Welcome back to the ketogenic odyssey. After Part 1, you know what it is, the benefits, and contraindications. Let’s now discuss how to get into ketosis, signs of ketosis, and my concerns related to the ketogenic diet.
 
Getting into ketosis is not as easy as simply switching to Bulletproof Coffee for breakfast. There are various factors that hinder one from rapidly entering ketosis. For instance, an individual with a higher percentage of body fat will take longer to enter a ketotic state than a leaner individual.  Therefore, nutritional ketosis can take anywhere from 1-4 weeks depending on your body fat %, exercise regimen, stress levels, sleeping patterns, and chosen macronutrient breakdown. Be diligent, but patient with the process. The faster you slam into ketosis, the more painful your entry. More on that later. 

The ketogenic diet is the latest fad and certainly a trending internet topic. It’s been touted as a panacea for just about every chronic disease. The medical community is certainly divided on the short- and long- term impacts and safety of the ketogenic diet. It defies common sense to dump loads of fat (particularly animal-based) into the body when the health message for decades was the opposite. I thought I would throw my hat in the ring and detail all the glories and concerns of going “keto”.
 
The ketogenic diet is not new. It was designed by a physician in the 1920’s as a therapeutic diet for epileptic patients. Believe it or not, the macronutrient ratio has changed little from then till now. It acquired a bad name in the previous decades because of the unintentional mishaps that came from inept monitoring and supplementation; largely ketoacidosis, constipation, vomiting, coma, death, and hyperlipidemia.
 
It started increasing in popularity in the last 20 years, mostly related to the attention brought by various “success” stories, such as Mary Newport, Dave Asprey, Charlie Abraham, etc.. Celebrities, athletes, doctors, and wellness clinicians are screaming the praises of this diet as it is associated with improving cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, neurodegenerative diseases, metabolic syndrome, cancer, seizures, mitochondrial reparation, and cognitive decline.
 
What’s my verdict on the ketogenic diet? Like everything else- it depends. Your genetics, organ health, lifestyle, nutrient status, stress levels, sleep patterns, intentions, and diligence with the diet all play a role in the success, effectiveness, and safety of the ketogenic diet. Part One of this ketogenic series will detail what it is, the benefits, and who should steer clear.