Easing Into a Ketogenetic Diet

(Newswire.net — May 18, 2018) Cheyenne, Wyoming — Red meat or white meat, it doesn’t matter, the most important thing is filling up on protein. Diets to induce ketosis are hinged on the consumption of meat. Animal protein is the backbone of this diet but plant proteins are also essential for a nutritional balance. After millions of years of being hunters and gatherers, early man eventually understood the value of dietary balance.  

“The scientists, medical professionals, and athletes on the ground floor of the keto movement can barely contain their excitement over its power to reliably reduce excess body fat, enhance neurological function, protect against diseases of cognitive decline, and slow the rate of inflammation and oxidative damage that are the essence of the (accelerated) aging process,” informs MindBodyGreen.com. “Research has suggested it’s also able to help prevent seizures, halt the growth of cancerous tumors, and improve athletic performance for all types of athletes.” 

Outside of high performance athletics, regular exercise serves well for the lame-man for optimal results on the keto diet but even exercise should not be overdone else it can be counterproductive. High intensity workout routines help move glucose about the liver and muscle tissues however, pushing the body too far during exercise can cause a boost in stress hormone production which affects blood sugar levels and kicks the body out of ketosis. As with everything in life, moderation is key. While undertaking the keto diet, insulin levels are also influenced. 

“When we are on a low carbohydrate, ketogenic diet, we have lower insulin levels and therefore our kidneys excrete more sodium which can lead to a lower sodium/potassium ratio and a greater need for sodium in the diet,” says David Jockers, doctor of natural medicine, functional nutritionist and corrective care chiropractor. “On a low-carb diet you should look to get an additional 3-5 grams of sodium from natural foods and through the use of a pink salt like Himalayan sea salt. 1 tsp of pink salt is equivalent to 2 grams of sodium.” 

With that said, the keto diet isn’t something to maintain indefinitely, the prolonged strain on the body can do more harm than good. It’s advised to consume greater amounts of carbs just before exercising.  

“In essence, ketogenic eating allows you to benefit from the extraordinary (and scientifically validated) metabolic efficiency, general health, and longevity benefits of fasting—without having to starve yourself,” says Mark Sisson, author of The Keto Reset Diet. “When you’re starving, engaging in a purposeful fast, or adhering to a nutritional ketosis eating pattern, your cells prefer to burn fat and produce ketones. Ketones burn efficiently and quickly in the body.” 

It’s important to be mindful of ketones level while on the keto diet. Tracking just how much ketones the body is producing can inform if a healthy state of keosis is being maintained or if adjustments are needed. Using test strips like the HealthyWiser™ Ketone Reagent Strips for Urinalysis is one of the many available tools available, this particular brand is known to deliver results with 99% accuracy within seconds to help one reliably know their ketosis status in the comfort of one’s home.

“Unlike many fad diets that come and go with very limited rates of long-term success, the ketogenic diet or keto diet has been practiced for more than nine decades (since the 1920s) and is based upon a solid understanding of physiology and nutrition science,” explains DrAxe.com. “The keto diet works for such a high percentage of people because it targets several key, underlying causes of weight gain — including hormonal imbalances, especially insulin resistance coupled with high blood sugar levels, and the cycle of restricting and “binging” on empty calories due to hunger that so many dieters struggle with. Yet that’s not a problem with what’s on the keto diet food list.” 

The main purpose of the modern keto diet is for weight loss so this induced state of ketosis provides the body minimal access to carbs and an abundance of protein in order to produce ketones which burn fat for energy. So while ketosis, accidental or not, is a deep part of human’s evolutionary history, controlling and pacing its effects are critical for long term health.