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I don't have a weight problem, I learned about ketosis researching natural ways for improving focus and concentration, and somehow came across "bulletproof coff
by gtrubetskoy 10y ago
I don't have a weight problem, I learned about ketosis researching natural ways for improving focus and concentration, and somehow came across "bulletproof coffee". (I'm only using BP for lack of a better name and I don't endorse the stuff they sell online).
To my utter surprise, something as stupidly simple as coffee blended with butter with coconut oil (or MCT) first thing in the morning did unbelievable things for mental productivity. After much googling I learned that this is not a fluke, and that there is real science behind it - beta-oxidation, etc, all that good stuff.
What's most incredible to me is that (1) I didn't know about it, I always thought glucose is the only fuel (and I consider myself fairly knowledgeable as far as basic physiology is concerned) and (2) that sugar, especially the industrially produced kind, is about as close to being the root of all evil as it gets and there is nothing wrong with fat at all.
- paulcole 10y ago> I consider myself fairly knowledgeable as far as basic physiology is concerned No offense, but after learning you were dead wrong about a pretty fundamental concept, have you reevaluated this belief?
- will_brown 10y agoI would say he did...there is no substitute for personal experience but that doesn't mean turning you back on common knowledge (as evidenced by his continued research after making the changes).
- spectrum1234 10y agoThis is not necessarily needed. Because this is a rare case where not only is the mainstream media wrong but so are most other common viewpoints.
- rotomatt 10y agoBulletproof coffee is really the strangest of any strange fad beverage/weight loss ritual I've ever encountered. But even weirder is that it really doesn't taste bad, and it did didn't do terrible things to my innards. The sound of it is really counter-intuitive: oily coffee, black. But then you realize that these flavors have been mixed together for years, whenever you have buttered toast and coffee. (now, minus the toast)
- jaggederest 10y agoI mean, if you put cream in your coffee... that's basically liquid butter with some whey in it.
- rotomatt 10y agoNo, the actual experience is a significant departure from using cream, or milk products, or imitations of milk. It floats on the top, in beads, like a soup broth.
- sliverstorm 10y agoglucose is the only fuel Can you expand? Like, you thought that cells only metabolize glucose, and dietary fats & proteins are converted to glucose? Or...?
- gtrubetskoy 10y ago> you thought that cells only metabolize glucose, and dietary fats & proteins are converted to glucose Pretty much. I don't know where that may have come from, but I suspect I'm not the only one who naively thinks that this is the case. Somehow "ketone bodies" aren't mentioned in dietary conversations nearly as frequently as glucose.
- msoto 10y agoHere is a detailed explanation: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2129159/ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2129159/ From the abstract: During very low carbohydrate intake, the regulated and controlled production of ketone bodies causes a harmless physiological state known as dietary ketosis. Ketone bodies flow from the liver to extra-hepatic tissues (e.g., brain) for use as a fuel; this spares glucose metabolism via a mechanism similar to the sparing of glucose by oxidation of fatty acids as an alternative fuel. In comparison with glucose, the ketone bodies are actually a very good respiratory fuel. Indeed, there is no clear requirement for dietary carbohydrates for human adults. [...] Contrary to popular belief, insulin is not needed for glucose uptake and utilization in man.
- mpbm 10y agoLOL yeah, I just spoke to a dietician the other day who swore that glucose is the only thing your brain can use for fuel. It's easy to be ignorant about a situation you never experience. Every single person they deal with is going to be in a carb-adapted state and never miss a meal, so their body will run entirely off of glucose.
- johnward 10y agoI vaguely remember reading about this in "The Ketogenic Diet". There are some functions that do require glucose. However, your body can convert enough fat and protein into glucose to satisfy that.
- mgraczyk 10y agoAs a counter point, I did keto for several months last year and found that my concentration and mental clarity were significantly worse while on the diet. My mind operated at about the capacity as it would have, had I slept only 5 hours the night before.
- jtmarmon 10y agoMost people find that their alertness and focus improve significantly on keto. The trick is that a) it takes quite a while for your body to get adjusted to ketosis. 6 months to fully adjust, but the primary adjustment will take at 2-4 weeks for most people b) during this adjustment period, you'll usually feel like shit. since you're running empty on the fuel your body is used to. but many people cheat, or accidentally ingest too many carbohydrates, persistently keeping their body out of ketosis and ensuring they feel terrible endlessly and blame keto for it.
- wishinghand 10y agoPlus you have to up your electrolytes of sodium, magnesium, and potassium. If you don't you tend to have a foggy head.
- jtmarmon 10y ago100%. i take pills for the sodium and magnesium (they usually have potassium too but usually not enough). and avocados are a staple when it comes to potassium
- ghshephard 10y agoI've never found potassium in sufficient quantities in pill supplements - but low-sodium salt gives you 500 mg per 5g teaspoon (and another 1000 mg of Sodium, Ironically)
- rjsamson 10y agoUnsweetened Almond Milk is also an awesome source of both sodium and potassium - a staple for me while doing Keto.
- jacobwcarlson 10y ago> To my utter surprise, something as stupidly simple as coffee blended with butter with coconut oil (or MCT) first thing in the morning did unbelievable things for mental productivity. Eat food. Mostly plants. Not too much. If that doesn't work for you, talk to a doctor.
- parasubvert 10y agoNot helpful. Michael Pollen's pithy advice is a rather trite and even he will say it's misleading adage. For example, if one ate mostly starchy or sugary plants, they'd probably be a lot less healthy than someone who ate mostly wild game and greens. Nutrition is incredibly complicated and variable.
- atom-morgan 10y agoWhy not both?
- Chris2048 10y agoDoctors are way more expensive than food.
- atom-morgan 10y agoI was referring to bulletproof coffee and plants.
- zelcon 10y ago"Bulletproof Coffee"(TM) is snake oil stuff. It's based on the assumption that all other coffee on the market has mycotoxins, yet literally none of the brands in first world countries have them anyway. This was confirmed by tests.
- gaius 10y agoThe power of the placebo effect.
- astrange 10y agoHe started off by selling high-fat coffee creamer and sugar-free hot chocolate, which are reasonable. It's only later he's gone on to try to convince everyone coffee and wine are full of secret mold toxins.
- louprado 10y agoMagic beans ? This sounds familiar.
- np422 10y agoThe mycotoxins stuff is yet to be determined, but from what I seen so far there doesn't seem to be a lot of truth in that part. The ketosis and positive effects on the brain thereof is backed by a lot of solid science.
- johnward 10y agoFrom what I've seen "bulletproof coffee" has become a generic term for Coffee + Coconut Oil + Butter in most of the keto communities.
- stevenwiles 10y agoWhat you are experiencing is called the placebo effect. Google it.