Keto Diet – Is It For Me?

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT KETO DIET

The keto diet is all the rage recently, but it’s actually been around for almost a hundred years. It was first used as a medical diet therapy in the 1920’s, and has only recently (15 years or so) been utilized as a weight loss strategy.

What is Keto?

“Keto” is short for ketosis, the metabolic state of burning fats (in the form of ketones) over carbohydrates (aka glucose). Ketones are produced by the liver as an “alternative fuel” to glucose whenever carbs are insufficient to meet energy needs. Once ketones reach a certain level in the blood, it’s called ketosis.

Ketosis is a completely normal metabolic state that can occur with a very low carb diet, during prolonged exercise, after 24 hours of fasting, and in diabetics, who although may be consuming carbs, cannot use them properly.

The liver synthesizes ketones from dietary fats as well as body fat. Virtually all tissues that metabolize glucose can just as easily use ketones, with the exception of the liver (ironically), and the brain, which needs at least some glucose in addition to ketones. So the surprising fact is, even in ketosis, your body is still making glucose from constituents of protein and fats (a process called “gluconeogenesis”) for use by the muscle, liver, and brain.1

Benefits of Keto –

One of the biggest benefits of ketosis is that your body is almost completely reliant on fats for energy. When you eat fewer calories than you burn, part of this energy supply comes from body fat, resulting in weight loss and reduced body fat. Research indicates that following a keto diet could result in greater long-term fat loss than a low-fat diet.2 This is thought to be due to increased fat burning, reduced propensity to store fat, and the increased calorie “expense” of breaking protein down for energy. Keto also suppresses appetite, making it easier to stick to a calorie deficit and lose weight.3 It’s worth mentioning that a low-carb, non-ketogenic diet is equally effective at burning body fat. 4

From a heart health standpoint, the keto diet may be superior to a low-fat diet for reducing blood pressure, lowering blood triglycerides, and increasing HDL cholesterol (the kind that reduces fatty plaques in the arteries). 3 Although the keto diet has been shown to increase undesirable LDL cholesterol, it also makes the LDL particles larger and less likely to stick to the arteries.3 Long-term, the keto diet appears beneficial for those with high cholesterol.5

Keto also seems to be a useful tool for reducing inflammation and improving markers of metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes (all diseases of carbohydrate intolerance) as well.3 The ketogenic diet is currently being implemented as a treatment for acne, cancer, tumors, PCOS, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, epilepsy, seizures, respiratory issues, and more.3,6

Are there any drawbacks or dangers with a keto diet?

The first drawback is you won’t be getting a lot of micronutrients from fruits and vegetables. This can be mitigated by a high-quality, well-rounded multivitamin and multi-mineral supplement. I recommend Nutritox Multi Vitamins.

Inadequate fiber can also be an issue leading to digestive issues such as diarrhea, constipation, and compromised gut bacteria. Having poor gut flora has been linked to allergies, food intolerances, compromised immune function, and a leaky gut. However, it’s not impossible to get the recommended 25 grams of fiber on a keto diet. As long as you’re choosing low-calorie, high-fiber vegetables (cauliflower, celery, greens, lettuce, broccoli and eggplant). A normal amount of fiber will not kick you out of ketosis, since fiber doesn’t contribute much regarding energy. This is why I recommend using “net carbs” when calculating carb intake (grams of total carbs minus grams of fiber and sugar alcohols). Most people can stay in ketosis with 50 grams of carbs daily, and of that 25 grams being fiber (equal to 25 grams of net carbs).

You may notice poor training performance on the keto diet, particularly with high-intensity workouts, at least until you’re “keto-adapted” about a month into the diet. A recent study showed a 7% loss of power and 15% loss of endurance for athletes placed on a keto diet four days prior to the test.7 Another study found that “keto-adapted” athletes actually performed better on sprint tests compared to the high-carb athletes.8 Additionally, another study put athletes on a keto diet and found no difference in strength or power performance when testing vertical jump, 1RM bench press and back squat, maximum-rep bench press, and a 30-second cycling test.9 Individual performance may depend on how well the person is keto-adapted, but either way, keto isn’t going to completely ruin your workouts. In fact, training for endurance on very low carbs improves endurance and race times once carbs are added back.10

Losing muscle is another worry, particularly among the bodybuilding community. However, a recent study of strength-training men showed an increase in lean mass following a keto diet compared to a high-carbohydrate diet with the same protein content and training regime.11 Overall, there aren’t any jaw-dropping benefits nor adverse effects in terms of lean muscle mass following a keto diet.12-13

Some have expressed concern that following the keto diet long-term causes poor carb tolerance in healthy adults. There is little research, but the phenomenon appears to be only a temporary consequence of being “fat-adapted” versus “carb-adapted.” Keto dieters who gradually increase carbs seem to have no issue tolerating them in the long run. Just don’t try to jump into the “300+ carb club” post-keto or you’re in for some serious trouble!  

A more serious claim is that a keto diet causes fatty liver (mostly YouTube health “gurus”). Ketogenic diets have actually been used to slow the progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD),14 though it’s not a cure. Still, I wouldn’t recommend trying the keto diet if you have a history of liver disease, at least without your doctor’s approval.

Another misconception is that ketogenic diets cause gallstones and even gallbladder removal. In fact, cholesterol and healthy fats promote bile production and flush the gallbladder of stagnant bile, helping prevent stones. Multiple studies have shown that low-carb, high-fat diets are actually beneficial for gallbladder health.15

Can children do a Keto Diet?

Long-term keto diets in children have been shown to increase the risk of kidney stones.16 On the other hand, recent findings in adult studies suggest keto-like diets may instead be beneficial chronic kidney disease.17 If you suffer from kidney disease or have in the past, do not prescribe yourself with any dietary intervention without first speaking to your doctor.  

Bone loss and stunted growth have also been measured in children following the keto diet long term. This is thought to be the result of sub-clinical acidosis. However, research in adult women showed no effect on bone density.19

How do I reach Ketosis and how will I know?

Now that we’ve covered all the bases, you may be wondering – how do I start? Well, the faster you can deplete your body’s glycogen stores (carbs stored in the muscle and liver), the faster you will get into ketosis. The average person stores about 2,000 calories or roughly 500 grams of glycogen between their muscle (350-500g) and liver (100g) stores.

There are multiple ways to deplete glycogen, but first you need to restrict carbohydrate intake to less than 50 grams per day with at least 20 grams coming from fiber. You will need to cut carbs to less than 30 grams per day if your getting very little fiber (not recommended). Since your liver can make glucose from excess amino acids, you must also restrict protein intake (including amino acid supplements) to 20- 25% of total calories (30% if restricting calories for weight loss). With this diet protocol alone and no exercise, you should be in ketosis within 4-5 days.

You can accelerate the path to ketosis with intense full-body workouts, HIIT cardio, and heavy lifting to failure. All of these will deplete glycogen in both the muscle and the liver. High-intensity exercise burns up to 65% of calories from carbs, whereas low-intensity exercise burns 40% or less from carbs (at least until you’re carb-depleted, then everything shifts toward fat-burning). Just four hours of moderate-high intensity exercise can deplete glycogen sufficiently for ketosis. So, if you did the above diet protocol plus two hours of moderate-intense exercise each day, you could be in ketosis as quickly as 48 hours.

Now, the absolute quickest way to get into ketosis is fasting for 24 hours. You can drink water, black coffee, or consume anything with almost no calories. It sucks, yes, but it will get the job done much sooner.

The most accurate way to test whether you’re in ketosis is using a blood ketone meter that pricks your finger. If that sounds unpleasant, you can use urine keto strips or a keto breathalyzer, though less reliable. A super easy way to tell you’re in ketosis is having “fruity” bad breath (you’ll want to brush your teeth several times per day or chew sugar-free gum).

Do I need any special supplements?

Besides a good quality multivitamin/multi-mineral, there are a few other supplements that can make your keto experience healthier as well as more enjoyable.

Getting adequate electrolytes (sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium) helps counteract the loss of water and minerals due to ketosis. Electrolytes are also vital for nerve function, muscle contraction, hydration, and many other metabolic reactions in the body. Aim for at least 1,500mg sodium per day (more if sweating a lot), 300-400mg of supplemented magnesium daily, 4,000-5,000mg of potassium from foods (nuts, avocados, salmon, leafy greens, broccoli, mushrooms), and 1,000mg calcium from foods (dairy, sardines, almonds, seeds, and leafy greens).20 If you don’t think you’re getting enough potassium and calcium from your diet, add an electrolyte drink during your workouts. (Link to ISO EAA’s)

To avoid digestive issues, I recommend a good probiotic (capsules, powder, or live cultures) and prebiotic fiber supplement (such as psyllium husk capsules). In addition, if you’re not getting three cups of low carb veggies in per day, a greens supplement may help replace the micronutrients and antioxidants you’re missing. Look for one with spirulina, which has been shown to reduce total blood cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides while increasing HDL cholesterol (the good kind).21

MCT oil and coconut oil are excellent sources of medium-chain triglycerides (fats) that readily metabolize into energy and promote ketosis. Both can help improve energy levels while on the keto diet. The difference between coconut oil and MCT oil is the amount of caprylic acid, a fatty acid that provides almost instantaneous energy and is preferred by the brain. Coconut oil has almost no caprylic acid, so this is where MCT oil really shines.

Supplementing with exogenous ketones makes it easier to get high levels of ketones in your blood and enter ketosis faster, but they reduce the need to make ketones from your own body fat. One of the main reasons keto is so great for weight loss is because synthesizing ketones burns a lot of calories – consuming exogenous ketones does not.22 Other benefits of exogenous ketones, such as appetite suppression and lowered blood sugar, can be achieved with diet-induced ketosis. That said, if you’re really struggling with your workouts or feeling overly exhausted during initiation into the diet, exogenous ketones might give you a little boost.

What should I expect?

The keto diet can be rough at first. For the first week (or weeks), you will probably experience fatigue and trouble focusing as your body adapts to the lack of carbs. It’s fairly common to have headaches as your brain switches to ketones for fuel, digestive issues as your gut adjusts to the high fat intake, and diminished training performance due to depleted muscle glycogen. Don’t be surprised if you have insomnia either – carbs aid sleep by increasing serotonin and tryptophan levels. Melatonin is an effective natural sleep aid, and I’ve mentioned several supplements in the previous segment to relieve other side effects. On the plus side, you could lose as much as 5-10 pounds (mostly water) the first week, which is super motivating!

Once you’re in full ketosis, you may notice fruity bad breath or “sweet-smelling” pee, which are sure signs that ketone levels are high. You should also start to feel less hungry, as ketones suppress appetite hormones and stabilize blood sugar. Dry mouth and constant thirst are also common, due to a loss of water and electrolytes. Many keto dieters report improved focus and mental clarity, likely a combination of level blood sugar and heightened cortisol levels (the “fight or flight” hormone).

About a month into the diet, you should be feeling pretty energetic (assuming your calories aren’t too low), and begin to perform better in the gym. On the downside, you may start to miss some of those high-carb comfort foods, or become weary of saying “no thank you” to various offerings at social gatherings. This is where keto-friendly recipes and a good support system can make all the difference.

If you choose to drink alcohol during keto, just exercise moderation and choose drinks that are low in carbs (dry wine, certain beers, straight liquor). This won’t kick you out of ketosis, as a matter of fact it can actually push you further into ketosis, even dangerously so. Since alcohol is toxic, it’s metabolized first priority over ketones and other nutrients. Fats and carbs are stored under these circumstances, but ketones cannot be stored so they build up in the blood before being eliminated in your urine. Be careful – drinking in ketosis makes you drunk quicker and way more hungover!

How long should I follow the keto diet?

It has been in use for nearly a century, the keto diet has sufficient time to demonstrate long-term benefits in those who maintain it and persisting benefits even in those who discontinue it.23 That said, if you don’t require a ketogenic diet for medical reasons, you may decide to shift into a different nutritional approach you reach your goals.

Some experts recommend transitioning into a high-fiber “cyclical” keto diet with targeted higher carb days (100-150g) for additional health benefits and muscle growth.24 Other health authorities suggest a Mediterranean, Atkins, low-glycemic or Paleo-style diet for weight maintenance post-keto. Personally, after two years on keto, I prefer intermittent fasting with carb-cycling (similar to cyclical keto) for weight maintenance. It’s helped me put on muscle, avoid fat gain, and given me enough flexibility to enjoy life. Feel free to experiment and find what’s best for you!

Sources:

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15. Eenfeldt, Andreas, M.D. “Gallstones and Low Carb.” Diet Doctor. November 24, 2017. Accessed July 16, 2018. https://www.dietdoctor.com/gallstones-and-low-carb.
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19. Brinkworth, Grant D., Thomas P. Wycherley, Manny Noakes, Jonathan D. Buckley, and Peter M. Clifton. “Long-term Effects of a Very-low-carbohydrate Weight-loss Diet and an Isocaloric Low-fat Diet on Bone Health in Obese Adults.” Nutrition 32, no. 9 (2016): 1033-036. doi:10.1016/j.nut.2016.03.003.
20. Dietary Reference Intakes for Water, Potassium, Sodium, Chloride, and Sulfate’ at NAP.edu.” National Academies Press: OpenBook, www.nap.edu/read/10925/chapter/1#xvi.
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22. Sheridan, Mike. “Avoid This Ketogenic Rip-Off.” T NATION, www.t-nation.com/diet-fat-loss/avoid-this-ketogenic-rip-off.
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24. “Study: Those Following a High Fat Diet Live Longest.” Health Impact News, 12 Sept. 2017, healthimpactnews.com/2017/study-those-following-a-high-fat-diet-live-longest/.

Sarah Wilkins, Nutritionist, B.S. Dietetics

IG: @no_excuses_nutrition