By Claire Bacon, ACN, CNC
Yes, we have Ketones! Why is that exciting? Well, it’s because Ketones are Nature’s “superfuel”. Ketones are a natural substance your body will produce as an alternative fuel when you’re deprived of carbohydrates. For most people, that never happens. Unless you have a family member who is autistic or has seizures, you may not have ever heard of “going Keto”. Some people try going Keto for a period of time in order to lose weight, but not everyone does well on that kind of high fat diet.
So, long story short, for one reason or another, the vast majority of people have never been in a Ketogenic state. They haven’t experienced the benefits of producing Ketones. And maybe they have no interest in losing weight, improving performance, or trying something new. It’s a real shame. Because now, exogenous Ketones (from outside the body) are available! And they don’t taste that bad (not really)!
Improved Focus (aka that feeling of being “in the zone”)
What if you could bottle that “runner’s high” feeling and get a boost anytime you like? Do you even know what I mean? If you’re into competitive sports, you may understand this concept. There are times when there’s someone just ahead of you, and you start repeating a mantra that makes you forget your body, and step it up to another level of speed. That feeling of focus where your head and your heart just might explode, and you don’t care. All you want is that girl ahead of you, and the finish line is coming, and you’re going to get there first. Nothing else matters; no one else exists. That’s focus! And that’s exactly what I felt the first time I used Ketones in a distance race.
My Ketones Experience
Let me tell you about my experience. First of all, I’m the kind of person who tries everything. I see what it’s like, and what I notice. I don’t recommend anything to anyone that I haven’t done or wouldn’t do myself. So I studied a bit about what Ketones were all about before jumping in. This was foreign to me, and I wanted to make sure I did it right.
Truth be told, I am somewhat hypoglycemic and hypothyroid. My body does not do well without a little bit of a snack every 4-5 hours. I work out consistently, and do my best to eat lots of protein and fat, but the fact remains that my body needs some carbohydrates or I’ll start feeling weak. And sick. So I’ve never felt I could do the Keto diet.
Well, desperate times lead to desperate measures. I decided I wanted to get better at distance running, so signed up for a few races and started upping my mileage. It was very frustrating to me that my gut was not always cooperating. I don’t like having to make a pit stop behind a bush or at a dirty gas station. I’d rather just do my run uninterrupted. I was very excited and in shape for the Alpharetta Women’s Half Marathon. I enjoyed that course so much! However, I wasted 6 minutes on two pit stops and out of frustration decided to take another approach next time.
I started noticing advertisements for Ketones. And I heard some of my healthy, holistic friends talking about them. They were using them daily as an appetite suppressant, and finding it easier to lose weight. I thought, why not? I’ll try it!
The Experiment
Fast forward to February and the Hot Chocolate Run downtown. The odd distance of 9.4 miles was just perfect for me – long enough to be challenging but not too long to be exhausting. I was really excited to do my best! So I decided to try something new. I took one 2-ounce Ketone shot as I left my car, about 45 minutes before the start. Aside from that, I drank water. I really didn’t know what to expect, or whether my energy would hold up, or stomach would get upset, or what. But no one was depending on me. It was a good day for an experiment!
The start was uneventful. It was a chilly morning but I warmed up quickly. I found a comfortable pace and settled in to enjoy the Atlanta scenery. This was my first time on this route and I had no expectations. I carried my second Ketone shot in my hand. Just like I had seen the super-fast girls do in the advertisements, I imagined I was like a pro, carrying my special fuel. I took my second dose a little after the 4 mile mark. (Mental note: remove the wrapper before the start and without gloves on!)
What I noticed: pure, deep focus and sustained energy. I never felt any dip in energy. I kept my turnover at the same pace. My stomach never growled and I never felt weak. I kept my mind on my footing, the pace, and eventually I noticed my smooth, consistent breathing. I had none of the “cardiac stress” or huffing and puffing I usually do. As it turns out, Ketones are the preferred fuel for the heart and the brain. That’s what I had read, and that’s exactly what I felt. Major improvements in mentally being able to push myself and stay focused on my goals. And I couldn’t believe how much easier it was to breathe! Best part – no bathroom breaks!! 🙂
After the Finish
After the finish, you can imagine what kinds of treats were waiting for us after the “Hot Chocolate Run”. There was chocolate everywhere! I was given a bowl loaded up with goodies: a cup of hot cocoa, a pot of melted chocolate, little cookies for dipping, and even a Rice Krispy treat! It was truly decadent! I did enjoy the cup of hot cocoa and it was wonderful. But honestly, even after running an hour-and-a-half with no breakfast, I really wasn’t hungry. I wasn’t tempted. I felt satisfied and healthy, and didn’t really want to spoil that good feeling with sugar.
And so I’ve found my new secret weapon. Ketones equal focus and speed without calories. I used them at the Peachtree City Super Sprint and at the Peachtree Road Race. I fully intend to use Ketones before my early morning swims and strength workouts – mainly because at 5:30 am there’s no time to make coffee. But also because Ketones feel better than coffee. Probably because they don’t have a vaso-constricting effect, and so blood flow to the small capillaries is not impeded.
How Do Ketones Work?
What’s actually going on here? Ketones are a natural source of fuel for your body. Your body creates Ketones out of your stored fats as an alternate fuel source when your stored carbs are depleted. Unlike regular dietary fats, ketones can cross the blood-brain barrier, fueling your mental energy as well as the body.
Compared to other sources of energy like glucose (carbohydrates) or fat, ketones are a more efficient fuel that can produce more power while using less oxygen. They are easily absorbed, and don’t cause any gastrointestinal stress. That means you won’t get slowed down by your stomach when you’re trying to push your performance in an event.
Ketone levels are a key biomarker to assess metabolic health. You can measure your ketone levels with a urine pH strip. If you have been eating carbs, you won’t have any ketones. Most people are constantly in a carb-burning state, which also puts them in a fat-storage state. What you want – that is, if you want to be stronger/faster/healthier – is to convert your body to be a fat burner. You can do it for free by depriving yourself of all carbohydrates (and arguably – being miserable). Or, you could take exogenous ketones for a shortcut to feeling better.
Yes, you can take ketones and still have some carbohydrates. When I say ketones are the body’s “preferred” fuel source, that means your heart, brain, and muscles will suck them up – even in the presence of carbohydrates. Oh yeah – your body immediately recognizes its preferred premium fuel!
Ketones for Metabolic Health
Everyone can improve their metabolic health by spending more time with elevated ketones. Well, every American can. Maybe if you’re living in a tribe in Papua New Guinea you’re already at the peak of metabolic health. But everyone here would do better with less sugar, less carbohydrates, and less stimulants. In addition, we could all benefit from less inflammation.
Different people can benefit from ketones in different ways…
Are you a biohacker, or just trying to optimize your health? You might already be elevating ketones by dabbling with intermittent fasting, exercising daily, and avoiding carbs at breakfast and lunch. You’ll enjoy having ketones as part of a daily health regimen and to stay sharp at work.
Are you an athlete? Most athletes manage their time around a demanding training schedule. If you’re really diligent, you can elevate ketones by depleting your carb stores. But I see most age-grouper-type athletes using their fitness as an excuse to eat more sugar. Clif bars, protein bars, and Jelly Belly treats on a bike ride are not taking you towards your goals. Instead, try drinking ketones for performance before your tough workouts, and to support recovery.
Are you trying to lose weight? If you’re following a strict low-carb eating plan, taking ketones will make your diet feel easier. You’ll notice that you don’t have a desire for carbohydrates as much. You won’t feel as hungry or like you’re depriving yourself. You can drink ketones for on-demand energy or to help you get back on track after taking a break from Keto.
Key Facts on Ketones
- Ketones are 28% more efficient as a fuel than glucose from carbohydrates alone. Plus, they don’t cause sugar crashes or insulin spikes, helping maintain smoother, more stable energy levels.
- Ketones can help spare glycogen, prevent “bonking”, and support muscle protein resynthesis for faster recovery.
- Ketones can cross the blood-brain barrier and act as fuel for the brain, helping you achieve and sustain peak mental clarity.
- Ketones can suppress ghrelin, the hunger hormone, helping reduce your appetite so you can reach your diet and fitness goals. Try a shot and see how it helps extend your fast and controls your cravings.
The different forms… Ketone Esters vs. Ketone Salts vs. Ketone Alcohols can spark debate. You might choose one product over another based on cost, taste, or effectiveness, depending for what you’re using it in the first place. DeltaG is one very popular brand, and Ketone IQ is also very popular and is being sold at Sprouts and Whole Foods. And our office, too!
According to the company behind deltaG (TdeltaS), the ketone ester in deltaG is 20 times stronger than MCT oil, 10 times stronger than ketone salts, and five times stronger than products containing butanediol (e.g., Ketone-IQ). However, ketone esters may be more expensive and also have a much more bitter taste.
In our office, we are currently carrying Ketone IQ. It’s not the greatest concentration of ketones, but it’s good for our curiosity as we enter this new biohacking space. It’s a gentle nudge with lasting energy and no downside whatsoever. Overall, it’s a reasonable cost for a reasonable benefit, and it’s not a terrible taste. You get used to it.
Ketone IQ is sweetened with just enough Monk fruit and Rebaudioside M to make the bitter taste palatable. There’s no sugar and no carbohydrates.
Of course, we have our eyes out for anything better that may come along. But for now, we’re really enjoying this product and the wave of clarity and performance it brings! It’s the perfect Goldilocks in a world of many biohacks that are too harsh, too expensive, or too hard to get. This one is just right!
Ketone IQs are available in office! Please reach out with any questions!
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