 60 percent of the world's food energy intake, even though there are more than 50,000 edible plants.

Keto is practically no-carb, forbidding processed junk foods and severely limits grains, including whole grains, fruits, and legumes such as brown rice, apples, and lentils. Keto adherents think conventional nutritional wisdom is harmful.

Keto is more than just a diet. It is a cultural identity.

The Keto diet changes how adherents think about medicine and nutrition. With the fake news that dominates the news cycle, it's not surprising that keto went viral. It's anti-establishment.

• Increase physical activity
• Reduce carbohydrate intake significantly
• Fast for short periods
• Increase healthful fat intake
• Test ketone levels
• Maintain a high protein intake
• Consume more coconut oil as this may help to increase ketone levels.

• Ketosis is a natural state for the body to be in from time to time. When it occurs, the body burns its fat reserves as energy.
• Maintaining a state of ketosis for short periods involves minimal risk. However, people with type 1 diabetes should avoid ketosis due to an increased risk of complications.
• People should also avoid being in ketosis long-term, as they may experience fatigue and nutritional deficiencies.
• Making several dietary and lifestyle changes can help a person get into ketosis faster.

• Skipped meals - when you skip over a meal to induce extra time of fasting. 
• Eating windows - this condenses your entire macronutrient intake between a 4 and 7-hour window. The rest of the time you are in a fasting state.
• 24-48 hour cleanse - where you go into extended fasting periods and do not eat for 1-2 days.

The process by which the cell devours itself.

• Non-essential parts like damaged proteins are recycled and invading microorganisms and toxic compounds are removed. 
• Autophagy plays an important role in stopping the aging process, reversing disease, and preventing cancer, but it doesn’t happen all the time. 
• Autophagic processes can be initiated by fasting, protein restriction and carbohydrate restriction.

It can take 10 to 12 hours to use up calories in the liver before your body changes over to use the stored fat.

After meals, glucose is used for energy, while fat is stored in fat tissue. During fasts, once glucose is depleted, stored fat is broken down and used for energy.

To lose weight, strive for sixteen calorie-free hours. Stop eating by 8 pm, and eat again at noon the next day. Results can take up to four weeks to notice.

Intermittent dieters should eat healthy foods, including whole grains and healthy fats and protein. They should limit saturated fats and avoid sugar and refined carbohydrates. Be sure to stay well-hydrated.