Tell me about ketosis, please.

I’ve been told to eat a ketogenic diet and work hard at staying in ketosis for a while to help me ease a terrible run of migraine headaches. Seems carbs are bad in so many ways. The weightloss will be a nice benefit.

However, I have no idea what to expect – can you tell when you are in ketosis by the way you feel? And what about issues of smell that I believe might be a problem.

work hard at staying in ketosis for a while to help me ease a terrible run of migraine headaches

have to ask – did a doctor advise this?

I may be wrong but it sounds like a load of rubbish to me!

Clearly the migraines are an issue but who’s made this recommendation and based on what evidence of efficacy?

Pee on a stick every day, LOADS of clean protein, NO sugars, NO alcohol, full fat cream, milk, etc.
NO pasta, NO bread, No baked beans, No tomatoes, etc either
It’s a strange diet BUT it does work – you will stink until it settles in though – breath especially!

Carbs often help get rid of my migraines.

So yes interested in hearing why they recommended this?

your breath will stink!

breath smells like nasty BO

I may be wrong but it sounds like a load of rubbish to me!

Why?

There are loads of studies to suggest that high GI carbs can cause problems. Particularly processed white flour.

I went on to a low carb/low GI diet a while ago and I experienced loads of unexpected benefits, particularity no pain from old injuries that used to throb in cold weather.

I would recommend it. No problems with smell or other nonsense.

There is generally a lot of resistance to this sort of diet as it is almost a direct contradiction to the “standard” diet advice.

Give it a go, it certainly can’t do any harm in the short term. Get some keto sticks, they will indicate when you are actually in ketosis and then you should be able to judge if it’s helping or not.

This topic has been done to death on here and the high carb brigade will be along in a moment to churn out diet advice that has been developed by scientists sponsored by Nestle and Kellogs.

Yep, recommendation made on the basis of medical advice and available evidence.

Yep, recommendation made on the basis of medical advice and available evidence.

That’s not the same as “Someone with a medical degree told me”. Sounds quacky to me.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ketogenic_diet

It’s an older treatment or therapy that fell out of favour as newer medications were developed.

I’ve been told to eat a ketogenic diet and work hard at staying in ketosis for a while to help me ease a terrible run of migraine headaches

Surely any proper medical advice would have followed that up with answers to your questions.

I’ve been told

By whom?

*stupid question*

Isn’t Ketosis really bad for you? I’m sure I’ve been told, by doctors, that (related to type 1 diabetes), though not for 10+ years.

OP – As a migraine sufferer and someone not averse to a low carb diet I’d really like to find out more about this.

Isn’t Ketosis really bad for you?

No. It’s generally very bad.

Isn’t Ketosis really bad for you? I’m sure I’ve been told, by doctors, that (related to type 1 diabetes), though not for 10+ years.

Don’t confuse ketosis with ketoacidosis. They are subtly different.

Don’t confuse ketosis with ketoacidosis. They are subtly different

Ah that’ll be it!

Read this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Migraine-Miracle-Gluten-Free-Inflammation-ebook/dp/B00ECLGAL6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1388662682&sr=8-1&keywords=migraine+miracle

It was written by a neurologist. Recommended to me by medical professionals aware of my headaches.

its got the word miracle in the title

hmmmmmm

using “miracle” to sell book = quacky

I went on to a low carb/low GI diet a while ago and I experienced loads of unexpected benefits, particularity no pain from old injuries that used to throb in cold weather.

I would recommend it. No problems with smell or other nonsense.

Great that a low carb / low GI diet worked for you.

However:

1: that’s not necessarily a ketogenic diet
2: sample size of one.

There is generally a lot of resistance to this sort of diet as it is almost a direct contradiction to the “standard” diet advice.

Personally I’m resistant to shonky unscientific advice and/or extrapolating personal experience to apply to all situations, but I’m a grumpy old arse.

I’m resistant to shonky unscientific advice

Then I suggest you read this The Diet Delusion

Don’t confuse ketosis with ketoacidosis. They are subtly different

Neither are very good.

http://www.nhsdirect.wales.nhs.uk/Encyclopaedia/k/article/ketosis/

Read this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Migraine-Miracle-Gluten-Free-Inflammation-ebook/dp/B00ECLGAL6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1388662682&sr=8-1&keywords=migraine+miracle

It was written by a neurologist. Recommended to me by medical professionals aware of my headaches.

Just because it was written by a neurologist it doesn’t mean it is good science. A book is not a peer reveiwed paper in a respected journal. Any quack can write a book.

And your insistance on refering to the person recomending it to you as a “medical professional” makes it sound like the cleaner at the GP practice recomended it. Not someone who is qualified to give this advice.

Neither are very good.

http://www.nhsdirect.wales.nhs.uk/Encyclopaedia/k/article/ketosis/

From the NHS article –

If left to build up, ketones can increase the acidity levels of your blood, which can affect your urine and may eventually cause serious damage to your liver and kidneys.

“If” – “Can” – “May”

Congrats you can read.

Can you read this bit.

The ketogenic diet should not be used without medical supervision, and its effects have not been adequately studied in adults or children under one year of age.

Can you read this bit.

Yes, which is why the nhs site uses caveats such as those pointed out by Winston Dog.

Winston !, bad doggy. You should know better than to question the NHS or to go against the word of a moderator who is by profession, the source of all defacto medical knowledge.
😉

its effects have not been adequately studied in adults
Hence:
“If” – “Can” – “May”

moderator who is be profession, the source of all defacto medical knowledge.

Far from it but I’d not be risky a ketogenic diet without talking to a qualified medical professional or the very least my GP. Ketosis is a very serious condition if not properly controlled.

Hence:
“If” – “Can” – “May”

No. They use that as it’s not the case every time but there is a considerable risk.

Ketosis is a very serious condition if not properly controlled.

At a sensible level – no it’s not. Very easy to control as well.

The majority of medics I have worked with hate being questioned.
The arrogance of so many GPs I have visited is incredible. They seem to think they are living in 1935 and we should just do exactly as they tell us.

not the case every time but there is a considerable risk

Of what? Burning fat stores?

If you smoke 40 cigarettes a day then this may cause serious illness and can even lead to death.

No. They use that as it’s not the case every time but there is a considerable risk.
But its not been adequately studied yet, has it ?

Hhmmm. I think you’re missing an important point in your own quote.
What part of:
its effects have not been adequately studied in adults

Do you not understand ?

Anyway, I’m off. Have FUN.
😐

Have you stopped eating the obvious things that can cause migraines as a start?

Have you had your eyes checked recently?

Are you stressed?

Sitting awkwardly at a computer screen with a fluorescent light above you and ninja death ants throwing tiny shurikens at your temples?

Final note: When people get told things by medical types, why don’t they ask THEM when they are there, instead of coming onto a cycling forum for wisdom?

At a sensible level – no it’s not. Very easy to control as well.

Ketosis has levels? Your body is in ketosis or it isn’t, no? (Or have I fundamentally misunderstood?)

Ketosis has levels?

As in the quantity of ketones produced by your body, yes.

I never had bad breath from keto but did notice my pee stank! Its hard to stick to without getting mad cravings for carbs, and i didnt lose much fat, but it does work for that especially if you have a lot to lose. I didnt so it was hard to stay motivated when the fat loss benefits weren’t amazing!

That said, any “diet” that lets you eat steak topped with bacon and cheese and still lose weight is a winner imo 🙂

Don’t know about ketosis and weird diets, but I have noticed I’m more likely to get migraines when I’m feeling hungry – so a low-GI diet could feasibly be of use.

Note hunger != ketosis != low blood sugar etc., I just think that dietary modification could be worth trying.

winston_dog – Member

…..The arrogance of so many GPs I have visited is incredible. They seem to think they are living in 1935 and we should just do exactly as they tell us…..

Sure, I appreciate they (GPs) have to cater for the medical requirements of the statistically significant groups and play it safe regarding new concepts, but if you’re after any progressive medical health advise the last person I’d consult would be a GP.

If by “progressive” you mean new ideas you found on the net with no evidence at all, or bogus diets and scares from the Mail, or your multiple allergies diagnosed by a”nutritionist” to everything you need for a healthy diet, or how your concept of “holistic” mysteriously ignores your own major emotional and psychological issues… I’d agree, please don’t make an appointment. See someone “alternative”. God made sheep to be shorn… 😉

Stoatsbrother – Member
If by “progressive” you mean new ideas you found on the net with no evidence at all……..

No, by “progressive” I mean current techniques/ideas based on accepted mainstream science which haven’t filtered through to the family doctor.

With all respect to their incredible hard work and professionalism, the GP surgery is hardly a hotbed of scientific knowledge.
Statistically tested treatments, good (hopefully) people skills and knowledgeable referalls yes, but cutting edge science, no.