Does Alcohol "stall" ketosis?

(Ted ) #1

Getting ready to take the plunge. One question on alcohol. I like a scotch or two every so often, maybe a glass of red with my wife. Let’s take scotch/spirits.

They have ZERO carbs but my understanding is that alcohol is high in calories and more importantly processed right after carbs and before fat or protein for energy. Meaning, it will “stall your ketosis” and the duration of that “stall” will correlate to how much you drink and it take for your body to burn those alcohol calories, which it basically converts to sugar…burning it before fat or protein.

Do I have it right? Basically, ok to have but moderation?

(Chris) #2

aside from damaging your liver and the metabolic effects that entails, the only real thing is the body’s #1 priority becomes dealing with the alcohol. Now if because of the alcohol you cascade on additional poor choices, that’s a different story.

If you are going to drink, keep it straight. Be ready for a nastier than normal hangover

And don’t worry about “going in and out of ketosis”. That has to be the one thing I think gets overstated by every rookie keto’er. Ketosis is always occurring, just not at levels high enough to be considered nutritional ketosis

(Bunny) #3

I do Gin, much easier on the Ketosis recovery! I do like to drink a quarter cup of organic extra virgin olive oil (learned this trick from the old timers) before drinking to protect the liver, keeps you from getting too tipsy if you plan on drinking a lot, but I find the recovery period is very brief!

(Louise ) #4

The Diet Doctor has a great graphic which shows the choices for low carb and alcohol, here is the link;

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Here in Australia, we are lucky to have zero carb beer:

Bighead
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which I know that in the US / North America you have some lower carb choices.

In one of the Obesity Code podcasts, Megan mentioned about this great app (here is the link to the website) from the Liquor Control Board of Ontario: http://www.lcbo.com/content/lcbo/en.html which the app lists the carb content of various drinks.

On the Diet Doctor website, there is a note of caution. As the other poster said, alcohol is preferentially metabolised by the liver, which also means it will take less to feel the intoxicating effects. So…keto makes you a cheap drunk!

(Bunny) #5
(Ken) #6

If you drink at least an extra16 oz. of water per each drink you can avoid the hangover completely. If at a bar, expect to use the restroom more frequently.