FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Ketosis, or “keto”, is a natural state for the body in which it becomes almost completely fueled by fat through eating a ketogenic diet: low carb, moderate protein, lots of healthy fats. As babies, we are all born in a state of ketosis and remain that way until we begin eating solid foods (breast milk is almost entirely fat!) 

While in ketosis, the body is producing ketones. These small molecules are used as fuel when we have depleted our glucose (a.k.a. blood sugar) supply. Ketones are produced in the liver, from fat, as we eat very few carbs and a moderate amount of protein. The entire body – including the brain – consumes ketones as fuel.

Those of us who follow a ketogenic lifestyle switch our fuel sources back to the way we were born; we run almost entirely on fat. Insulin hormones dip to low levels and we rapidly burn stored fat for fuel. Outside of weight loss, we ketonians experience sustained energy, mental focus, exercise endurance, and a bevy of other health benefits such as disease prevention and treatment.

Did you know that?

The brain can ONLY run on one of two fuel sources: glucose or ketones. It’s a common misconception that the brain needs carbs. The truth is that carbs are the single macronutrient (there are three: protein, carbs, fat) that we do NOT need, and the brain will happily burn ketones for fuel.

When the body is producing ketone bodies and has transformed from using glucose to using fat for fuel, this is ketosis. We are born in a state of ketosis and remain that way until we are given formula and/or solid food. During any prolonged period without eating, like when we’re sleeping, we enter ketosis. It is literally the most natural and normal metabolic state for our bodies to be in.

The Ketogenic 101 program is not suitable for individuals that are Type-1 Diabetic, alcoholics or have a history of anorexia

The following should be avoided and eliminated from your diet when on keto

• Heat processed fats intended to replace naturally sourced whole saturated fats.
• Margarine and common processed poly-unsaturated vegetable oils for cooking.
• Processed foods, fast food……
• Hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated and high in trans-fatty acids

Carbohydrates are actually the one macronutrient that the body can do without. There are three macronutrients: carbohydrates, protein and fat. The body needs protein and it needs fat. It also needs glucose, but in the absence of dietary carbohydrates, the body will produce glucose in the liver.

However, we definitely encourage you to include whole food carbs every day – Whole food sources of carbohydrates provide valuable micronutrients: non-starchy vegetables, seeds, nuts, certain berries, herbs, and high-quality dairy.

There are some incredible replacement for the carbs that you are used to. And I will help you learn those amazing Keto Breads, Keto pastas, Keto cakes, Keto chocolates… you will not miss a thing.

Will you be able to run a marathon without eating carbs? ABSOLUTELY, and you will perform even better. It’s a common misconception that athletes need more carbs; they actually need more protein than an average person following a ketogenic lifestyle.

SUGAR truly destroys the body and causes life-threatening disease. In 2016 a huge sugar industry scandal revealed that the sugar lobby sponsored a phony Harvard research study in the 1960’s to take the heat off of sugar’s role in heart disease and place it on fat. Even before that, in 2014, researchers were able to scientifically prove that too much sugar will significantly increase the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease. Not only will sugar stop your heart, but it will also lead to fatty liver disease, leaky gut, obesity, metabolic disease, diabetes, and several forms of cancer.

FAT has been wrongly demonized for way too long. Ever since the rise of low fat and low-calorie foods, obesity, Diabetes and heart disease have become a scary epidemic. There are certain fats that are bad for you. corn oil, vegetable oil, soybean oil, safflower oil, sunflower oil and trans fats are some of the bad fats. A ketogenic way of eating is focused on consuming HEALTHY fats, such as avocado, coconut oil, grass-fed butter, high-quality meats, seeds and nuts.

When you become Keto-adapted, a cheat meal will not really change your body. I can personally tell you that I do not worry about being ketogenic when I am traveling or have special occasions. There are many ways to practice ketogenic living, you can understand more how to adapt to your different needs if you opt for the ketogenic 102 strategies program.

That said, if you are someone who has a history of binge-eating with sugar and carbs, or you have a condition such as cancer, type-2 diabetes, or any other disease, ask yourself if a “cheat meal” is really worth it.

Consuming dairy is not a requirement of a ketogenic lifestyle. There are many ways to create and eat delicious foods and reach your daily fat goals without traditional cows milk dairy products. In fact, I personally eat dairy free for quite a while now.

Atkins is a low carbs diet that has no restrictions on how much protein or fat you can eat.

Keto is a low carbs diet, Moderate protein and high fat diet.

Protein, while an essential macronutrient, when not used will be converted into glucose through a process of gluconeogenesis.  Any unused protein turns into glucose, which will raise blood sugar levels. Also, not consuming enough protein can lead to muscle loss.   

Cholesterol is produced in the liver, and the body is so dependent on it for a variety of reasons that the liver makes sure the body always has enough to function.  Not only does the liver make sure we have enough cholesterol, it also regulates production so that if we eat more cholesterol, it will produce less.

Those of us who follow a ketogenic lifestyle do tend to have higher total cholesterol levels.  Here’s why: our production of high-density lipoproteins (HDL) increases. HDL transfers cholesterol from the body’s tissues to the liver.  It is ESSENTIAL for survival, which is why HDL is the “good” cholesterol.

Low density lipoproteins (LDL) is known as the “bad” cholesterol, but that’s only partly true.  The body still needs LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) for cholesterol transportation from the liver to the body’s tissues, but high levels of LDL particles (LDL-P) put you at risk for cardiovascular disease.  

Finally, triglycerides are the form that fat takes as it travels from the body’s tissues and into the bloodstream.   Again, this is a normal function of the body, but high triglyceride levels with low HDL levels are a red flag; the body may be insulin resistant, Type-2 diabetic, inflamed, have cardiovascular disease.  What causes high triglyceride levels? Lots of carbs and sugar.