When you first hear the word ketosis, your first impression might be it’s some kind of wild-eyed, monomaniac keto diet craze. Well, no. ketosis is a fatigue-fighting diet that can be used to help you feel more energized and satisfied.
The key to keeping your ketosis at a healthy level is to eat plenty of healthy fats, plenty of high-quality protein, and plenty of complex carbohydrates. You can learn more about the keto diet in detail in our guide on how it works, but the short version is that it’s a low-carb, ketogenic diet that can be used to help you feel satisfied and get back to your natural ways.
What is Ketosis?
Ketosis is a type of metabolic syndrome that describes a state of lack of body sugar (ketone bodies) and an increased rate of fat formation, often as a result of an overabundance of fatty acids in
the body (i.e., high-intensity exercise or certain foods high in fat are high in ketone bodies).
What is the Difference Between Ketosis and a Low-Carb Diet?
One of the main differences between ketosis and a low-carb diet is that your body doesn’t use fatty acids for energy as it does for carbohydrates.
This means that your body has less room for growth, and you’re less likely to develop too many diseases due to a poor diet.
How Long Is It Safe To Be In Ketosis?
It’s tough to maintain a steady state in ketosis. As your body uses fatty acids as energy, your liver has less room for storage of fatty acids due to this increased usage. It’s also likely that the amount of steamed or processed foods you consume will increase your risk of developing ketoacidosis, which can cause liver damage and death.
It’s also important to note that you need to be in ketosis for at least three months before you can begin to take part in any strenuous exercise. As your body uses fatty acids as energy, it’s unable to produce lactic acid, a chemical that causes muscle cramps, spasms, or sharp pain in the legs.
Essential fat for energy: N-Acetyl-L-Leucine (NAL) and O-Methionine (OMe).
In a low-carb diet, your body needs to use up the energy provided by carbohydrates first, followed by proteins and fatty acids. A low-fat diet is unlikely to provide the same amount of energy as a high-fat diet.
On the other hand, a ketogenic diet, which is often associated with patients with epilepsy, would seem to provide the perfect energy source. This is because the brain needs the essential fatty acids for brain development and the carbohydrates for energy production.
Ketone bodies: Which is the lesser of two evils?
Many people wonder if it is possible to be in ketosis without worrying about becoming Too Fat. The answer is that being in ketosis doesn’t mean you have to have too much fat in your diet. Being in ketosis means you are unlikely to have too much of any particular type of fat.
For the average person, you may have no trouble maintaining body composition and losing weight if you can eat a healthy diet with few peaks and valleys.
Why is it so hard to be in ketosis?
There are a few reasons you might want to be in ketosis longer than you should:
You are now generating more calories from fat than from carbohydrates. This can be a problem as you now have more energy to deal with.
Your body is generating more free radicals as it is producing more energy. These can be harmful because they attack your cells or your liver. They can also be a source of high levels of oxidative stress.
How to stay healthy in ketosis
Exercising: Doing aerobic exercises such as aerobic dancing or riding a bike will help your body re-charge and refinance all the stored energy in your muscles.
Not drinking too much water – No matter your goal, you need to drink at least eight glasses of water daily. This will help your body absorb minerals and vitamins that it needs for healthy growth and a healthy lifestyle.
Exercising with a good workout partner: There is no point in doing anything if you aren’t going to do it together. Even an occasional pair of workout gloves can help to keep your muscles from getting kool-ied.
Keeping your calories low: Your only chance of maintaining your weight is if you eat a healthy diet with plenty of room for growth. Calorie restriction combined with moderate exercise is the only way to go.
Summary
One of the things you have to understand about being in ketosis is that it is a lifestyle. It is not something anyone can do once they are in the state. You will have to work at it and make sure that you are engaging in the suitable activities with the right people and in the right amount of time to stay healthy and happy in ketosis.
