Fat Storage & Ketosis

We have sustained high glucose/carbohydrate intake in our diet which has lead to increased fat synthesis.

If glucose intake continues after muscle and liver glycogen stores are full, (ALL YOU CAN EAT BUFFET) the glucose is not excreted or wasted. It is converted to a fuel storage form which has an unlimited capacity i.e. triglycerides stored in adipose tissue (FAT ROLLS).

“Glucose is converted to pyruvate by glycolysis. The pyruvate is converted to acetyl CoA, which is the starting material for the synthesis of fatty acids. This synthesis occurs in the liver followed by conversion of the fatty acids to triglycerides (also in the liver) and then transport to adipose tissue for storage” (ref:www.unisanet.unisa.edu.au/08366/h&p2carb.htm)

Ketosis is a state characterized by elevated levels of ketone bodies in the blood.
It occurs when the liver converts fat into fatty acids and ketone bodies, which can be used by all of the body for energy as an alternative to glucose and subsequently enhances weight loss, if maintained.

Meaning, if we prohibit the consumption of our supremely delicious comfort foods such as pasta, bread, cereals, potatoes, fruit, sugar of any kind and juice for a while; we have a good chance of losing some “ton-age” fairly quickly.

However in order to achieve this state you must radically reduce the amount of carbohydrate intake to no less than 20 grams per day and no more than 60 grams per day. The Institute of Medicine set a Recommended Dietary Allowance of 130 grams per day for adults and children, who are maintaining a healthy weight. (ref: mypyramid.gov)This is no easy task.

If your diet is changed from a high carbohydrate diet to a diet that does not provide sufficient carbohydrate to replenish glycogen stores, the body goes through a set of stages to enter ketosis. During the initial stages of this process the adult brain does not burn ketones, however the brain makes immediate use of this for lipid synthesis in the brain. After about 48 hours of this process, the brain starts burning ketones in order to utilize the energy from the fat stores that are being depended upon, and to reserve the glucose only for its absolute needs, thus avoiding the depletion of the body's protein store in the muscles. (Ref: wikipedia.com)

Special urine test strips may be used to determine if you have reached Ketosis, however it is said that once you enter ketosis you tend to feel a bit livelier than you previously had.

So, KETOSIS, here I come…….