Ketosis and Primal dieting??

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  • markja
    markja Posts: 270 Member
    I've tried Atkins, medically monitored, WW, and balanced diets on my own.

    The reason that I failed at all of them is that I couldn't do what we're doing now, This plan seems to be working for me because i can connect with some folks who get it.

    My vote? MFP balanced program and posting here every day.

    For me, that is what works.
  • valeriebpdx
    valeriebpdx Posts: 497 Member
    Am taking a nutrition class this term in preparation for starting nursing school soon--the body does NOT perceive ketosis as a good thing. It exists basically as an emergency mechanism so you don't die. Further, your body/muscles can use other types of fuel (fat/protein) but the brain cannot. It needs carbohydrates as fuel. That's why people are cranky/spacy/fuzzy-headed on low-carb diets.

    Actually we don't need carbs for brain function. We do not need Glucose for brain function. Through Gluconeogenesis, the brain gets everything it needs and is actually better off. Long chain fatty acids (aka saturated fats) are actually more important for proper brain function than glucose (aka carbs).

    And most people on low carb plans have MORE mental clarity than any fogginess.

    Personally I find that I am much better with protein and vegetables. Vegetables are carbs and that is plenty.

    I eat at least 60% fat, 30% protein and 10% carbs - protein, fats and vegetables. My cholesterol is actually too low now and my doctor is asking me to raise it.

    I use fruit as desserts. I eat very little dairy, no grains, beans or legumes and I feel better than I have felt in a long time.


    I am primal and getting more primal every day, even going raw in some areas. Hence my screen name.

    Again, gluconeogenesis is an emergency mechanism. It is not absolutely not better for brain function than carbohydrates. You do not need fatty acids, of any chain length, more than carbs. You need a balance of the macronutrients. I don't care about convincing you--super glad you are primal and thin and feeling great. But the girl asked for info on ketosis and she deserves the truth.
  • tkennedy71
    tkennedy71 Posts: 1
    There is a difference between low-carb diets and ketosis diets. The SAD (Standard American Diet) typically results in consumption of 250-350 grams of carbohydrates per day. Mark Sisson, of Mark's Daily Apple recommends between 100-150 grams of carbs per day for "Effortless weight maintenance". Once you get under 50gm/day of carbs, you start to hit the range where Ketosis kicks in. Some people will tell you that ketosis isn't good for you in the long term, other people will tell you it's fine. I know that ketogenic diets are used as a remedy for some types of pediatric epilepsy, and can be beneficial for people with particularly troublesome diabetes.

    I would say people who are used to a low fat diet, who then try to add low carb to their low fat diet, definitely put themselves more at risk of the aforementioned health problems than people who eat a very high fat ketosis diet. If you're not eating the carbs, then fat becomes your variable macronutrient, as fiber and protein should stay fairly constant. When people forget that and keep both carbs and fat low, then the protein starts to be a problem, although the larger problem is that this is when people start to feel deprived and depressed about their diet.

    You can still eat a very Primal diet without necessarily entering Ketosis. To be Primal, you have to be willing to explore foods, to keep a variety of ingredients in your diet. You want to eat a full range of colorful vegetables, and a full range of natural fats, and good protein.
  • JaredTheGeek
    JaredTheGeek Posts: 26 Member
    The worries you have are for people with medical conditions or other issues. I am a huge fan of the Primal Blueprint. You can google it for more info but its low carb but you don't want to try to be in ketosis very long as that will cause problems. I stay away from processed and "white carbs" like bread and pasta and have lost weight and feel great. It took 2 weeks to adjust but the junk is out of my system.

    I also eat more natural foods, no processed foods except the one that processes my milk to cheese and whatever they do to make bacon so delicious.

    As others have stated, Mark Sisson and the Primal Blueprint is good.
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