Ketosis Symptoms

There is a high production of ketones due to burning of fat and decreased intake of carbohydrates, especially beta- hydroxyl butyrate (BHB) as a primary ketone detected in the bloodstream. So when a person is following a diet like ketogenic diet, there are more chances of detection of higher concentrations of blood ketones and lower concentrations of blood sugar levels. The concentration of blood ketones that indicates ketosis is having range of 0.5-3.0 mmol per liter of blood. Such type of determination of ketone levels can be done by using Blood Ketone Meter but they are quite expensive due to high cost of test strips.

A bad breathe is considered as primary sign of ketosis state of the body and it can be measured by use of breathe analyzer. Due to high production of ketone after metabolism of fat providing energy sources to the body, there is an elimination of acetone occurs through sweat, urine and breath. If a breath smells bad or fruity, it is an indicator of utilization of fat for energy. The urine concentration of acetone or ketones along with breath are not considered as reliable measurements for increased blood ketone levels but it can be done by use of specialized strips testing for answering question “Am I in ketosis?”.

A person following a ketogenic diet is experiencing a reduced intensity of hunger because people are eating fewer calories without realizing it. Certain foods like meat, fish, cheese, low carbohydrate vegetables are signaling body to utilize the accumulated fats as fuel source which are more efficient than sugar. Appetite of person is suppressed as time passes because such state of ketosis is interfering with hunger hormones. Many people have ketosis state where they have a higher availability of efficient fuel sources and ability to use them leading to decreased demand of body for food.

There is accumulation of stored fat for energy production and this causes newfound capacity of person to focus on work without consumption of a cup of coffee. The brain is receiving more fuel rather than glucose after few days or weeks’ time period once ketosis state is occurred in body. There is a feeling of full of energy that helps in concentrating people through improved brain functioning. No or less carbohydrate consumption is helping in controlling blood sugar levels at desired levels for better health.

In the stages, individuals are not having enough sugars to get desired energy for performing any regular activities or any specific task at physical and mental levels. This condition is named as short-term fatigue where liver has not yet started metabolism of fat or ketosis. Such symptom of short term fatigue is a path on which body is going to reach at ketosis state. To overcome from short term fatigue, an individual is advised to consume electrolyte supplements and stay hydrated.

A performance of an individual is generally depends on his muscular system. If a person is performing an exercise, he will experience tiredness and fatigue because the primary source of muscle elasticity, glycogen are decreased in the body. Once the body starts converting fat for energy instead of glucose or sugar, there will be greater energy available for doing such tasks. This type of short term reduction in performance will disappear after completion of first phase of ketosis and body starts feeling more energetic.

Digestive issues like constipation, diarrhea, are experienced by many people during their starting phase of ketosis. The intake of food is changed in this type of condition that demands time for body to get adjusted for such situations. Changes in mineral levels, fiber intake and hydration status may cause constipation like digestive issue because of high fiber intake as well as water loss in form of diarrhea is complained by people as ketosis and low carb does not form hard stools.

In general, people are having sleep for time period of 6-8 hours and if a person faces problems in falling asleep, it is termed as insomnia where sleep is reduced than the normal durations. Some people are complaining about waking up in mid of night and difficulties or struggling for sleep when their body is preparing itself to go for ketosis stage. The low or no intake of carbohydrates are triggering more production of stress hormones that are interfering with sleep patterns and leading to insomnia stage. A person will have normal sleep after his body gets into ketosis.