Ketosis

The basics of the LCHF/Ketogenic lifestyle is that you cut down on carbs and increase the amount of fats you consume. So why does that cause you to lose weight? The body starts burning stored fat as energy. The body is then in a state called ketosis. The liver converts the fat into fatty acids and ketone bodies. The ketone bodies replace glucose as an energy source. One of the first signs I notice when I’m in ketosis is that my body temperature increases and I’m full of energy. Before I started with LCHF I was always feeling cold, which would lead to tension headaches. It’s a relief to not always wear sweaters to keep warm or to constantly take painkillers for headaches.

I don’t strive to always be in ketosis. But in the beginning, it helped me tremendously to measure my ketosis levels and to be in optimal ketosis since it taught me how different foods impacted my weight loss and well-being. By using a ketosis meter you can measure and track your numbers. To be in ketosis you want to obtain a number within 1.5 to 3 mmol/L. Being at the higher range doesn’t bring any extra benefits, so just above 1.5 mmol/L is good enough.

I use the Precision Xtra NFR Blood Glucose Monitoring System which you can find here.

Please note that a ketonic state is not good if you are a diabetic. Diabetics should take extreme caution when considering a low-carbohydrate diet and always discuss options with their physician.