What are ketones?
Ketones are a normal and efficient source of fuel and energy for the human body. They are produced by the liver from fatty acids, which result from the breakdown of body fat in response to the absence of glucose/sugar. In a ketogenic diet - such as Atkins (the problem with Atkins diet is that it allowed bad fats) - or diets used for treating epilepsy in children, the tiny amounts of glucose required for some select functions can be met by consuming a minimum amount of carbs or can be manufactured in the liver from PROTEIN. When your body is producing ketones and using them for fuel, this is called "ketosis.”
How will ketosis help me to lose weight?
Most reducing diets restrict caloric intake, so you lose weight but some of that is fat and some of it is
lean muscle tissue as well. Less muscle means slowed metabolism, which makes losing weight more
difficult and gaining it back all too easy. Ketosis will help you to lose FAT. Being in ketosis means that your body's primary source of energy is fat (in the form of ketones). When you consume adequate protein as well, there's no need for the body to break down its muscle tissue. Ketosis also tends to accelerate fat loss; once the liver converts fat to ketones, it can't be converted back to fat and so is
excreted.
But, isn't ketosis dangerous?
Being in ketosis by following a low carbohydrate diet is NOT dangerous. The human body was designed to use ketones very efficiently as fuel in the absence of glucose. However, the word ketosis is often confused with a similar word, ketoacidosis. Ketoacidosis is a dangerous condition for diabetics. Diabetics can safely follow a ketogenic diet to lose fat weight, but they must be closely monitored by their health care provider while keeping blood sugars low and stable.
How to use ketone test strips (Ketostix)
Ketone urine-testing strips, also called Ketostix - or just ketone sticks, are small plastic strips that have a little absorptive pad on the end. This contains a special chemical that will change color in the presence of ketones in the urine. The strips may change varying shades of pink to purple or may not
change color at all. The container will have a scale on the label with blocks of color for you to compare the strip after 15 seconds. Simply hold a strip in the flow of urine beginning on day 2 of the program.
I'm following the instructions, why won't my strips turn purple?
Ketones will spill into the urine ONLY when there is more in the blood than is being used as fuel by the body at that particular moment. You may have exercised or worked a few hours previously, so your muscles would have used up the ketones as fuel, thus there will be no excess. You may have had
a lot of liquids to drink, so the urine is more diluted. Perhaps the strips are not fresh, or the lid was not on tight and some moisture from the atmosphere got in.
Some low levels NEVER show above trace or may even always show negative, yet they burn fat and lose weight just fine. If you're losing weight, your clothes are getting looser, you're feeling well and not hungry all the time, then you are successfully in ketosis. Don't get hung up on the strips as they're just a guide, nothing more.
Will I lose weight faster if the strips show dark purple all the time?
No. Testing in the darkest purple range all the time is usually a sign of dehydration – the urine is too concentrated. You need to drink more water to dilute it and keep the kidneys flushed. The strips only indicate what's happening in the urine. Ketosis happens in the blood and body tissues.
If you're showing even a small amount, then you are in ketosis and fat burning is taking place. Don't get hung up on the ketone sticks.
Will drinking alcohol affect ketosis and weight loss?
No and yes. The liver can make ketones out of alcohol. So, technically when you drink, you'll continue to produce ketones and so will remain in ketosis. The problem is alcohol converts more easily to ketones than fatty acids. Because of that, your liver will use the alcohol first, in preference to fat. Thus, when you drink, basically your FAT burning is put on hold until all the alcohol is out of
your system. Basically, alcohol is zero nutrition and a burden on your liver. Studies done show that 2 glasses of French red wine a day won’t really impact your health negatively. If drinking red wine causes you to lose sleep, then it is negatively affecting your health. If you want to drink liquor, I recommend clear straight alcohol such as Tequila or Vodka be limited to 4oz. the mixers, soda etc. in drinks are a problem because of their sugar content, so avoid mixers other than water, club soda or tonic.