Ketosis is a natural metabolic state. When a person reaches ketosis, the body burns stored fat, not glucose.
When the body breaks down fats, acids called ketones begin to build up in the blood. These ketones are excreted daily in the urine. Ketones in the blood and urine indicate a person has entered a ketosis state.
Rather than relying on carbs for energy, ketosis can help you shed unwanted fat as your body begins to deplete fat stores.
Additionally, several studies have shown that ketosis can help suppress appetite and even promote weight loss.
It’s not always easy to get into ketosis. Many people wanting to reach ketosis follow the ketogenic diet. In this article, we’ll look at the top 7 steps for getting into ketosis quickly.
Did you know?
Ketosis is a natural metabolic disorder that often occurs accidentally between meals.
There are many possible reasons why a person might want to go into ketosis, among the possible reasons: it can help lose weight or lose fat, treat type 2 diabetes, and improve heart health.
However, isn’t safe for everyone. A person should not be in a state of ketosis as long as it can have side effects.
Some people with type 1 diabetes should avoid ketosis because they are more likely to develop ketoacidosis, a potentially life-threatening condition.
Anyone considering a ketogenic diet should speak to a doctor first.
1. Increased physical activity
The more energy you use per day, the more food you need to eat for fuel. Exercise helps a person break down glycogen stored in the body.
In most cases, glycogen stores are replenished when a person consumes carbohydrates.
People on a low-carb diet do not replenish glycogen stores. It takes your body time to learn how to use stored fat instead of glycogen. When the body adapts, a person may feel tired.
2. Significantly reducing carbohydrate intake
Ketosis occurs when the body’s carbohydrate intake is reduced, and thus fat is used instead of sugar as the main source of energy.
Anyone looking to lose weight to lower their risk of heart disease or achieve ketosis in order to maintain and control their blood sugar levels should reduce their carbohydrate intake to no more than 20 grams (g) per day.
Ketosis occurs when the body’s carbohydrate intake is reduced, and thus fat is used instead of sugar as the main source of energy.
Anyone looking to lose weight to lower their risk of heart disease or achieve ketosis in order to maintain and control their blood sugar levels should reduce their carbohydrate intake to no more than 20 grams (g) per day.
However, this is not an accurate number. Some can eat more carbohydrates and remain ketogenic, while others need to eat less.
3. Fasting for short periods
Fasting can help you reach a state of ketosis.
Many people can get ketosis between meals. In some controlled cases, your doctor may recommend a longer fast, 24 to 48 hours.
Talk to your doctor before deciding to fast for more than a few hours at a time. Fat fasting is an alternative to fasting.
Fat fasting involves a significant reduction in calorie intake and a diet that is almost entirely fat and lasts no more than two or three days. Early research suggests it can have a positive effect on weight loss.
However, a lack of fat is difficult to maintain and may not be the best option for most people.
People should be wary of this approach because the sample size is very small and there is no conclusive evidence.
4. Increased intake of healthy fats
When carbs intake decreases, several people replace the loss of carbohydrates with more healthy fats.
* Some of the fats you can eat:
- coconut oil
- olive oil
- avocados and avocado oil
- flaxseed oil
It’s necessary to keep in mind the total calorie count for those looking to lose weight.
Eating too many calories daily can make weight loss difficult.
5. Check ketone levels
One method that can help a person reach a state of ketosis is by monitoring ketone levels in the body. There are many different tests for this purpose, such as:
- urine
- breath
- blood
One of these tests can help you track your progress during the overall keto diet.
Ketone test strips can be purchased online.
6. Protein intake
The ketogenic diet is known to limit the amount of protein a person can eat compared to fats.
Although the recommended amount varies, the standard keto diet recommends consuming 20% of calories as protein.
Eating less protein is necessary in order for a person to reach ketosis.
7. Consume more coconut oil
Coconut oil can help achieve or maintain ketosis.
Adding coconut oil to their diet could help people increase their ketone levels, according to a study that focused on Alzheimer’s disease.
Coconut oil contains some fat called medium-chain triglycerides, or MCTs.
The body can absorb MCTs more quickly and easily. This fat is then sent directly to the liver, which converts it into ketones or energy.
Final recommendations:
Ketosis is a natural condition that the body can discover from time to time. When this happens, the body burns its fat stores for energy.
Maintaining ketosis for a short time involves minimal risks.
However, people who have type 1 diabetes should avoid ketosis because of the increased risk of complications.
People should also avoid long-term ketosis as they can suffer from fatigue and nutritional deficiencies.
Various diet and lifestyle changes, including eating healthier fats and measuring ketone levels, can help a person enter ketosis more quickly.
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What are macros & how are they calculated? I’m doing intermittent fasting of 16/8. Should l do a longer span of hours fir IF? I’m yet to go into ketosis. Any help would be greatly appreciated thanks. Tricia Kinghorn
triciakinghorn@gmail.com
Hello,
Well, “macro” is an acronym for macronutrients.
*The term “macronutrient” refers to the three main types of nutrients in the diet, including protein, fats and carbohydrates.
* The Best 6 Apps to Help You Count Macros:
1. MyPlate
2. MyMacros+
3. MyFitnessPal
4. Lose It!
5. Carb Manager
6. Lifesum
*P.S. We advise you, sir before you decide or someone else decides this we recommend that you speak to your doctor before deciding to fast for more than a few hours at a time. Your health and safety are important to us – so watch yourself.
Hope this helps… many thanks to you.
“People should also avoid long-term ketosis as they can suffer from fatigue and nutritional deficiencies”
??? Isn’t keto a lifestyle?? Most of us who are doing keto are doing so long term. I don’t understand this….seems like an opinion piece
In fact, I agree with you, even though the keto diet (lifestyle) may be unhelpful in the long run – some health complications may occur with the person, especially if he suffers from health diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and so on. (As a result, a person should always consult a specialized doctor to determine whether or not his body will be able to follow the keto diet and remain in the ketosis state in the long term)
By the way, I invite you to learn about some of the dangers of keto —> https://greatfoodforall.com/keto-dangers/