Ketones

Ketone bodies are three water soluble molecules that are produced by the liver during times of fasting, carbohydrate restrictive diets, starvation, prolonged intense exercise, or inadequately treated type 1 diabetes. Ketone bodies are manufactured by the liver when too much protein is being used for energy. The dangers of ketone formation are that ketones are toxic to the brain and central nervous system function. Ketone presence in large enough quantities for prolonged periods of time in extreme cases may cause death. Ketone and keto-acidosis are terms that describe this condition.

When there is an absence of sufficient glucose in the bloodstream the liver will provide enzymes that attack amino acids in the blood and convert them to the usable energy source glucose.  There is resulting toxin ammonia that the liver must degrade to urea toxin for excretion. This process is taxing on the liver. In the event, there is still not enough energy for activities the liver release other cannibalistic hormones and enzymes that indiscrimately attack blood and body proteins especially muscles. If the energy shortage continues. If the energy shortage continues, the liver begins to produce and release ketoacids that clump together to form ketone bodies. This is a serious unhealthy condition.

Depending on the duration and severity of this negative energy balance symptom may present themselves as indicators of the growing problem such as dizziness, forgetfulness, unclear thinking, difficulty concentrating, and blackouts. There are several occurrences in the body that lead to the body’s undesirable production of ketones which include extremely high protein intake, serious energy balance from overtraining, severe calorie and/ or carbohydrate depletion, and inability to utilize carbohydrates for energy as with diabetes. Whatever the case, there is significant stress on the liver that could cause liver damage. For these reasons, it is recommended to deplete calories or carbohydrates severely or overtraining to the point someone risks liver damage. The benefits of proper nutrition and weight loss techniques far outweighs any psychological benefits of rapid weight loss that endangers overall health.

For starters, most of the lost weight is water weight, per Lisa Cimperman, R.D.N., a clinical dietitian at University Hospitals Case Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio, and a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

“Once your body enters ketosis, you also begin to lose muscle, become extremely fatigued, and eventually enter starvation mode. Then it actually becomes even harder to lose weight.”

Francine Blinten, certified clinical nutritionist

The general population, Blinten said a keto diet should only be considered in extreme cases.

“It can do more harm than good. It can damage the heart, which is also a muscle,” she explained.

Anyone with type 2 diabetes can benefit from weight loss and a reduced-carb diet because it will improve insulin sensitivity, Cimperman explained.

“But there are many other ways to do it besides a fad diet that won’t keep weight off long-term,” she said.

Blinten, who has used a keto diet for some cancer patients in specific circumstances, cautioned, “people will do anything to get the weight off.” However, a keto diet will do more harm than good for most patients, especially if they have any underlying kidney or liver issues.

“People are using this for cosmetic reasons, but it’s so extreme that it’s dangerous,” she said.