Login or Register

Ketosis Diet

Jun 9, 2011 | By Ashley Jacob
Ketosis Diet
Photo Credit Stockbyte/Stockbyte/Getty Images

If you eat a standard American diet, which has a high carbohydrate content supplying over half of the calories consumed, carbohydrates constitute your primary source of energy. For ketosis to occur, you need to drastically cut your carbohydrate intake, which will force your body into using fat, instead of carbs, for energy. When your body shifts into the fat-burning mode known as ketosis, it produces ketones from stored fat. Like glucose, ketones can be used by your muscles, heart and brain for energy. Ketosis is a natural, benign process that should not be confused with the life-threatening condition ketoacidosis, which has a similar-sounding name. However, it is wise to first discuss any dietary changes with your doctor.

Epilepsy

The ketogenic diet has been used since the 1920s to induce ketosis in some epileptic patients who do not respond well to medications. For a reason that is not completely understood yet, ketosis and the ketones it generates is associated with a dramatic reduction of seizures in two-thirds of subjects who attempt the diet, according to the Epilepsy Foundation. About a third of epileptic children trying the ketogenic diet become completely or almost seizure-free. Another third greatly improve. The remaining third either do not respond or are not compliant with the diet. Therapeutic ketogenic diets for epilepsy may consist of up to 90 percent fat.

Weight Loss

Many popular diet plans, such as the the induction phase of the Atkins diet and other low-carb diet plans, rely on ketosis to promote fat burning. This effect works in tandem with the fact that the very low carbohydrate content of a ketogenic diet reduces your production of insulin, which is the body's primary fat-storage hormone. When you are in ketosis, your body uses not only the fat you eat as your main source of energy, but also uses your stores of body fat. In addition, ketosis suppresses the appetite-suppressant effect, according to a study published in the January 2008 issue of "The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition." Being less hungry can help you better stick to your diet so you can lose weight without starving. Atkins and most other low-carb weight-loss diets include far less fat and more protein than those prescribed for epilepsy.

Ketogenic Diet Composition

A ketogenic diet is one which induces a ketogenic state, or ketosis. To produce this effect, it must be very low in carbohydrate and very high in fat. A carb intake below 50 g a day is likely to induce ketosis, although keeping the carbs below 20 g a day is often suggested. Your should also keep your protein intake low to moderate, because excess protein can be converted to glucose, which would put you out of ketosis. For epileptics, both carbohydrates and protein together should not provide more than 10 percent of the calories, but low-carb dieters may include slightly more protein into their diet. Fat provides 70 to 90 percent of the calories in a ketogenic diet. A type of fat called MCT, or medium-chain triglyceride, is often used in ketogenic diets to help promote ketosis, according to a 2008 paper published in "Epilepsia." MCT is found in large amounts in coconut oil. Several variations on a ketogenic diet exist depending on your goals. Use ketone strips, available at pharmacies, to ensure you are in ketosis. If you have epilepsy or wish to lose weight, consult a registered dietitian for help establishing a meal plan that is suitable for you.

Ketogenic Meals

An example of ketogenic meal for dieters would be eggs cooked with spinach in coconut oil and served with grated cheese for breakfast. Lunch could be a salad of leafy greens with salad vegetables such as cucumber, green onions and a few cherry tomatoes alongside a fish or chicken and drizzled with a generous quantity of full-fat, carb-free salad dressing or 1 to 2 tbsp. of olive oil with a splash of balsamic vinegar. For dinner, a small serving of broccoli or asparagus served with butter accompanied by meat will help you stay in ketosis. Snacks should also be very low in carbs. You can choose between cheese, raw or roasted nuts, natural almond butter spread on celery sticks, canned tuna or a few slices of smoked salmon. Children put on a ketogenic diet to manage epilepsy need to be closely followed by a dietitian to ensure their diet is complete and balanced. An example of a meal for a epileptic child would be a small amount of celery, bell pepper and onion served with plenty of cream, butter and bacon or a stir-fry made with a small amount of non-starchy vegetables with chicken strips, plenty of olive oil and a little bit of soy sauce.

References

Article reviewed by Vesna Vuynovich Kovach Last updated on: Jun 9, 2011

Must see: Photo Galleries

Member Comments