What is a Ketogenic diet?
This is the diet that causes the liver
to produce ketone bodies. This is where metabolism for the body is shifted from glucose to fat
usage. To be more specific, a diet of ketone restricts diet intake of carbohydrates from 100 grams
per day thereby inducing some alternative energy sources in the body. The intake of protein and fat
will be varied depending on the aim of the person taking the diet. The ultimate factor that
establishes whether a certain diet is Ketogenic or not is the presence or absence of carbohydrates.
Fuel metabolism in
relation to the Ketogenic diet
In normal dietary
conditions, the body will run on a combination of nutrients including protein, carbohydrates and
fats. Removal of carbohydrates from the diet forces the body to find an alternative source of
energy since carbohydrates are the main source of energy. One of the alternatives the body now
depends on is free fatty acids (FFA). These can be used by many tissues in the body but not all
organs can use FFA. Such examples of organs unable to use FFA as substitute source of energy are
the nervous system and the brain. Ketone comes in as a substitute energy source for the brain
and nervous system.
What are
ketones?
These are a
byproduct of incomplete breakdown of FFA in the liver. Tissues such as those of the brain depend
on ketones to serve as a fat-derived, non-carbohydrate source of fuel. Production of ketones at
fast rates accumulates in the bloodstream causing the development of a metabolic state referred
to as ketosis. Concurrently, this results to a decrease in production and usage of proteins in
the body. In addition, it results to a decrease in breakdown of protein for use as energy source
which is referred to as “protein sparing” and this helps in maintaining lean body mass. Most
individuals are attracted to the idea of Ketogenic diets for reasons of losing body weight and
at the same time to prevent loss of lean body mass.
The theory behind
Ketogenic diet
Ketogenic diets aims at losing body weight while maintaining lean body mass by
depending on the functioning of two hormones namely glucagon and insulin. Insulin hormone is
responsible for transporting nutrients from the bloodstream to target
tissues.
Insulin is responsible for moving glucose from the bloodstream to muscle
tissues and moving FFA for storage in adipose tissue as triglycerides. Glucagon stimulates
the body to break stored glycogen in the liver for production of glucose. Removal of
carbohydrates from the diet decreases the levels of insulin and increase levels of
glucagon.
Thus, there is an
increase in FFA from fat cells and increase in FFA metabolism in the liver. Accelerated
metabolism of FFA in the liver causes production of ketone bodies and a state of ketosis
metabolism. Other hormones are also affected apart from insulin and glucagon and these help in
shifting usage of fuel away from carbohydrates.
Exercise improves
success of the Ketogenic diet. High intensity exercise needs a diet of carbohydrates. A person
combining Ketogenic diet and high intensity exercise needs to use carbohydrates without
affecting ketosis effects.
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