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  • Ketosis Misconceptions

    Greetings all, I am new to this board but I wanted to expose a few myths about ketosis from a biochemistry perspective and many of you who think you are having problems or doing something wrong will find you may have just been misinformed about ketosis.

    First myth: If you are in ketosis you will have ketones in your urine.
    I have been reading about frustrated users who think they are not in ketosis because they get little to no reading from urine testing. Excess ketones are expelled in both the urine and in the breath. Some people expel ketones heavily in urine, some in the breath and some both. I would advise anyone who believes they should be in ketosis but has poor urine test results to use a breath tester.

    Second myth: Ketosis burns muscle to make sugars that tissues require.
    This is true... if you are starving. Protein is converted to ketones which is converted in the liver to form glucose. In the event of a person starving your body will use muscle protein to achieve this. When on a low-carb diet your body will use digested protein BEFORE it will use muscle protein to create needed glucose. You will hear time and time again from "professional nutrition experts" ketosis is related with muscle loss, this is a common misconception.

    Third myth: Ketosis is not part of "normal" metabolism.
    Our body has 2 types of metabolisms which can be used in 3 combinations. The first is a traditional high carb diet which uses sugars for energy and converts access sugars into fat. This is what is considered "normal". The second type is during starvation our bodies go into gluconeogenesis which takes ketones from protein and creates the approximately 200 g of glucose we need to survive. The third, which I believe is the true "normal" metabolism, is a mixture of the 2. A person who eats some carbohydrates but not enough to get the approximately 200g needed will use gluconeogenesis to make up the difference. If you eat 100 g worth of glucose, your body will use that first, and use digested protein to make the 100 g needed.

    Fourth myth: Ketosis is less efficient than "normal" metabolism.
    This is simply not true. Our heart operates 28% more efficiently on ketonic metabolism, which is where I base my belief on the true normal metabolism is a combination of both metabolic processes.

    Please feel free to add to anything you may have learned or other myths you are constantly bombarded with.

    Frank

  • #2
    Re: Ketosis Misconceptions

    Have you seen:

    J.

    "Your life will never change until you change your choices."

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: Ketosis Misconceptions

      Great write up Frank, now if we could continually get new folks to read it Don't be disappointed when you continue to read the same comments about the sticks over and over It sounds like you have a deeper understanding of this WOE, and will reach your goal with a little determination and perseverance. It always amazes me how insidious sugars and high carbs can be Best wishes at kicking them to the curb
      MAY 2010 Challenges
      ABS-1200, Squats-1200, Lunges-400, PushUps-700, Stability Ball-250 mins,
      I weigh once a week, Mondays !



      re-started 10/12/09 -F/55/5'9" -(July 14-265) 252/206/170
      Goals

      240 (nice round number)-Yippee 238.5 on 11-16-09
      226 (where I was when I fell off the wagon) - 01-03-10
      210 (another round number) -04/09/10
      199 (Onedurland!!!) -

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Ketosis Misconceptions

        Originally posted by 427 Cobra View Post
        Greetings all, I am new to this board but I wanted to expose a few myths about ketosis from a biochemistry perspective and many of you who think you are having problems or doing something wrong will find you may have just been misinformed about ketosis.

        First myth: If you are in ketosis you will have ketones in your urine.
        I have been reading about frustrated users who think they are not in ketosis because they get little to no reading from urine testing. Excess ketones are expelled in both the urine and in the breath. Some people expel ketones heavily in urine, some in the breath and some both. I would advise anyone who believes they should be in ketosis but has poor urine test results to use a breath tester.

        Second myth: Ketosis burns muscle to make sugars that tissues require.
        This is true... if you are starving. Protein is converted to ketones which is converted in the liver to form glucose. In the event of a person starving your body will use muscle protein to achieve this. When on a low-carb diet your body will use digested protein BEFORE it will use muscle protein to create needed glucose. You will hear time and time again from "professional nutrition experts" ketosis is related with muscle loss, this is a common misconception.

        Third myth: Ketosis is not part of "normal" metabolism.
        Our body has 2 types of metabolisms which can be used in 3 combinations. The first is a traditional high carb diet which uses sugars for energy and converts access sugars into fat. This is what is considered "normal". The second type is during starvation our bodies go into gluconeogenesis which takes ketones from protein and creates the approximately 200 g of glucose we need to survive. The third, which I believe is the true "normal" metabolism, is a mixture of the 2. A person who eats some carbohydrates but not enough to get the approximately 200g needed will use gluconeogenesis to make up the difference. If you eat 100 g worth of glucose, your body will use that first, and use digested protein to make the 100 g needed.

        Fourth myth: Ketosis is less efficient than "normal" metabolism.
        This is simply not true. Our heart operates 28% more efficiently on ketonic metabolism, which is where I base my belief on the true normal metabolism is a combination of both metabolic processes.

        Please feel free to add to anything you may have learned or other myths you are constantly bombarded with.

        Frank
        Frank.
        Nice presentation.
        I have a question regarding the statement
        "A person who eats some carbohydrates but not enough to get the approximately 200g needed will use gluconeogenesis to make up the difference. If you eat 100 g worth of glucose, your body will use that first, and use digested protein to make the 100 g needed."

        In this situation, if we stay under 20 net carbs it appears that the body would use digested protein, and, if so, wouldn't that come from lean body tissue?

        Again, Thanks.
        I like the user name--what year?

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: Ketosis Misconceptions

          very interested reading. thanks for sharing
          47 years old--5'9"
          Start date: 01-03-09--SW: 283/255/150
          BMI: 41.9


          RESTART ON 122809 at 279.2, BMI 40
          RESTARTED ON 032810 at 274

          MG1: 270: met 01-06-10
          MG 2: 260:
          MG 3: 250:
          MG 4: 219--will no longer be severly overweight, just overweight!!


          Comment


          • #6
            Re: Ketosis Misconceptions

            Thanks for this - very helpful for use against all of my friends who are criticising me for this WOE.
            Josh
            30/male/5'11"

            Mini-goal 1 - 197 lbs. - reached 5/12/2010
            Mini-goal 2 - 187 lbs.
            Mini-goal 3 - 177 lbs.
            Mini-goal 4 - 167lbs.
            Mini-goal 5 - 157 lbs.
            FINAL - 150 lbs.



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