Keto Carb Control: Thomas Delauer's Method For Success

Thomas DeLauer, an executive body and business coach, has shared his insights on low-carb diets and how they work within the body. In one of his posts, DeLauer delves into the world of ketogenic diets, explaining how reducing carbohydrate intake retrains the body to utilize fats as its primary fuel source. This process, known as ketosis, involves breaking down fats into ketones, which serve as an energy source for the body and brain. According to DeLauer, achieving ketosis typically requires limiting daily carbohydrate consumption to 50 grams or less for about 3 to 4 days. He also emphasizes the impact of low-carb diets on cardiovascular health and their potential to reduce the risk of type-2 diabetes. However, he offers a word of caution for diabetics, as their blood ketone levels can become dangerously high due to low insulin levels.

Ketogenic diets reduce carbs to retrain the body to use fat for fuel

The ketogenic diet is a low-carb diet that retrains your body to use fat, not carbohydrates, as its primary fuel source. This process is called ketosis.

To enter ketosis, you need to consume very few carbohydrates—50 grams or fewer per day. This amount of carbs is roughly equivalent to two bananas. By reducing carbs, your body will turn to fat for energy. This stored fat will be burned while preserving your muscle.

During ketosis, your liver breaks down fats into ketones, which are then used for energy. Your muscles and other tissues will use these ketones for energy metabolism when you are not consuming many carbs.

Ketogenic diets have benefits beyond weight loss. They have been shown to improve cardiovascular health and reduce the risk of type-2 diabetes. The ketogenic diet is also used to treat brain diseases such as epilepsy, although the mechanisms behind its effectiveness are not yet fully understood.

To make a diet ketogenic, consume abundant fats, very few carbs, and a moderate amount of protein. You can also supplement with amino acids like leucine and lysine, as well as short-chain fatty acids found in coconut oil, to aid in the production of ketones.

This process is called ketosis and takes 3-4 days to start

The ketogenic diet is a low-carb diet that retrains your body to use fat, not carbohydrates, as its main source of fuel. This process is called ketosis and takes 3-4 days to start. During this time, you should consume 50g or fewer carbohydrates per day. To put that into perspective, that's roughly the same amount of carbs as in two bananas.

Ketosis is the state your body enters when it doesn't have enough glucose (its primary source of energy) and has to break down fats in your body into something called ketones, which it can then use for energy. This is why the ketogenic diet is so effective for weight loss—it uses the body's stored fat as fuel.

When you start a ketogenic diet, your body will enter a state of ketosis after 3-4 days of consuming very few carbohydrates. This is because your body will have used up its stored glucose, and will need to start using ketones for energy.

To kickstart ketosis, you need to strictly limit your glucose intake, reduce your protein intake, and increase your fat intake. This means that, as well as reducing carbs, you should also be mindful of your protein consumption. However, it's important to note that the quality of the protein you consume is also important. Complete proteins, such as eggs, fish, and meat, are higher in quality than those that do not contain a complete amino acid profile.

During ketosis, the body uses ketones for energy instead of glucose

When the body is in a state of ketosis, it uses ketones for energy instead of glucose. This is achieved by reducing the number of carbohydrates in your diet over a sustained period, retraining your body to turn to fats for fuel instead of carbohydrates.

Ketosis is the process of breaking down fats into ketones in the liver, which are then used for energy. This happens naturally when the body is in a calorie deficit, during fasting, or when dietary glucose is in short supply. The body can also produce energy from glycogen, protein, and fatty acids. However, the body has a limited supply of glycogen, and proteins are more likely to be converted into glucose. During ketosis, the body uses ketones as the primary energy source, which can be beneficial for weight loss and managing certain brain diseases.

Ketogenic diets aim to induce ketosis by limiting glucose and protein intake while increasing fat consumption. This shift in energy source from glucose to ketones can be beneficial for several reasons. Firstly, it allows for the burning of stored fat while preserving muscle mass. Secondly, it has been shown to improve cardiovascular health and reduce the risk of type-2 diabetes. Additionally, ketogenic diets have been used to treat brain diseases such as epilepsy, although the exact mechanisms of their benefits to the brain are still being studied.

During a ketogenic diet, it is important to consider the body's changing protein requirements. Initially, the brain requires more protein to produce sufficient glucose for energy. However, after about three weeks, the brain's glucose needs decrease as it starts using more ketones for energy. Therefore, protein intake can be reduced to prevent excess glucose production, allowing the body to continue producing energy through ketosis. It is also crucial to note that those with diabetes should be cautious with low-carb diets as they can lead to dangerously high levels of ketones in the blood due to low insulin levels.

Low-carb diets improve cardiovascular health and reduce diabetes risk

Low-carb diets have been shown to improve cardiovascular health and reduce the risk of diabetes. While there is no one-size-fits-all approach to carbohydrate restriction, a general rule of thumb is to consume fewer than 130 grams of carbs per day, or less than 26% of your daily calories from carbs.

Cardiovascular Benefits

A meta-analysis of 12 randomized controlled trials found that low-carb diets were associated with a decrease in triglyceride levels, blood pressure, and body weight. These positive effects were most pronounced in interventions lasting less than 6 months, and the benefits were sustained for up to 2 years. Another study found that overweight individuals who followed a low-carb, high-fat diet had significant improvements in their cardiovascular disease risk factors compared to those on a low-fat, high-carb diet.

Diabetes Risk Reduction

Low-carb diets are particularly effective for managing blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. By reducing carbohydrate intake, individuals can lower their blood glucose levels and improve insulin sensitivity. In one study, participants with type 2 diabetes who adhered to a low-carb diet for 6 months were able to maintain better blood sugar control for more than 3 years. Similarly, individuals with type 1 diabetes who followed a carb-restricted diet experienced significant improvements in blood sugar levels over a 4-year period.

Important Considerations

It is important to note that not all carbs are created equal. Fiber-rich, whole-food sources of carbohydrates, such as vegetables, berries, nuts, and seeds, are nutritious and can be included in a healthy low-carb diet. Additionally, the types of fats consumed in a low-carb diet matter. Prioritizing unsaturated fats, such as those found in olive oil, avocados, nuts, seeds, and fish, is recommended for optimal cardiovascular health.

Ketosis also has benefits for brain function and brain diseases

Ketosis has been shown to have benefits for brain function and brain diseases. The brain can use ketones for energy when glucose and insulin levels are low. The liver produces ketones from fatty acids, and these can provide up to 75% of the brain's energy needs.

Ketogenic diets have been used to treat epilepsy since the 1920s, and are now being explored as a potential treatment for Alzheimer's disease. Research suggests that ketogenic diets may also improve memory in older adults, relieve migraine symptoms, and reduce symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

The exact mechanisms behind the ketogenic diet's effects on brain function are not yet fully understood, but there are several possible reasons why ketones seem to be a good energy source for the brain. One theory is that ketones protect brain cells by reducing reactive oxygen species, which are metabolism byproducts that can cause inflammation. Another theory is that a diet high in fat, including saturated fat, can reduce the harmful proteins that accumulate in the brains of people with Alzheimer's.

Thomas DeLauer, a prominent advocate for the ketogenic diet, has himself experienced the benefits of ketosis for brain function. In an interview, he shared that after adopting a ketogenic diet, he noticed improvements in his joint health and a reduction in back pain, which he attributed to decreased inflammation in his body. DeLauer also credits the keto diet with saving his wife's life; she suffered from autoimmune diseases and Lyme disease, and the dietary changes helped alleviate her depression and improve her overall health.

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