What's Ketosis?

Ketosis is a metabolic state in which the body primarily uses ketone bodies for energy instead of glucose. This shift occurs when carbohydrate intake is significantly reduced, leading to lower insulin levels and prompting the body to burn stored fat for fuel, resulting in increased production of ketones in the liver^[1][4][6]. Ketosis typically occurs during fasting, prolonged exercise, or adherence to a very low-carbohydrate diet, commonly known as the ketogenic diet^[1][2][4].

In nutritional ketosis, blood ketone levels generally range from 0.5 to 3.0 millimoles per liter (mmol/L)^[1][6]. This process allows the body to efficiently use fat for energy, and it can be beneficial for weight loss, improved blood sugar management, and seizure control in individuals with epilepsy^[2][4][5][6]. However, it's important to distinguish between ketosis and diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a dangerous condition occurring mainly in individuals with type 1 diabetes due to an insulin deficiency^[3][6].

Common signs of ketosis can include bad breath, weight loss, and symptoms often referred to as the 'keto flu,' such as headaches and fatigue, as the body adjusts to using fat as its main energy source^[3][4][5].