~~
Last week I talked to you about the seminar that I attended at which numerous presenters revealed the findings of cutting edge research that had been performed on the subject of ketosis, the ketogenic diet, and ketones and the positive effects of these substances on the body.
This week I would like to concentrate on more of the research findings relative to this amazing process called "ketosis". So let's get started.
The first researcher that I would like to expose you to is Dominic D'Agostino, PhD. Dr. D'Agostino is an Associate Professor in the Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology at the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, and a Senior Research Scientist at the Institute for Human and Machine Cognition. His areas of study, and research include metabolic based therapies for central nervous system oxygen toxicity [seizures], epilepsy, neurodegenerative diseases, as well as brain, and metastatic cancers.
So, in a moment I will expose you to some of the findings that Dr. D'Agostino's research has revealed. But first I would like to define one of the terms that I have used a few times in this series of articles. The term is "exogenous ketones". You see, the problem with getting your body into "nutritional ketosis" has been that it takes weeks of "depriving" yourself of certain foods. You also can only consume very specific foods in order to get your body into "nutritional ketosis". Those of you who are old enough to remember, will recall Dr. Atkins and his famous diet. This diet would cause people to lose "tons of weight" in a very short period of time. The problem with the "Atkins diet" was that it was difficult to stay on, and it took weeks to get into a "ketogenic state" and stay there. The beauty of "exogenous ketones" is that you consume them just like a supplement in a "drink form", and they put you into a state of "metabolic ketosis" in a matter of 30 to 45 minutes. This is the AMAZING PART! Because you don't have to "starve yourself", or at the least feel as though you are "depriving" yourself.
So, Dr. D'Agostino is using "exogenous ketones" in his research, just like I am personally, and with many of my patients in my practices. By doing this he can place his research subjects into nutritional ketosis in a matter of minutes in order to conduct his experiments.
Here are just some of the findings that Dr. D'Agostino's research has revealed.
~ All seizure forms improve with exogenous ketone use, including epilepsy.
~ Metabolic ketosis improves seizure disorders, even when anti-seizure drugs, and epilepsy drugs fail.
~ Fasting ketosis is 200% more effective in anti-seizure protection than the maximum strength drug therapy.
~ Ketones appear to be the "preferred substrate" for the brain. Meaning that the brain prefers to use ketones for fuel rather than glucose.
~ As we age our efficiency in using glucose as a fuel source reduces, however the ability to utilize ketones increases.
~ The ketogenic diet reduces insulin dependence.
~ Ketones protect the liver.
~ Ketones activate anti-oxidants.
~ Ketones reduce circulating "free radicals".
~ As ketone levels in the blood rise, glucose levels in the blood decrease.
~ Ketones may also protect against radiation toxicity.
~ Ketones improve muscle power output.
~ There is 25% greater energy when a muscle is fueled off of ketones rather than glucose.
That is enough, I hope, for you to appreciate the value of using exogenous ketones to put our bodies into metabolic ketosis. If not though, I will be presenting in my next article research findings which are specific to the subject of THE BIG "C", that's right Cancer!
LEARN MORE, JOIN US
August 30 at 7 p.m. for our
KETO CLASS
Seating is Limited. You must reserve a seat.
Call 215-679-WELL (9355)
Email us to register.