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New Image International:Exogenous Ketos

Exogenous Ketos

Weight managementMarch19

The Real Deal with Exogenous Ketones

As keto increases in popularity, we see more and more keto-related products on the market. One of the most popular and well known is the exogenous ketone supplement, which claims to boost the effects of a keto diet and even give you some of the benefits of keto while still eating carbs. Sounds like the ‘magic pill’ we’ve been looking for.

Are they worth the money? Will they help you lose weight fast?

What are the ‘claimed’ benefits:
  • Help you shed weight
  • Control hunger and cravings
  • Improved focus
  • Increased energy
  • Better mood
  • Help you perform physically and recover quicker from exercise
  • Help to get you back into ketosis after consuming carbs
  • Decreased inflammation
  • Better sleep

First of all, let’s be clear - your body will produce ketones naturally when you follow the keto diet the right way AND it’s free!

If you are following our ketogenic programme and the New Image™ Keto meal plans consistently, you are nailing it. If you feel like you have an abundance of energy, then you don’t need exogenous ketones.

Ketones are molecules that are produced in the liver from fat; this is then used as energy when there is no glucose.

In the average diet, glucose is the main source of energy, but when we follow a keto diet, glucose is dramatically decreased and the body switches from glucose to fats for fuel.

Ketosis is referring to the body converting fat to ketones for energy. These ketones are produced inside the body, or ‘endogenously’.

Exogenous ketones are the opposite and are made in the lab and consumed as a supplement or made ‘outside’ your body.

There is a difference between nutritional ketosis or ketogenesis (following the keto diet and producing ketone bodies in the liver), and ketonemia (the presence of ketone bodies in the blood). So, when you take an exogenous ketone, you promote ketonemia, ketones in the blood, not nutritional ketosis.

Exogenous ketones can put βHB (Betahydroxybutyrate aka ketone bodies) in your blood. So, when you test your urine, you will see the presence of ketones. However, this doesn’t mean that you are in nutritional ketosis and burning fat.

If you follow the keto diet effectively and you do supplement with exogenous ketones, then they might boost your energy and increase satiety, but will not increase your weight loss.

We know that what matters the most is having your body in nutritional ketosis state, as this is when you will reap all the rewards of ketosis.

So basically, exogenous ketones might be beneficial if you follow the keto diet; however, if you’re cheating and eating carbs, it won’t do much. You’re better off spending your money on overpriced avocados.


References:
  • Gross, Elena et al. “Efficacy and safety of exogenous ketone bodies for preventive treatment of migraine: A study protocol for a single-centred, randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind crossover trial.” Trials vol. 20,1 61. 17 Jan. 2019, doi:10.1186/s13063-018-3120-7
  • Stubbs, Brianna J et al. “On the Metabolism of Exogenous Ketones in Humans.” Frontiers in physiology vol. 8 848. 30 Oct. 2017, doi:10.3389/ fphys.2017.00848
  • Stubbs, Brianna J et al. “A Ketone Ester Drink Lowers Human Ghrelin and Appetite.” Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.) vol. 26,2 (2018): 269-273. doi:10.1002/oby.22051