The new magic word is Hack. Everyone is Hacking something. I remember when I was in high school hacking was a bad thing, and you could go to prison for it… or in the case of a young Matthew Broderick and Ally Sheety in the movie War Games, be chased by Feds and nearly killed. I know I am showing my age, because I loved that movie.
BioHacking is the new term. It refers to hacking your body’s operating system and changing the outcome of your current health status. There are many ways to BioHack your body, all of which include; lifestyle change, dietary and nutritional changes, exercise etc. My favorite BioHack is the modified ketogenic diet which is a ketogenic diet that does allow for a few additional carbs, but uses some supplementation to maintain consistent ketosis.
Why would I want to be in ketosis?
Ketones have been used by the body for energy since man was created. Ketosis is simply burning fat for energy. When the body runs out of glucose for energy, the liver converts fatty acids into ketones. These ketones provide energy to all of the cells quickly and easily because they are absorbed easily by the cells. The brain runs amazingly well on ketones, but does still require some glucose to operate properly. What most people do not understand is the body has a store of glucose, in the form of glycogen and if needed can make its own glucose from protein, muscle etc. Carbohydrates in the form of sugar, and high-carb, low-fiber foods are not necessary for survival. Although teaching your body to perform without those things when it’s used to running on glucose, can be a challenge. Ketosis can only occur naturally if the body is deprived of glucose creating foods, and has a calorie deficit. The lack of glucose creates a need for energy, and unless you eat something that converts to glucose the body will eventually switch to fat for energy.
Cavemen used ketosis just like bears do for hibernation. In the summer when food was plentiful, nuts, berries etc. The caveman would splurge on these foods. They might even store up some fat during the summer months to burn off during the winter months when food was harder to find. During the winter they killed wild game, used the bone marrow, tallow, fat, etc, to stay warm and alive. This caused them to be in ketosis, and use their own body fat and the fat they ate, for energy. They may have stored up some tubers and nuts as well… foods that stored easily as time moved on, but they only ate real, live foods. Foods that they picked, or killed. Nothing came in a box, or a can. They didn’t have ways to store or preserve things. I have heard more than one doctor say that autoimmune disease didn’t appear until man found fire, but that’s a conversation for a different day.
The question really should be “Why would you not want to be in ketosis, or at least be able to convert from sugar burning to fat burning at will?” That’s what the human body was designed to do.
What are the benefits of Ketosis?
If you think about it… could you chase down a saber toothed tiger with a stick and a rock for dinner for your family? NO, absolutely not, and I am so glad we do not have to do that. BUT if you are in a state where you have no food, and the body has switched to ketones for a fuel source… you gain energy and stamina, your brain works faster, your senses are more acute. Ketones reduce inflammation, suppress appetite, and are amazing for brain health, including memory. Here’s a list of some reasons to consider using ketones for fuel.
- Energy, fat burning
- Better brain cognition, memory, mental clarity and focus
- Reduction of seizures and migraines
- Normalize cholesterol and triglyceride levels
- Decrease inflammation (pain, acne, eczema, psoriasis, arthritis)
- Stabilize insulin and blood sugar
- Better sleep
- Appetite suppressant
This list goes on and on… there are more and more research papers coming out on a regular basis.
Back to BioHacking… should you want to BioHack your body… absolutely. Does every diet, lifestyle work for everyone? NO. I have seen some amazing changes in my clients using a modified keto diet with supplementation. Some people require a more strict lifestyle, and some can be much more lenient. Of course, exercise does help, but many people have great success with minimal exercise. Finding what works for you is always my goal.
Please follow my blog, check out some of my video recipes. You can follow me on social media under askdrannette or HiFatMama. Feel free to message me for more information. I am happy to share my supplementation regimen with you. I can recommend different plans for you, and help you find what works for you.