Definitely read Dr Tran's website and Ebook. It is the science behind our program and the basis of the Ideal Protein diet. Just be aware, Dr Tran's Diet IS NOT the same as Ideal Protein. It is very nearly identical though. Ideal Protein was founded in cooperation with Dr Tran and he is ACTIVELY involved with it but, there are some differences. Just a heads up if, while reading the website and book, you wonder why didn't my coach say that or allow that.
There are LOTS of definitions of ketosis, a few are noted below. In general Ketosis is when your body is metabolizing fat instead of carbs to create energy. Your body is less dependent on glucose at this stage.
Ketostix are one method of testing the ketone by product, acetone, left floating in your urine. During fat metabolisma a ketoses sugar is formed which, contains a ketone body. The Ketone body has an unusable portion, a metabolic waste if you will, called Acetone. Other than acetone, all other parts of the ketone body are used to create fuel for energy and organ function. There is a specific amount of ketone released for the breakdown of each ketone body. The Ketostix is an after the fact indicator that reads the acetone levels in your urine as a marker of how much ketone you had in your system. It reflects
what was happening in your chemistry
not what is happening. It can be up to 24 hours old in the reflection. Blood testing, another method, is more involved but, is more accurate and reflects what has happened in the past hour. It is not required on this program to do "urine dips" with Ketostix. Also, if you are well hydrated, sweat a lot, or are of the body make up to excrete ketone markers on your breath... it will be far less accurate.
Here are some quick summaries of various ketosis definitions and explanations:
"In biology, ketosis is a state of the organism characterised by elevated levels of ketone bodies in the blood, occurring when the liver converts fat into fatty acids and ketone bodies. Some of these ketone bodies such as acetoacetate and ß-hydroxybutyrate can also be used for energy."
"A metabolic state in which the body produces ketones to be used as fuel by some organs so that glycogen can be reserved for organs that depend on it. This condition occurs during times of fasting, starvation, or while on a ketogenic weight-loss diet"
"An abnormal accumulation of ketone bodies due to an inadequate intake or metabolism of carbohydrates and an increased fatty acid metabolism (eg, fasting, diabetes)."
"When fats are burned incompletely, ketones are produced. Fats are burned incompletely in the absence of sufficient glucose. When enough ketones are produced that they start being excreted via sweat, urine, and breath, the condition is called ketosis."
"ketosis merely means that our bodies are using fat for energy. Ketones (also called ketone bodies) are molecules generated during fat metabolism, whether from the fat in the guacamole you just ate or fat you were carrying around your middle. When our bodies are breaking down fat for energy, most of the it gets converted more or less directly to ATP. (Remember high school biology? This is the "energy molecule.") But ketones are also produced as part of the process."
Some Interesting Facts:
"When people eat less carbohydrate, their bodies turn to fat for energy, so it makes sense that more ketones are generated. Some of those ketones (acetoacetate and ß-hydroxybutyrate) are used for energy; the heart muscle and kidneys, for example, prefer ketones to glucose. Most cells, including the brain cells, are able to use ketones for at least part of their energy. But there is one type of ketone molecule, called acetone, that cannot be used and is excreted as waste, mostly in the urine and breath (sometimes causing a distinct breath odor)."
"If enough acetone is in our urine, it can be detected using a dipstick commonly called by the brand name Ketostix (though there are other brands, as well). Even though everyone is generating ketones continuously, this detection in the urine is what is commonly called "ketosis.""
"The higher the concentration of ketones in the urine, the more purple the sticks will turn. The Atkins Diet, in particular, advises people to monitor ketosis as an indication of fat burning."
"There is an assumption that if a body is burning a lot of fat for energy, it must not be getting "enough" glucose. However, there is no indication, from studying people on reduced carbohydrate diets, that this is the case (though there is usually a short period of adjustment -- less than a week, in most cases).
Although it's true that our bodies can't break fat down into glucose (though, interestingly, they easily use glucose to make fat), our bodies can convert some of the protein we eat into glucose. Indeed, this works well for people who don't tolerate a lot of sugar, because this conversion happens slowly so it doesn't spike blood glucose. ( http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/faq/f/whatisketosis.htm)"
Ketones are formed when glycogen stores in the liver have run out. The "ketones are used for energy. Ketones are small carbon fragments that are the fuel created by the breakdown of fat stores. when the body is in ketosis the individual tends to feel less hungry, and will probably eat less than he/she might otherwise do. The body switches from being a carbohydrate-burning organism into a fat-burning one. The fat stores become a primary energy source, and the person loses weight."
"We need proteins and fats for building and repairing tissue and cells - proteins and fats can also be sources of energy.
If necessary, the body can get all its energy from fats and proteins."
"Our brain can use glucose or ketones for energy; it cannot generally burn fat for energy."
"When there are plenty of carbohydrates in the body, it breaks them down into glucose, which is then converted into energy and transported into the cells of our body."
"After a 2 to 4 week period of adaptation, human physical endurance is not affected by ketosis, according to studies - meaning that we do not necessarily need a high carbohydrate intake in order to replace depleted glycogen stores for exercise."
What is KETOSIS???
