A Doctor On Why Ketosis Helps You Reduce Cravings & Lose Weight

Ketosis can also offer health benefits that stretch far beyond weight loss. This way of eating can be beneficial for people with mitochondrial dysfunction and cancer1 or for athletes2 looking to increase their athletic performance. Here's why the ketogenic diet is a good choice for weight loss and overall health:

When it comes to most hunger pangs, we're talking about ghrelin, not leptin. Ghrelin is the main hunger hormone and increases appetite. When you eat, ghrelin levels drop, if you are overweight they won't drop as much as they should. When you start to lose weight on a non-ketotic diet, your body senses that it's being starved and ghrelin levels increase. This is one reason regular diets often fail. The good news if you're on a ketotic diet is ghrelin levels do not increase as you lose weight.

Traditional diet-induced weight loss leads to increased hunger and reduced feelings of fullness or satiety. As you just read, it leads to increased ghrelin levels. It also leads to a reduced concentration of satiety peptides. These peptide hormones include glucagon-like peptide-1, cholecystokinin, and peptide YY. Ketogenic diets appear to suppress3 much of these responses by day three of your ketotic state. If you're thinking "What can I eat that's healthy and will reduce hunger pangs?" healthy fats such as coconut oil, olive oil, grass-fed butter, and ghee will slow down the absorption of everything you eat so that you can go longer without feeling hungry. Alternatively, when we want "instant" feelings of satiety, it's protein that wins (beating fats and carbs). Just be careful not to eat too much protein, as the amount you're allowed on a ketotic diet is less than you might expect.

You'll be delighted to know that you don't have to count calories on the ketogenic diet. Simply eat until you're full and try not to snack. Ketosis is a natural metabolic booster, so don't be afraid of the "fat calories." You'll convert healthy fat to brain- and heart-healthy ketones and use them for fuel, while the excess is excreted in your urine. Metabolism is generally calculated in clinical studies4 with measurements of what is called a respiratory exchange ratio. On average, men burn an extra 450 kcals per day while women burn an extra 150 kcals/day in ketosis. This might not seem like much, but it adds up. Remember, don't get obsessed with the amount of fat you're eating. The fat turns into ketones, which are a nice, high-octane fuel for your body.

Here's how the ketogenic diet can transform your sex life and help you lose unwanted fat.