Richard Bloomer, Ph.D. serves as dean of the College of Health Sciences and the R. Brad Martin Student Wellness Center at the University of Memphis. He also directs the ...
Richard Bloomer, Ph.D. serves as dean of the College of Health Sciences and the R. Brad Martin Student Wellness Center at the University of Memphis. He also directs the Cardiorespiratory/Metabolic Laboratory and the Center for Nutraceutical and Dietary Supplement Research. He holds the rank of professor and previously held positions at Duke University Medical Center and Wake Forest University.
Article Summary
Most people believe there are three main energy sources our bodies use to create Adenosine triphosphate (ATP).
These include
Sugar/glucose from the breakdown of carbohydrate (and gluconeogenic amino acids)
Fatty acids
Glycerol from the breakdown of triglycerides.
However, it is important to also understand the valuable role of ketones — a relatively novel, alternative and important energy source the body naturally creates that is now available in the form of a food or beverage.
This article reveals why ketones can be a great alternative to glucose — with recent evidence supporting the role of specific ketones as anti-aging metabolites.
BE GREAT.
Optimize your Physical and Mental Potential with Ketone Hydration
Quite simply, ketones are an alternative energy source to fuel the body.
There are three types of ketones
Acetone
Acetoacetate
Beta-hydroxybutyric acid.
Beyond this, there are both endogenous forms (produced by the body while adhering to a ketogenic diet) and exogenous forms (created outside the body and available in select foods and beverages).
It is well known that spikes and fluctuations in blood glucose can lead to brain fog, fatigue and lethargy. In addition, such changes in both glucose and insulin (the hormone that is elevated in response to a glucose spike) are associated with weight/body fat gain.
Hence, many individuals seek to follow a low carbohydrate diet in an attempt to avoid elevations in blood sugar — with the goal of stabilizing energy levels throughout the day and remaining relatively lean. When following such a plan, many individuals seek alternative energy sources to fuel their day. This is where ketones may prove helpful.
Most people are familiar with the high protein and low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet. This plan dramatically restricts carbohydrate intake (usually to less than 50 grams per day — the equivalent of approximately 2 slices of bread).
Although effective, there have been concerns raised pertaining to the difficulty in adhering to such a diet — although this varies considerably from person to person and may be similar to other diets. While some contend that a ketogenic diet can be harmful due to the high intake of saturated fat, the evidence indicates that this plan can be safe for most individuals — of course, more well – controlled clinical trials are needed.
While increasing ketone levels via adherence to a very low carbohydrate diet is most prevalent, dietary aids that directly deliver ketones to induce an acute state of ketosis are now available and being used with success, with suggestions for improving exercise performance. While not all data support the ergogenic effect of ketones, Sansone and coworkers expand the potential role of ketones by stating, “Exogenous ketones should not only represent an alternative metabolic fuel source, sparing carbohydrates, but they also may increase postexercise glycogen replenishment, decrease proteolysis, and act as metabolic modulators and signaling metabolites.”
The potential benefit of exogenous ketones is that nutritional ketosis can be induced without necessitating the restrictive dietary practices that seem to be poorly tolerated by some, in particular in the long-term. Of course, more well-controlled clinical studies are needed to confirm the benefit of these ketones.
Regardless of how ketones are created and delivered, increasing the amount and metabolism of ketones appears to increase oxidative stress within the mitochondria, which in turn initiates a protective response, allowing cells to better handle future assaults during periods of high stress and low energy availability.
The Rise, The Fall, The Crash! Sustain Energy
If your goal is to feel great throughout the day, with sustained energy and mental clarity, blood sugar and insulin should be maintained at relatively stable levels.
When consuming high amounts of simple sugars (i.e., packaged foods and sugar-laden drinks), blood sugar can rise rapidly (within 15 minutes) leading to a surge of insulin production and release.
A rapid fall of blood sugar within the first hour or so — often generating a feeling of fatigue…the so-called crash.
Restricting carbohydrates can help greatly but since glucose is a main source of energy to produce ATP — and the prime energy source used to fuel the brain — restricting these calories can lead to fatigue. This is where supplemental ketones may help. They can provide the body with a rapid energy source, without impacting blood sugar.
The figure below shows a representation of how blood glucose rises and falls following meals. The left side panel represents the typical Western diet, inclusive of high amounts of simple sugar and saturated fat. The right side panel represents a ketogenic diet of very low carbohydrate intake, where the goal is to maintain relatively stable blood sugar levels and to minimize insulin secretion. Ketones are used heavily for ATP production.
Tecton is the world’s first and only ready-to-drink beverage that contains 10g of nature-identical ketones that doesn’t contain 1,3 butanediol (a secondary alcohol or ethanol dimer). Tecton is safe at any dose and for all age groups based on a study published in Nutrient magazine, according to FDA guidelines. The study noted no adverse effects, even at extremely high doses (200 times by body weight).
We also tested the absorption rate to determine how quickly Tecton ketones will get into the bloodstream after drinking a can of our product. So, with analyses by Mayo Clinic, a pharmacokinetics (PK) study showed that Tecton’s ketone ester has a rapid absorption rate, reaching a maximum concentration in just 30 minutes, putting the user into mild ketosis in minutes. This usually requires two days of starving or up to 2-3 weeks of strict adherence to a keto diet! Because Tecton has zero sugar and zero caffeine, it is a simple and safe alternative, or accompaniment, to fasting or a restrictive ketogenic diet.
*The Food and Drug Administration has not evaluated these statements. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
