Ketosis Symptoms

Ketosis can be understood as a state of metabolism, which is characterized by an increase in the level of ketone bodies (water soluble compounds). This state occurs when the liver converts fat into fatty acids and ketone bodies, which can be used by the body for energy, as an alternative to glucose. While glucose is the preferred energy cell for all cells of the body, ketosis is seen as a crisis reaction of the body, to a carbohydrate deficiency in the diet of a person. Ketosis should not be confused with ketoacidosis, a medical condition that can turn life-threatening as well. Unlike the former, it is caused by diabetes and accompanied by dehydration, hyperglycemia, ketonuria and increased levels of glucagon.

 

Dieting is one of the main causes that can lead to ketosis. Weight losers often complain of accompanying ketosis symptoms. However, this type of ketosis is not considered harmful for the body. Switching over to a low-carb diet, which doesn’t contribute to blood glucose substantially, leads the body to undergo a set of stages to enter ketosis. In the initial stages i.e. the first two days, the adult brain doesn’t burn ketone.

 

It's only after 48 hours that the body starts burning ketones, so that it can directly utilize the energy from the fat stores that the body is depending upon, reserving glucose only for its absolute needs. The level of ketones in the body can be diagnosed with a urine test. However, in some cases, the urine test never indicates excess ketones. The reason could be that consumption of excess water, which dilutes urine or exercise, which uses up excess ketones.

 

The symptoms of ketosis, generally, last for several days, extending to a week in some cases, until the body becomes used to burning fats instead of glucose. The ketone level in the body may go down, but it is not to be seen as an indicator of not losing weight. The feeling of ketosis is temporary and passes away in a week among dieters. Given below are the common signs and symptoms that are associated with ketosis.