Basics of Keto diet

Ketogenesis Pathway 

Many people have heard of a keto diet. Some have used a keto diet for weight loss or high performance. Keto diet provides the body with ketones in the process of ketogenesis. Ketogenesis is a metabolic process or state where the body gets energy supply from the ketone bodies. This is in contrary to the glycolysis and gluconeogenesis, in which blood glucose and glycogen supply the body with energy. Normally, ketosis takes place when the body is breaking down fats at a high rate and transforming fatty acids into ketone bodies. Ketosis is characterized by over 0.5mM concentration of ketone bodies in blood serum with a stable and low concentration of blood glucose and insulin. Ketogenesis occurs when the body is depleted of glycogen or when there are no medium-chain-triglyceride to be converted to provide the body with energy. Furthermore, ketone bodies may be obtained from ketone foods such as HVMN ketone or MCT oils or ketone salts . Beta-hydroxybutyrate and acetoacetate are the main ketone bodies utilize in providing the body with energy. The concentration of ketone bodies depends on the actions of glucagon and insulin.

An article published on HVMN by Nate Martins and Dr. Brianna Stubbs provide superb information on the fundamentals of a keto diet and this part is the most intriguing part to read: “Just because a diet is a low carb doesn't mean it is keto. The subtle differences in macronutrients on keto make it unique (more on these later). Keto isn't Atkins. Keto isn't paleo. Keto isn't high protein.

High fat intake is often a concern on keto because, for years, a low-fat diet was equated with fat loss. In Dr. Atkins' 1972 book, "Dr. Atkins' Diet Revolution," he began to reshape how we think about fat. The pendulum of public perception continued to swing in favor of diets higher in fat, thanks to the emergence of influential writers and speakers such as Gary Taubes, Robert Lustig, and Nina Teicholtz, and clinicians and scientists such as Professor Tim Noakes, Dr. Jason Fung, and Professor Thomas Seyfried. The fear of fat has only kept decreasing.” For information read it here Keto diet fundamentals.