Throughout the years, we’ve been told that in order for our bodies to function correctly we need carbohydrates (glucose). What most don’t know is that there’s a better source of energy called ketones which are produced while you’re in ketosis.
Ketosis is the metabolic state your body puts itself into when there is no more glucose left in your body.
When there’s no glucose to burn, the body goes straight to the stubborn fat stores and uses the fat for fuel. This is the core principle of the ketogenic diet and is the reason why it’s one of the most powerful weight loss protocols on the planet.
Your body is literally emptying your vault of fat and filling it up with ketones which is uses as energy. Weight loss becomes automatic and much easier than if you were to use conventional diets.
How Does It Work?
One of the reasons obesity is an epidemic is because our diets are high in carbohydrates and sugar. Processed carbs get converted into glucose by the body.
Glucose is sugar. In other words, you’re giving your body a ton of sugar if your carb consumption is high.
The human body is incapable of burning fat if there is too much glucose in the blood.
When you’re on the keto diet, most of your calories will be in the form of fat. Your carb intake will be very low. This is one of the rules of the keto diet.
Since your diet is low in carbs, your body will be forced to find another source of fuel – your fats. Now the fat burning process begins and accelerates over time.
When you eat less carbs while burning fat, your liver takes fatty acids and turns them in to ketones which will be used as the energy source instead of glucose.
There are three types of ketones:
- Acetoacetate (AcAc) – This is the first ketone to be created.
- β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) – This is created from acetoacetate.
- Acetone which is created as a side product of acetoacetate
These three ketones will supply you with enough energy to get through day.
In a nutshell, glucose is your main source of energy when you are eating foods with plenty of carbohydrates and when you starve your body of them you enter ketosis.
