What are ketones?
Ketones are a normal and efficient source of fuel and energy for the human body. They are produced by the liver from the fat as it is released from fat cells in response to the absence of glucose/sugar in the HCG diet. When your body is producing ketones, and using them for fuel, this is called “ketosis”.
How will ketosis help me to lose weight?
1. Being in ketosis means that your body’s primary source of energy is fat (in the form of ketones). When you consume adequate protein as well, there’s no need for the body to break down its muscle tissue. Ketosis also tends to accelerate fat loss — once the liver converts fat to ketones, it can’t be converted back to fat, and so is excreted.
2. Ketones suppress the appetite and make you less hungry.
3. Testing for Ketones will tell the status “fat burning” and if you can add new foods
to the HCG diet or if you are making mistakes.
Is ketosis dangerous?
Being in ketosis by following a low carbohydrate diet is NOT dangerous. The human body was designed to use ketones very efficiently as fuel in the absence of glucose. However, the word ketosis is often confused with a similar word, ketoacidosis.
How do the ketone test strips show I am burning fat in the HCG Diet?
Ketone urine-testing strips, also called Ketostix or just ketone sticks … are small plastic strips that have a little absorptive pad on the end. This contains a special chemical that will change color in the presence of ketones in the urine. The strips may change varying shades of pink to purple, or may not change colour at all. The container will have a scale on the label, with blocks of color for you to compare the strip after a certain time lapse, usually 15 seconds. Ketone test strips can be purchased at any pharmacy, and are usually kept with the diabetic supplies.
What does the Keto Stix Look Like and what color should the strip be if I am
on the HCG diet and burning fat?
No. Testing in the darkest purple range all the time is usually a sign of dehydration — the urine is too concentrated. You need to drink more water to dilute it, and keep the kidneys flushed. The strips only indicate what’s happening in the urine. Ketosis happens in the blood and body tissues. If you’re showing even a small amount, then you are in ketosis, and fat-burning is taking place. Don’t worry about how dark your strip is.
Some low carbers NEVER show above trace or negative even … yet they burn fat and lose weight just fine. If you’re losing weight, and your clothes are getting looser, you’re feeling well and not hungry all the time .. then you are successfully in ketosis. Don’t get hung up on the strips; they’re just a guide, nothing more.
Keep Keto-Stix dry and always use first-morning urine. Dipping the stix in the urinary stream is just as good as collecting a sample Most HCG dieters keep the Keto Stix on the tank top of the commode.
Will drinking alcohol affect ketosis?
No and yes. The liver can make ketones out of alcohol, so technically, when you drink you’ll continue to produce ketones and so will remain in ketosis. The problem is … alcohol converts more easily to ketones than fatty acids, so your liver will use the alcohol first, in preference to fat. Thus, when you drink, basically your FAT burning is put on hold until all the alcohol is out of your system. For most people it takes about 2 hours to metabolize a single alcoholics drink. Since alcohol is most often consumed with the evening meal, it means that most of your dinner will convert to fat, especially the carbohydrates.
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