Ketones!

Maybe you, I and everyone we know should use ketone supplements. The benefits are tremendous and they aren’t prohibitively expensive. I’m not aware of any real risks because all of us were made to generate and use them.

Ketones are the reason we don’t die while fasting. We only store enough glucose for about a day’s worth of energy, so at that point we have to either add glucose by eating, or adjust by burning the fat we’ve stored in our bodies to produce ketones. Ketones are actually the cell’s preferred fuel instead of glucose, and we can fast for days and many days at a time without crashing because they’re so well utilized by our cells. Our big brains require ketones pretty quickly when we’re not eating.

Dietary Overhaul Option

I’d love to go deep into the benefits of fasting in a future post, but for now just keep in mind that it has always been normal for humans to fast periodically, and it’s actually healthy.  A few of the benefits of therapeutic fasting are clearing out pre-cancerous cells, turning on genes that improve our health, fat loss, increase insulin sensitivity, mental clarity and increase in productivity from not thinking about meals (The ultimate podcast on fasting and ketosis with Dr. Dom D’Agostino).

Another way to enjoy the benefits of fasting is to simulate a fast through the ketogenic diet. This is a diet that will cause our body to burn fat and generate ketones. Classically this is 75% fat, 20% protein and 5% carbohydrate. A very high fat diet is abhorrent to some people, but this diet has been shown to be effective in treating epilepsy, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, cancer, multiple sclerosis and many neurodegenerative diseases. It can be useful in prevention and treatment. I’ve heard of people whose health is fundamentally changed for the better by a strict ketogenic diet. It’s worth a shot if you’re facing something serious and your doc approves it. 

Or… Not

If you don’t want to make crazy changes to your diet then you can still supplement with ketones for a lot of benefit. I add ketones to my diet by eating things like coconut oil, specifically the refined oils in products called Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCTs). These products are the real magic behind the butter coffee craze. It’s not just about healthy fats, but mostly about the MCTs that jumpstart some really cool processes in our cells.

• MCT/Ketone supplements have a lot of promising results:
• Improve blood sugar
• Increase fat loss
• 28% better mitochondrial density
• Ketones turn on genes for longevity
• Decrease oxygen consumption while increasing ATP production. ATP = the molecule used as an energy carrier in our cells
• Increase in mental clarity
• Increase in satiety so you don’t feel like you need to eat
• This study explains that ketone supplementation decreased cancer proliferation because cancer cells rely on glucose and glutamine, and are unable to thrive on ketones http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ijc.28809/abstract 

The benefits of ketones aren’t dependent on being in a fasted or ketogenic state, but people with serious health concerns should absolutely give the keto diet a try. I’ve tried the diet, but I’m currently trying to gain weight so I’m eating a moderate amount of carbs. I’m very open to trying it again in the future, but I’m enjoying supplementing with delicious MCTs for now.

Products I Use

The cost of entry to this ketone experiment is around $15, or you can bump up to the more potent products to get the experience more fully.

Best deal I’ve found

Awesome product, high price, 16 oz or 32 oz sizes

One step down, but still solid

Supplement for people who really need something potent

New product that seems promising if you don’t have a sensitivity to dairy

My Butter Coffee Recipe

I genuinely look forward to this so much that I never have trouble getting out of bed

1. Chemex or French Press Pot of freshly ground coffee
2. A large spoonful of grass fed ghee/butter
3. 2 tablespoons of MCT oil (start with less than a tablespoon and increase over a couple weeks)
4. Cinnamon

Then blend it up! This is important and tastes a million times better. I use a stick blender, but a real blender is the best. 

Optional additions:

• A few drops of vanilla extract
• Grass-fed collagen protein powder
• For a mocha, add raw cacao powder and cacao butter

To learn all about the ketogenic diet and its incredible medical applications: A resource created by smart people who actually know this stuff

Here’s a direct link discussing the use of ketones in Multiple Sclerosis.

Direct quote from this website: “Neurological disorders such as ALS, Multiple Sclerosis, and Parkinsons Disease: research is showing that ketone bodies exert a protective affect on the nervous system and slow the progression of nerve related diseases.”

New subscribers can go HERE to sign up to receive the email!