[jenjen909]

Keytones are what your fat leaves behind when it's eaten by cells. Your cells eat fat when it has nothing else to eat. Cells eat sugar. insulin is the bridge that connects sugar to cells, so when u don't make insulin or enough your cells starve. Keytones and sugar that your liver doesn't use/can't use (none or not enough insulin) gets the boot through urine.
Why worry about keytones? Keytones are VERY acidic and can cause death if not cured.

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S S S GOOD
S S
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i i i i i i
i i i i i i
(C) (C) (C)



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S K S K S BAD
K S K S K
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(C) (C) (C)
{F} {F} {F}

[type1rachelle]

just adding to this on a nutritional note...

basically ketones are the byproduct of fat metabolism (called gluconeogenesis) - ketones are NORMAL in certain amounts. EVERYONE has a small amount of them floating around in fasting states (i.e. when you first wake up) - your body cells don't just sleep when you do, they need constant energy. low levels of ketones (ketosis) is fine - LARGE ketones lower your blood pH drastically and can be fatal (metabolic acidosis).

when someone says that a non diabetic cannot fall into diabetic ketoacidosis, they're right - but they CAN fall into metabolic (starvation) acidosis which is pretty similar.

low carb diets work for weight loss because they trick your body into starvation mode and your cells use fat stores for energy. stay in this state of ketosis for long enough and you'll start to get very sick, not to mention how much more inflammation you'll experience as a result. low carb is not the answer for weight loss - low calorie/low fat is.

our bodies NEED carbs. they prefer carbs for energy. the human brain cannot function without glucose - this is why low carb diets typically cause headaches (vasospasms) - carbs are broken down the fastest/easiest and is the only macronutrient that does not produce metabolic waste products such as uric acid and ketones. just as there are healthy proteins (lean/low fat or even better - vegetable protein vs high fat red meats), there are healthy carbs (fruit and whole grains vs. processed wheat products like bread and pasta or added sugar).

the best way to eat is minimally processed and as close to its natural state as possible - NOT low carb. carbs aren't the enemy - fatty processed foods are.