What is ketosis and how does it affect athletic performance?

Ketosis is a condition that normally takes place when our bodies turn to stored fat as an energy source because we don’t give it enough glucose (carbohydrate) for our muscles to use for energy.

When this condition occurs, the fat is broken down into what are called “ketone bodies” which are the molecular equivalent of exhaust from the breaking down of stored fat as fuel. Most cells in our bodies can use these ketones for energy, including our brain cell.

But one type of ketone called acetone is rejected as waste in urine and breath- sometimes emitting a unique odor or taste in the mouth.Ketosis can appear as a result of fasting, after prolonged exercise and has been reported as a side effect of some of the more popular diet fads. Ketosis in and of itself is not dangerous and occurs in diabetics and non-diabetics alike. It should not be confused with a life threatening condition in diabetics called ketoacidosis or DKA.

An interesting question however is how does ketosis affect athletic performance? Given this huge grey area of questionable information out there in fitness and nutrition, it seems the verdict lies within each individual and his/her activity level.

Further, no two metabolisms are alike and if you are an active individual, ketosis may be hard on you. It is a fact that most competitive athletes perform at a higher level for their event with a healthy filling of carbohydrates the night before- after all you have to fuel up. They have more endurance, strength and are more mentally in the game. The difference is for the regular dieter that lives a relatively sedentary life- ketosis may not hinder them as much as the athlete, simply due to a different amount of calories consumed by these two different lifestyles. The more you move, the more carbohydrates you need and thus ketosis could impair your performance- at the office or in the gym.

The answer simply is to subscribe to trial and error with your nutritional intake and see how your body processes the changes, in the form of various performance measures like strength, endurance and alertness.

When you feel even keel and you are happy with your results, stay on that course.