One of the main goals of starting the ketogenic diet is to get your body into a metabolic state known as ketosis.
What is ketosis?
Ketosis occurs when your body has depleted its glycogen stores so blood sugar and insulin levels drop causing the body to look for an alternative fuel source. The fuel source that it begins to use is known as ketones which are produced by enzyme breaking down fat in the liver.
How Can You Be in a Ketosis State?
By following the below-mentioned tips, you can initiate the process of ketosis:
Lower Carb Intake:
One of the first things you need to do if you want to get into ketosis is to bring your carb intake way down. Not just a little bit, you need to have a significant drop in the number of carbs you eat daily. Carbs get broken down into glucose and that is what your body tends to use as energy. When you take away the carbs, your body has nothing to burn except for fats and proteins.
With minimal carbs in your system, your fatty acids get released into your body. Your liver then starts to convert these fatty acids into ketones. Ketones are what your body will start to use as its primary source of energy.
Use Coconut Oil
Eating coconut oil can help you get into ketosis.It contains fats called medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs). Unlike most fats, MCTs are rapidly absorbed and taken directly to the liver, where they can be used immediately for energy or converted into ketones.
Increase Healthy Fat Intake
For any keto diet, you’re going to be consuming a lot more fats. Contrary to popular belief, you actually need to eat fat to lose fat. You need to make sure that you are consuming the healthy fats though. The ones you get from grass-fed butter, olive oil, and coconut oil. Avoid the processed oils since they have a lot added to them that you don’t need.
Exercise More
Exercising more is certainly relevant when it comes to accelerating weight loss. Also, being in this type of state allows a person to have better exercise performance. But it is important to remember that entering the state for the first time may be a bit of a challenge. The body is still adjusting to such a dramatic diet change so it may be a bit difficult. The key is to keep going.
Balance Level of Protein
It is very important that you watch your protein intake carefully. There needs to be a careful balance on how much you are consuming as too much is surely not going to be beneficial to you. The thing to remember is that this process is all about getting the right balance of fats, proteins, magnesium, salts, etc to get your body into ketosis faster. Protein is almost always the right way to go when it comes to a healthy diet but if you’re looking to get into the state then the balance is more of a priority for you.