Keto The Healthy Way

The low carb/high fat ketogenic diet has become a popular way to lose weight. But ingesting large amounts of saturated fats can increase cardiovascular risks. Dr. Jameelah Gater MD of Lake Oconee Integrative Medicine has developed a healthy method to increase ketones without the health risks of a traditional ketogenic diet.

Lately it seems like everyone’s trying ketogenic diets to lose weight.

Ketones are compounds normally produced in the body during times of fasting. They provide easy-to-use energy to the brain and muscles.  By severely limiting carbohydrate intake, we can mimic some of the metabolic effects of fasting, leading to increased production of ketones.  Studies have shown that carbohydrate restriction can lead to improved energy metabolism, reduced blood sugar, weight loss, and more. 

But many doctors warn against trying ketogenic diets. First, they can be very difficult to maintain. Second, they often require people to increase their intake of unhealthy fats.  As a result, some of these diets have been tied to higher risk for cardiovascular disease and overall increased risk of premature death.

Dr. Jameelah Gater MD an Integrative and Family Medicine physician has identified a potential solution.  Her individually tailored supplement combination can safely curb appetite, increase energy and boosts blood levels of ketones without resorting to harmful high-fat diets.*

What Are Ketones?

Ketones are an alternative fuel source for your body.  In times of prolonged fasting, when glucose is low, the liver is forced to produce an alternative fuel source, ketones, which it makes from stored fats.  Ketones aren’t just an alternative fuel source. Utilized the correct way, they positively alter metabolism, stabilize blood sugar and insulin levels which can in turn, reduce risk factors for metabolic disease, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

What Are the Benefits of a Tailored Keto Plan?

Improved Metabolic and Physical Health

Science has found that ketones offer advantages over glucose. They’re more energy efficient and are effective energy sources for tissues with high metabolic rates like the brain and muscles.  Two of the principal ketones are acetoacetate and beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB). These compounds can be broken down by cells to provide energy. BHB, created from fatty acids in the liver, not only regulates energy expenditure, it also helps modulate metabolism.  Using ketones as an energy provides a potent fuel to muscles to enhance physical fitness.

A study recently published in The Journal of Physiology found that healthy, young adults given a ketone supplement showed improvements in metabolism during an oral glucose tolerance test. After ketone supplementation, beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) levels went up, total blood glucose during the glucose tolerance test was lower, fatty acid levels decreased, and insulin sensitivity improved by about 11%.

These findings suggest that acute ketone supplementation may improve metabolic response by stabilizing blood sugar.

Potential Boost in Brain Health

Ketones are easily used by the brain as a fuel source. Not only can this improve brain function, it can also have a neuroprotective effect, shielding against age-related cognitive decline.  People with Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, tend to have lower blood levels of ketones.

A study published in The Neurobiology of Aging explored whether raising blood levels of the ketone beta-hydroxybutyrate, an alternative fuel, could improve their brain function.  Subjects with Alzheimer’s or mild cognitive impairment were given a supplement drink that raised blood ketone levels. The increase in ketones in most study subjects correlated with improvements in memory.

What Are the Issues with a Traditional Ketogenic Diet?

One way to raise ketone levels is by forcing the body to create more ketones. That’s the goal of the popular ketogenic diet. Severely restricting carbohydrate intake and replacing those calories with a large amount of fat stimulates the liver to produce ketones.

But there are several downsides to this strategy:

• Eliminating carbs means dramatically reducing intake of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. These foods are a source of dietary fiber, which is critical for digestive health.  This can cause severe constipation.
• A high-fat diet can cause elevated cholesterol- a risk factors for heart disease.
• It's very common for keto dieters to describe feeling under the weather. This so-called "keto flu" is associated with brain fog, headaches, nausea and fatigue and usually lasts for a few weeks (often long enough to encourage dieters to call it quits).

In other words, the potential problems of the ketogenic diet may outweigh the benefits. It is not recommended for people unless they are medically supervised.

Raise Ketones the Healthy Way

Dr. Gater recently set out to create a healthier way to raise ketone levels minimizing the risks of the traditional ketogenic diet.  The healthy ketogenic plan is accomplished by combining a tailored set of supplements that raise ketones in the blood to boost metabolism and energy to meet individualized needs.

When ingested orally, these supplements are easily absorbed into the bloodstream, providing the same benefits as ketones produced by the liver and can increase blood levels to the range typically induced by a ketogenic diet.

Summary

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT KETO

Boost Ketones Without a Risky Diet

• Ketones are compounds produced by the liver during times of fasting or extremely low carbohydrate (sugar) intake.
• Ketones are used as an alternative fuel by the brain and muscles
• The ketogenic diet stimulates ketone production but requires extremely high fat intake that can harmful health consequences.
• Safer alternatives directly supply ketones that can be absorbed and used by the body. Beta-hydroxybutyrate regulates energy expenditure and helps modulate metabolism. 
• It is now possible to obtain the benefits of ketones without the difficulties and downsides associated with prolonged fasting or the ketogenic diet.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA.  Adapted from Life Extension Magazine® Healthy Ways to Benefit From Ketones