Ketone bodies, how does it work?

We often hear that sugar is the fuel of our body. So how can keto or low carb diets work without compromising our vitality and energy?

The answer is, thanks to ketones ! But what are ketones? Don't panic, we'll explain everything to you. Their origins, how they are created and how they act on your body.

In this article you will learn everything about ketone bodies and how they can become your body's main source of energy .

What is ketosis?

As we told you above, ketones are created by your body. Ketone bodies are chemicals made by your liver. These ketones are produced by your body when your metabolism is in a state of ketosis .

But then, what is ketosis?

Ketosis is a state your body goes into when it is lacking glucose. Your body then starts to produce ketosis to fill this gap. In chemistry, a ketone is a hydrogen atom double bonded to a carbon atom, it can also be written C=O.

In other words, you make ketones when your body no longer has glucose available. These molecules replace the glucose normally stored to be transformed into energy. Ketosis is therefore the moment when your body senses that you need energy, it then transforms the fatty acids present in your body into ketones and energy.

How are ketones created?

Ketones can be created by the body for a number of reasons:

• When you consume very few carbohydrates on a daily basis.
• If you are fasting for a longer or shorter period of time
• When you do a lot of exercise (high-level athletes, trail runners, etc.).
• When you are following a keto diet, a no-carb diet or other sugar-free diets.

In all of these cases your body ends up burning all of the sugars present in your blood, but also in your glucose reserves. In order to create ketones your body must first use all of the sugar present in your body.

Only once all the sugar in your body is burned will it start looking for a new source of energy for your body. This is when the fats in your body are then converted into fuel . These are ketones!

The transformation of fat into ketone bodies

When it is low on sugar and needs to use fat for fuel, your body starts sorting through it. First, your body uses the process of beta-oxidation to break down dietary fat and body fat. This breakdown of fatty acids allows fat to be used as fuel.

Ketones are formed exclusively in your liver and then distributed throughout your body. Your body is able to produce ketones when your blood sugar is below 80 mg/dl.

The different types of ketones

Since the types of fats used are different, there are different types of ketones.

Below are the three types of ketone bodies created by your body:

• Acetoacetate
• Acetone
• Beta hydroxybutyrate.

The most important ones in a ketogenic diet are acetoacetate and beta-hydroxybutyrate. In fact, these are the two ketone molecules that participate in the transport of energy. They ensure the distribution of ketones created by the liver to the other tissues and organs of your body.

Why create this state of ketosis?

Intentionally created by people following a ketogenic or keto diet, the state of ketosis provides many benefits to your body:

• No more carbohydrate addiction and reduced cravings
• Increased fat burning
• Lower blood pressure
• Significant improvement in cholesterol levels
• Weight loss
• Improving sports performance

And more…

To learn more, please read our article on the carbohydrate-free diet.

Is the state of ketosis dangerous?

Humans have relied on ketones for energy for generations. In times of famine, shortages, or poor harvests, our ancestors unknowingly used this state of ketosis to keep their energy levels up throughout the day.

This adaptability of our body has always allowed us to survive all kinds of crises. Even if today, ketones are much less familiar than carbohydrates, our bodies still adapt just as well to this energy source. They are safe molecules, created by our body itself, so they are harmless.

However, if your body were to produce too many ketone bodies , your body will be able to eliminate them safely. The means used by your body to eliminate ketone bodies is through urine, and more specifically through the kidneys.

Be careful, however, to seek support in the context of a pathology (diabetes, cancer, epilepsy, etc.) and not to exceed the recommended doses of good fats to ingest.

Side effects of the state of ketosis

Despite the body's good adaptation to ketones, it takes a little time for it to make the transition to this new energy source. In fact, in the short term, people who start this type of diet may experience some side effects = the ketogenic flu or keto flu .

• Feelings of weakness
• Possible headaches
• Mental fatigue, difficulty thinking
• Slight physical fatigue
• Mild flu symptoms

These symptoms, which are a bit unsettling at first, only last the first week. This is due to the efforts your metabolism has to make to adapt to all these changes.

One of the causes of the appearance of these types of symptoms is the dehydration of your body. Indeed, the burning of fats in large quantities causes a large consumption of water by your body. It is therefore important during this first phase to drink plenty of water in order to limit the appearance of these symptoms as much as possible.

Fortunately, these side effects subside quickly. Symptoms vary from person to person, and some people have none at all.

The important thing is to listen to yourself and get informed in order to manage this first phase in the best possible way and thus quickly benefit from all the advantages of ketosis!