3 ms·

Ketosis is a terrible process that your brain and body hates.

JMTQp8lwXL 7y ago
The converse, too many carbs -- leads to diabetes, the number 1 preventible condition in western societies, which is probably a more terrible process that your body also hates.
- asokoloski 7y ago
  This is a common source of confusion, but carbohydrate intolerance is a symptom of diabetes, not a cause. Diabetics that go on Keto diets are still diabetic. If you give them a piece of toast, their blood sugar goes through the roof. It's like that joke about going to the doctor and saying "It hurts when I do this" and the doctor says "Well, don't do that anymore". On the other hand, eating a whole-food plant based diet can actually reverse type 2 diabetes. People stabilize their blood sugar even while eating things like whole wheat bread, potatoes, rice and fruit, and generally have to have their insulin reduced and then eliminated to avoid hypoglycemia. There is a theory gaining traction that insulin resistance is caused by fat in our muscle cells that somehow blocks the activity of insulin. So eating a very low-fat diet allows this fat to clear out, allowing insulin to work again, so you can eat carbs without your blood sugar spiking. The fat in muscle cells is called "intramyocellular lipids". We know that it's associated with insulin resistance, the only debate is whether it's the cause or the effect, or if something else is causing both. Based on what I've read, I subscribe to the theory that it's the cause.
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  - JMTQp8lwXL 7y ago
    Being overweight or obese is the cause of 90-95% of cases of Type 2 Diabetes. https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/diabetes-causes#1 https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/diabetes-causes#1 Being overweight usually is tied to overconsumption of calories. Most people don't consume too much fat or protein: it's just difficult to eat a jar of crisco or an entire ham. However, in western cultures, overconsumption of calories is largely associated with highly processed, sugary foods. Chips, soda, snacks, etc. I will concede that's not the reason for everyone who is overweight, but for many, it is the case. It's predominantly too many carbohydrates.
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amanaplanacanal 7y ago
That may have been your experience, but plenty of people have the opposite experience.
tth3uoku 7y ago
Why is it terrible? What evidence is there that your brain _hates_ it? From what I understand, there is evidence that the brain may function better deriving energy from ketones, and ketosis may be neuroprotective: https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/mind-guest-blog/the-fat-fueled-brain-unnatural-or-advantageous/ https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/mind-guest-blog/the-fat...
- aalleavitch 7y ago
  Well your brain only does it when you’re starved for glucose, for one. If your brain operated better off of ketones it’s hard to imagine why it would preferentially operate off of glucose when it’s available. But also, have you done it? It feels awful.

The converse, too many carbs -- leads to diabetes, the number 1 preventible condition in western societies, which is probably a more terrible process that your body also hates.

asokoloski 7y ago
This is a common source of confusion, but carbohydrate intolerance is a symptom of diabetes, not a cause. Diabetics that go on Keto diets are still diabetic. If you give them a piece of toast, their blood sugar goes through the roof. It's like that joke about going to the doctor and saying "It hurts when I do this" and the doctor says "Well, don't do that anymore". On the other hand, eating a whole-food plant based diet can actually reverse type 2 diabetes. People stabilize their blood sugar even while eating things like whole wheat bread, potatoes, rice and fruit, and generally have to have their insulin reduced and then eliminated to avoid hypoglycemia. There is a theory gaining traction that insulin resistance is caused by fat in our muscle cells that somehow blocks the activity of insulin. So eating a very low-fat diet allows this fat to clear out, allowing insulin to work again, so you can eat carbs without your blood sugar spiking. The fat in muscle cells is called "intramyocellular lipids". We know that it's associated with insulin resistance, the only debate is whether it's the cause or the effect, or if something else is causing both. Based on what I've read, I subscribe to the theory that it's the cause.
- deleted 7y ago
  [deleted]
- JMTQp8lwXL 7y ago
  Being overweight or obese is the cause of 90-95% of cases of Type 2 Diabetes. https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/diabetes-causes#1 https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/diabetes-causes#1 Being overweight usually is tied to overconsumption of calories. Most people don't consume too much fat or protein: it's just difficult to eat a jar of crisco or an entire ham. However, in western cultures, overconsumption of calories is largely associated with highly processed, sugary foods. Chips, soda, snacks, etc. I will concede that's not the reason for everyone who is overweight, but for many, it is the case. It's predominantly too many carbohydrates.
deleted 7y ago
[deleted]

amanaplanacanal 7y ago

That may have been your experience, but plenty of people have the opposite experience.

tth3uoku 7y ago

Why is it terrible? What evidence is there that your brain _hates_ it? From what I understand, there is evidence that the brain may function better deriving energy from ketones, and ketosis may be neuroprotective: https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/mind-guest-blog/the-fat-fueled-brain-unnatural-or-advantageous/ https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/mind-guest-blog/the-fat...

aalleavitch 7y ago
Well your brain only does it when you’re starved for glucose, for one. If your brain operated better off of ketones it’s hard to imagine why it would preferentially operate off of glucose when it’s available. But also, have you done it? It feels awful.