DQ

... as found by JFC (nice one babes )

Ketosis

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Ketosis (IPA pronunciation: [ki'tosɪs]) is a stage in metabolism occurring when the liver has been depleted of stored glycogen and switches to a chronic fasting mode during long periods of starvation.
During the chronic stage of starvation (after glycogen has run out), fat (triglycerol) is cleaved to give 3 fatty acid chains and 1 glycerol molecule in a process called lipolysis. Most of the body is able to utilize fatty acids as an alternative source of energy in a process where fatty acid chains are cleaved to form acetyl-CoA, which can then be fed into the Krebs Cycle. During this process a high concentration of glucagon is present in the serum and this inactivates glucose kinase switching the primary energy source of most cells from using glucose to fatty acids. At the same time, new glucose is synthesized in the liver from lactic acid, glucogenic amino acids, and glycerol, in a process called gluconeogenesis. This glucose is used exclusively by cells such as neurons and red blood cells.
Ketone bodies, from the breakdown of fatty acids to acetyl groups, are also produced during this fasting state, and are burned throughout the body. During the initial stages of starvation the brain does not burn ketones, since they are an important substrate for lipid synthesis in the brain. But after several days of starvation, the brain transitions to burning ketones in order to more directly utilize the energy from the fat stores that are being depended upon, and to reserve the glucose only for its absolute needs, thus slowing the depletion of the body's protein store in the muscles.
The brain retains a residual need for glucose, because ketones can only provide energy when used during aerobic respiration in mitochondria. In the long thin neurons, much of the metabolically active cellular membrane must derive its energy from glucose via anaerobic respiration without the assistance of mitochondria.
Ketosis, which is a physiological condition in response to chronic starvation, should not be confused with ketoacidosis, which is severe ketosis causing the pH of the blood to drop below 7.2. Ketoacidosis is a medical condition usually caused by diabetes and accompanied by dehydration, hyperglycemia, ketonuria and increased levels of glucagon. The high glucagon, low insulin serum levels signals the body to produce more glucose via gluconeogenesis, glycolysis and ketogenesis. High levels of glucose causes the failure of tubular reabsorption in the kidneys, causing water to leak into the tubules in a process called osmotic diuresis, causing dehydration and further exacerbating the acidosis.
The breath of people in a ketagenic state commonly contains acetone, detectable as a sweet smell that may be mistaken for ethyl alcohol.
Deliberately induced ketosis through a low-carbohydrate diet has been used to treat medical conditions. The ketogenic diet is an approach to treating epilepsy, and the Atkins Nutritional Approach is marketed for treating obesity. The Lighter Life diet is recommended as a safer more controllable means of reaching ketosis for the purpose of fat burning within a professionally controlled environment.

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Mini

In the Questions and Answers page 141. The Cambridge Book by Dr. Alan Howard.

What is ketosis and is it harmful?

Ketosis another name for the 'fat burning' process. Once the body has used up its stored carbohydrate, it then switches to using its other energy store - unwanted fat.

A ketogenic diet is very low carbohydrate. The body's stored fat is broken down into little fatty acid molecules called ketones and these circulate taking energy to all the tissues in the body.

The Cambridge Diet has been carefully researched and formulated so that when used as 'Sole Source' it has just enough carbohydrate for immediate energy and none left over for storage; this induces a mild ketosis.

The smallest intake of addictional carbohydrate can upset this fragile balance and cause carbohydrate to be restored along with attendant water, causing a plateau or even weight gain!

The mild ketosis is an intrinsic part of the design of the 'Sole Source' programme because it has significant benefits - it is the key to comfort for the dieter:

It reduces the feeling of hunger - removing the temptation to err!

It induces a sense of well-being with good energy levels.

Far from being harmful, ketosis is an important safety factor - the body gets all the energy it needs from the breakdown of its fat stores, thus protecting muscle tissue and vital organs.

Love Mini xxx

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"If hunger is not the problem, then eating is not the
solution".

Fuzzys Angel

Can you please tell me when in ketosis does it make any difference how dark the stick is? Does darker mean you are burning more fat? or lighter?..... Or does it not make any difference at all?

xx

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OUR HOLIDAY IN VEGAS & HAWAII
http://photogallery.minimins.com/sho...ry.php/cat/632


RE-START SSING:....
wk 1 - 6LBS LOSS

DQ

If you are showing even a trace, then you are in fat burning mode. Showing darker purple can mean that you are dehydrated

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skinnymongoose

But if you are drinking,say, 5 litres or more of water a day can you still be dehydrated? If ketones are the 'smoke' generated by the burning 'fire' of fat stores, then does it mean that the more fat you are burning, the more ketones you will produce?? And hence the darker pink the stick? Sorry if I am being thick about this!
SM

DQ

It could be when you are testing your ketones - sometimes they are stronger than at other time. However, generally speaking we suggest that you aim for the lower ++ - that's fatburning enough, and the lower calories will do the rest.

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Lenwie

Thought this might help with any queries regarding colour for ketostix
Its a really informative site, ive pasted a section on here for a quick read or just click on link for full infor.

Low Carb Diet Tips & Basics - Ketosis & Ketone Test Strips

I'm following Induction strictly; why won't my strips turn purple?

Ketones will spill into the urine ONLY when there is more in the blood than is being used as fuel by the body at that particular moment.

You may have exercised or worked a few hours previously, so your muscles would have used up the ketones as fuel, thus there will be no excess. You may have had a lot of liquids to drink, so the urine is more diluted. Perhaps the strips are not fresh, or the lid was not on tight and some moisture from the atmosphere got in.

Some low carbers NEVER show above trace or negative even ... yet they burn fat and lose weight just fine. If you're losing weight, and your clothes are getting looser, you're feeling well and not hungry all the time .. then you are successfully in ketosis. Don't get hung up on the strips; they're just a guide, nothing more.


Will I lose weight faster if the strips show dark purple all the time?

No. Testing in the darkest purple range all the time is usually a sign of dehydration -- the urine is too concentrated. You need to drink more water to dilute it, and keep the kidneys flushed.

The liver will make ketones from body fat, the fat you EAT, and from alcohol --- the ketone strips have no way of distinguishing the source of the ketones. So, if you test every day after dinner, and dinner usually contains a lot of fat, then you may very well test for large amounts of ketones all the time. However this does not indicate that any BODY fat was burned.

The strips only indicate what's happening in the urine. Ketosis happens in the blood and body tissues. If you're showing even a small amount, then you are in ketosis, and fat-burning is taking place. Don't get hung up on the ketone sticks.

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lisabella

Wow - that is useful... I always thought the darker purple it was, the better. Now at least I dont feel so bad;-)

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LISABELLA

loosingit

Thanks for the information
tA

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LOOSINGIT

wk1 -14lbs - 4 ltr water
wk2 - 5lbs - 5 ltr water
wk3 - 2lbs - 2.5 ltr water

Nigeepoo

What do you think of the following article on Ketogenic Diets & Ketoacidosis that I wrote? Ketogenic diets & Ketoacidosis