Comment by Gene_Parmesan | Hacker News Reader

Comment by Gene_Parmesan | Hacker News Reader

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This is a major aside, and maybe I'm alone here, but I really dislike this common trend usage of the term 'keto.' Real ketosis is almost impossible to achieve in adults; virtually no one who thinks they are in ketosis actually are.

What people don't seem to realize is that real keto diets have strict limitations on protein intake, as your body just breaks protein down into glucose. I believe it's something like 85% of your calories each day need to come from fat, not protein.

Luckily, it's actually a good thing that people aren't actually in ketosis. It's an extreme diet developed as a treatment for epilepsy, and it can be very hard on your body's systems. The circulating ketones turn your blood acidic, which starts leeching out calcium from your bones. A lot of people get their fat from sources high in saturated fat (animal fat), which is bad for your body long-term. And with no real fiber intake, your gut flora will suffer. I don't believe a single nutritionist recommends real keto for adults trying to lose weight.

For sure most of us could stand to reduce our carb intakes a bit, but our bodies literally run on glucose. We have evolved to survive on carbs, it's okay to eat them! The healthiest countries in the world eat LOTS of carbs. [edit: 'lots' meaning, a high percent of their macros each day, not lots as in large portions] I in general dislike HuffPo as a source, but a quick google found this which I thought was an interesting read: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/japan-healthiest-people-in-th...

Now on the otherhand, I love IF. I used it without knowing it had a name to lose ~65 lbs at the end of highschool. I think it's super effective and what I recommend to others who ask for advice.

"Real ketosis" is the presence of markers that demonstrate fat metabolism. This is most commonly done by measuring beta-hydroxybutyrate with the same device that diabetics use to measure blood glucose (using a different kind of test strip). It wouldn't be uncommon for any given person on any diet to show signs of fat metabolism if, for example they've fasted for 12 hours or more and have done any kind of exercise.

Nutritional ketosis as practiced by anyone doing "keto" is generally considered to be somewhere between 1.0 to 3.0 mmol/dL BHB. Getting there is not hard for anyone on a fat-adapted diet.

For anyone following this, here I am 12 hours later after having dined on a relatively low-carb meal with some sweet potatoes and a couple of small bites of the wife's dessert of crème brûlée. I've yet to have breakfast and did some low to moderate intensity cycling this morning. My BHB is 1.6 mmol/dL, definitive signs of nutritional ketosis with very little effort on my part.

Not everyone is the same and if your diet works for you, that is great.

You have a lot of scientifically inaccurate statements in your comment. You are confusing keto with keto acidosis. Dr. Phinney, MD, Ph.D and chief scientist of Virta Health has very good lectures on youtube going over these terms which will dispel many of your misconceptions. They also have 30 years of data on keto diets.

On keto, The goal is to keep fat calories to 70-75. In our ancestral environment, we did not have grains, fruits or sugar in most forms. Ancestral forms of fruits like banana had seeds and were barely sweet.

You are going to need some sources. You are confusing ketosis with ketoacidosis

Yes. Thank you for clarifying.

> ... and maybe I'm alone here

You are. There's a difference between medical ketosis and nutritional ketosis. It's always worth researching[1] something if you don't fully understanding it.

I'm not going to dive into the rest of your comment because it's a dumpster fire of misinformation.

1 - https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324237

edit: I also lived in Japan for two years and they are slowly becoming unhealthy due to the younger generation beginning to succumb to sugary products, i.e. the current bubble tea craze. There's also a culture of not sleeping, drinking daily, and smoking. I believe their health is due to how the country forces you to walk everywhere.

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