What is the Keto Diet?

The ketogenic diet transforms your body from being a glucose (aka sugar) burner into a fat burner. Being in this ketogenic state is how our bodies are supposed to function and is exactly how our ancestors used to live. Now, specifically in The United States with a high prevalence of pre-packaged foods and sugar, we have created a “new norm” and are living as glucose burners. When our bodies are chronically in a glucose (or sugar burning) state, we are never letting the body fully detox from sugar and store any extra intake as fat. By modifying your diet and consuming high fat, low carbohydrate, and moderate protein, your bodies glucose stores are starved. As a result, your body switches over to using ketones as an alternative fuel source.

Why do we love it?

Aside from the desired fat loss, the ketogenic diet has a number of health benefits. It is considered one of the most anti-inflammatory diets and has been proven to cure a number of chronic diseaseswhen done the proper way. There are contrary beliefs to this diet, being high in fat, but when done the proper way and monitored correctly, it could be the exact “medicine” you need! On a molecular level, this diet increases energy by enhancing mitochondrial function and increasing ATP production. It also decreases free radical damage while increasing metabolic function. Some of the few ways a ketogenic diet helps are:

Genetic mutations: Certain genetic mutations lead to enzyme deficiencies. Enzymes are important activators to many necessary biochemical processes in the body, and when not properly supported can lead to several disorders. The keto diet has been shown to help naturally aid these genetic mutations, increasing ATP production efficacy.

Inflammation: The keto diet has been proven to be an anti-inflammatory diet, reducing any condition presenting with inflammation. From chronic diseases to pain, the keto diet can put a stop to inflammatory pathways within the body. Ketones have also been shown to reduce oxidative damage, which consequently reduces inflammation.

Epilepsy: Epilepsy is a condition effecting the way your neurons fire and are directly affected by ATP production. While in ketosis, the changes in ATP production make neurons more resilient to the metabolic demands of seizures. This state of metabolism also alters the brain pH, which affects neuron excitability. Ketone bodies have also been shown to inhibit ion channels, blocking seizures from taking place. In those with epilepsy, there is a known deficiency in Glucose transporter type 1 and pyruvate dehydrogenase. The Keto lifestyle will aid in the function and activation of these enzymes, alleviating seizure frequency and intensity. There has also been research showing modifications of the disease even after someone has done the ketogenic diet for some time and has discontinued.

Diabetes: Since being in ketosis alters your body from being a glucose burner into a ketone burner, your body is starved of all of its circulating and stored sugar. Depending on the extent of your diabetes or insulin resistance, a ketogenetic lifestyle can drastically improve your condition.

IBS and Gastrointestinal Disorders: Irritable Bowel Syndrome and other GI complaints stem from inflammation in the intestines. Since the keto diet decrease total body inflammation, symptoms in the GI tract will significantly improve while in a ketogenic state.

PCOS and hormonal imbalances: Hormones have been shown to rebalance while in a ketogenic state. By using ketones as the sole fuel source, your body begins to heal from the inside out, getting to the root cause of the hormonal imbalances.

Cancer: Cancer cells are known to feed on sugar. That is why a low carbohydrate, high fat diet is beneficial in decreasing cancer cell growth. While in the ketogenic state, you are starving the sugar in the body which essentially starves the cancer cells. By adhering to a ketogenic diet, the cancer does not have a fuel source to thrive in, so the cells will decrease in size. This has been shown to directly target tumors and alter their metabolism.

Alzheimer’s/Dementia/Parkinson’s: A state of ketosis enhance mitochondrial function which directly influences brain function. These diseases are defined as mitochondrial dysfunction, so by entering a state of ketoisis to improve the mitochondria, the function of the brain in these diseases will improve. Ketosis has also been shown to protect the brain from Amyloid build up.

Improved athletic performance: When the brain uses ketones, there is a better energy efficiency. Ketones produce more cellular energy per unit of oxygen, providing energy at a faster rate, which directly influences VO2 Max during exercise. Ketones have also been proven to provide your body with a constant fuel source, as opposed to glucose which will give you a repeated spike and drop in energy. If you are exercising for a long period of time as a glucose burner and don’t properly replenish your glucose stores, your body will begin to use body protein for energy, taking protein from your muscles. While in a ketogenic state, you will never have to use your protein as a fuel source and will only be burning dietary or body fat for fuel.

Autism: Using ketones as a fuel source, those with Autism have shown a significant decrease in autistic behaviors. This has shown to be an appropriate diet for managing symptoms of this disease.

Depression: Because of the effects of ketone bodies on your biochemical pathways, a state of ketosis produces changes similar to that of being on antidepressants. Serotonin, Dopamine, and GABA receptors are directly influenced, which can improve the “feel good” chemicals in a person struggling with depression.

Clean Keto, it’s what we do!

Yes, you can be in ketosis by eating bacon and cheese. Yes, you will lose body fat, resulting in an external look of health. But what is actually going on internally? You can be thin, and still be unhealthy. Dairy is one of the most inflammatory and toxic foods. That’s is why consuming dairy on this diet is counterproductive in decreasing any inflammation in the body or healing chronic diseases. Our goal is to not only make you thin, but to also make you the healthiest YOU there is. That is why we promote healthy fats as well as green leafy vegetables. Coming from a functional nutrition background, our goal is to guide you into the healthiest way into a ketogenic state, promoting clean keto, and working on properly healing all of your chronic diseases.

What are the benefits of Exogenous Ketones?

The ketogenic diet can be very strenuous for many people. It requires a very strict way of eating, that not many people can maintain for prolonged periods of time. That is why we also promote supplementing with our favorite exogenous ketones, Pruvit. When paired with a ketogenic diet, these ketones will allow your body to become keto adapted much quicker than diet alone. You also provide your body with an immediate fuel source that the body will use right away, even if you are not adhering to the diet. Exogenous ketones allow people a little more freedom on an already restricted diet, leading to more compliance, and  therefore better results. It is found that when supplementing these ketones congruently with the diet, the benefits of being in ketosis significantly increase.

What we offer:

Come to the one stop shop for all of our ketogenic lifestyle needs.

• Group Keto Meetups from Dr. Ketone himself, Dr. Jason Pape
• Individualized Keto Support with Clinical Nutritionist, Stephanie Jaworowski, MSACN
• Tailored plans
• Personalized Macro calculations
• Unlimited keto support and guidance
• Recipe ideas
• Pruvit ketone education
• Additional fat loss services

Please call the Vitality Center at (631) 864- 2784 for more information on our Keto and other fat loss programs.