The Science - Low-Level Ketosis
What is Ketosis?
Ketosis is a metabolic process that occurs when the body does not have enough glucose for energy so it turns to your stored fat for fuel. A fasting state begins about two hours after a meal as blood sugar decreases and starts to normalize. The drop in blood sugar causes insulin levels to also decline triggering another hormone, glucagon, which releases glycogen and fatty acids to fuel the body until the fasting state is broken.
For ketosis to occur, the first thing that needs to happen is for blood sugar and insulin to be low enough to allow access to stored fat. Once this occurs, fatty acids then enter the bloodstream and is taken up by cells in various body tissues. Once in the cells, fatty acids are transported into the mitochondria of the cell to be metabolized by a process called beta-oxidation. As glucose levels fall, the liver will keep utilizing beta-oxidation to increase the amounts of a molecule called Acetyl-CoA. As levels of Acetyl-CoA rise, it is shunted to a biological process called ketogenesis that produces ketone bodies that can be used for energy.
Ketosis is a normal process during fasting, or when on a strict low-carb diet to keep us going when we go without food for long periods of time. In the past it was considered that the brain could only use glucose for energy, but now we know that once in ketosis, the body actually prefers ketones over glucose. Since the body has several weeks of calories stored as fat, it can spare protein and use fat to generate glucose through a process called gluconeogenesis. Burning fat for fuel causes less oxidative damage to cells making it possible for cells to be much more efficient in energy production than when it comes from glucose.
When in ketosis there are lower levels of insulin in the body causing greater fat breakdown (lipolysis) when compared to a normal diet when insulin levels are much higher. Also, when insulin is brought to low levels, beneficial hormones are released in the body, such as growth hormone and other powerful growth factors. When in ketosis, the generated ketones along with high protein intake also become a very effective natural appetite suppressant.
Ketosis is only a temporary solution, because once a person goes without food for a long period of time regardless of the quantity of protein intake, the body will eventually start breaking down muscle to create glucose for the brain and body. On non carb loading days, it is key to keep carbohydrate intake levels below 30 grams per day in order to get into an efficient and sustainable ketosis energy and fat burning cycle.
Certain ketone supplements can work synergistically with the body’s own ketone production and is enhanced with the use of medium chain triglycerides (MCT – coconut oil). The Trim® Carb Revolution™ program utilizes the ketone supplement, Trim® SuperBurn™ to help maximize effects of fasting and carb cycling to produce the ultimate lifestyle program.