Ketosis Diet - Low Carb Programs Activate Metabolism

The theory behind the ketosis diet is that if you restrict or eliminate carbohydrate intake, your body will have no choice but to burn fat.  They say limiting your carb intake to just 20 grams in some cases can result in significant fat burning.  

Normally, the carbohydrates in food are converted into glucose. The glucose is then transported through the body and is particularly important in fuelling the brain. However, if there are very little carbs in the diet, the liver converts fat into fatty acids and ketone bodies. The ketone bodies pass into the brain and replace glucose as an energy source. So, the body produces ketone bodies - a state known as ketosis.

Low Carb diets take advantage of this state of ketosis.  Since cells in the body can use ketones for energy instead of glucose - and since ketones are easier to produce - only a small amount of glucose is created.  In other words, ketosis is the more significant process in this case. Diets low in starches and sugars do not directly affect blood sugar levels significantly, meals tend to have little direct effect on insulin levels.  These diets tend to discourage insulin production in general.  

Additionally, many experts argue that a ketosis diet is more like the diet our bodies were used to prior to evolution.  Before the advent of agriculture, the human body had millions of years of evolution which selected for a hunter gatherer lifestyle.  Hunter gatherers had very few carbs in their diets.  They may have had the original ketosis diet.

Dr. Robert Atkins first published the Atkins Diet Revolution in 1972 which set off the modern day advent of low carb dieting.  At the time, its appeal was limited because so many scientists and doctors condemned it.  Over time, though, it gained credibility and when he republished the book as Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution, it set off a frenzy.

Soon other ketosis diet books appeared.  These included the popular South Beach diet, The Zone diet, and Protein Power.

While the scientific community still has not acknowledged the value of the ketosis diet, they have started to make recommendations that people reduce the amount of carbohydrates in their diets.  The medical community has also stressed the importance of fiber in our regular diets.

While the popularity of ketosis diets has waned since the height of it’s popularity in 2004, there are still many adherents.  That’s because, for many people it simply works. Sometimes there’s just no arguing with anecdotal evidence. But while effective for weight loss, the jury is still out on the ketosis diet’s long term effects on the body when used too often.

There has already been much scientific research on low carb diets.  There are many studies which show it works and many studies which show that it can be dangerous.  In the middle ground are those who prescribe these diets on a once-in-a-while basis. They believe the diet can be used safely, provided that it is done in a limited prescribed period and in addition - not to be used on and off again regularly like yoyo dieting.

So yes, the ketosis based diet can help you. But do your research before you proceed.