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It's only non-essential because your body has backup mechanisms for when carbs aren't available, ketosis for instance. That doesn't mean it's an ideal state to

It's only non-essential because your body has backup mechanisms for when carbs aren't available, ketosis for instance. That doesn't mean it's an ideal state to be in constantly.

GordonS 8y ago
That's an odd way to look at it - given we need fat and protein, I'd rather think that carbs were the 'backup' mechanism.
- have_faith 8y ago
  My subjective opinions on the matter: Ketosis only kicks in when carbs are sufficiently low, ketosis is required because protein as an energy source cannot pass the blood brain barrier and so needs to be converted to ketones before it can be utilised. This to me indicates the direction of ketosis being the backup system instead of the norm but I am not trained on the subject and definitely welcome being educated further. Note that this doesn't effect my opinion of fat as a great energy source. I personaly eat a relatively low carb (not keto), high-ish fat, high-ish protein, moderate carb diet. I'm also very active and this seems to work for me so far.
overgard 8y ago
I'm dubious of the claim that ketosis is a "backup" system. If you think about primitive man, they probably wouldn't have had three regular meals a day. Lots of feast and famine. I think people need to let go of the idea that ketosis is some sort of "special" state. It's just a metabolic state that's been suppressed by modern eating habits. Three meals a day and snacking is a cultural invention; not a biological necessity. A lot of athletes prefer to exercise in a ketogenic state. I know personally I'm able to run farther if I've spent the day fasting than if I had a big meal at lunch. (I don't have the same initial burst, but I don't hit a wall either) (Not to mention that digestion is a very expensive process) I think what's more unnatural is that modern eating habits are designed around blocking any sort of ketogenic state, which is where the easiest weight loss comes from. (Also, I need to lookup a reference for this, but I think I remember reading that fat burns a bit "cleaner" than sugars. Less free radicals I think? Something like that) [For people unclear what I'm talking about with ketosis: basically, your body burns glucose first for energy. Then when there isn't sufficient glucose, it starts burning fat. The burning of fat for energy is what's known as ketosis. (I know I'm probably vastly oversimplifying). The thing about fat burning is it only kicks in at a significant level when glucose is depleted though. So if you're exercising while eating a chocolate bar and drinking a gatorade... well the exercise is good! But you won't lose weight)

It's only non-essential because your body has backup mechanisms for when carbs aren't available, ketosis for instance. That doesn't mean it's an ideal state to be in constantly.

GordonS 8y ago

That's an odd way to look at it - given we need fat and protein, I'd rather think that carbs were the 'backup' mechanism.

have_faith 8y ago
My subjective opinions on the matter: Ketosis only kicks in when carbs are sufficiently low, ketosis is required because protein as an energy source cannot pass the blood brain barrier and so needs to be converted to ketones before it can be utilised. This to me indicates the direction of ketosis being the backup system instead of the norm but I am not trained on the subject and definitely welcome being educated further. Note that this doesn't effect my opinion of fat as a great energy source. I personaly eat a relatively low carb (not keto), high-ish fat, high-ish protein, moderate carb diet. I'm also very active and this seems to work for me so far.

overgard 8y ago

I'm dubious of the claim that ketosis is a "backup" system. If you think about primitive man, they probably wouldn't have had three regular meals a day. Lots of feast and famine. I think people need to let go of the idea that ketosis is some sort of "special" state. It's just a metabolic state that's been suppressed by modern eating habits. Three meals a day and snacking is a cultural invention; not a biological necessity. A lot of athletes prefer to exercise in a ketogenic state. I know personally I'm able to run farther if I've spent the day fasting than if I had a big meal at lunch. (I don't have the same initial burst, but I don't hit a wall either) (Not to mention that digestion is a very expensive process) I think what's more unnatural is that modern eating habits are designed around blocking any sort of ketogenic state, which is where the easiest weight loss comes from. (Also, I need to lookup a reference for this, but I think I remember reading that fat burns a bit "cleaner" than sugars. Less free radicals I think? Something like that) [For people unclear what I'm talking about with ketosis: basically, your body burns glucose first for energy. Then when there isn't sufficient glucose, it starts burning fat. The burning of fat for energy is what's known as ketosis. (I know I'm probably vastly oversimplifying). The thing about fat burning is it only kicks in at a significant level when glucose is depleted though. So if you're exercising while eating a chocolate bar and drinking a gatorade... well the exercise is good! But you won't lose weight)