On Proper Diet and Fasting
Part 2 - Ketogenic Dieting, Its Effects on Our Mitochondria, Microbiome, and Health
Carbohydrates are biomolecules that consist of carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen atoms. Those biomolecules form a group of different sugars, starches, and cellulose. Carbohydrates are a primary energy source for our body because most can be metabolized into monosaccharides, glucose; one of the most important fuel sources for many organisms, including us. Though glucose is one of the most important fuel sources for our cells, most cells can also use ketones for fuel, which are produced from fat metabolism. Ketosis occurs when our body derives more energy from ketone bodies than glucose. Our body stores glucose within our liver as glycogen, and we need to exhaust the glycogen storage (twelve to fourteen hours on average but the use rate increases based on exercise frequency) before we are in proper ketosis. However, most people do not fast long enough or restrict carbohydrates sufficient to be in a state of adequate ketosis, and most health benefits seen from “ketogenic” dieting come from conscious eating and an overall reduction in carbohydrate consumption.[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]
There are many medical reasons for consuming low to zero amounts of carbohydrates daily, adopting what is known as a ketogenic diet. Many people with seizure disorders, cancer (cancerous cells that can metabolize glucose mainly will be affected by fasting), diabetes (primarily type two), and morbid obesity have used lower carbohydrate diets medically with differing degrees of success (predominantly positive). Furthermore, ketogenic diets are medically prescribed for children with pyruvate dehydrogenase deficiency and glucose transporter one deficiency syndrome. Both diseases prevent our body from adequately using glucose for metabolism, so using mainly ketone bodies for energy can improve outcomes.[8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15]
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