Hormones

#1

How does a ketogenic diet help to heal hormone imbalance and messed up metabolism??

#2

Its my understanding that the only way hormones are created in the body is with the use of cholesterol. Like the actual cholesterol molecule; not HDL, LDL, or Triglycerides. On the Standard American Diet (SAD), we’ve been focusing on low-fat for 30+ years. Low-fat = low cholesterol intake, which affects hormone levels (in theory).

So since keto is all about the fatness, its also about cholesterol. Whether its from what you eat (eggs) or what’s stored in your fat cells, more cholesterol is going to be introduced which would normalize your hormone levels.

Edit: the horomones here are testosterone and estrogen.

(Liz ) #3

I think it’s multi faceted. Insulin is a hormone. When it’s disregulated, it can affect other hormones. So can chronic undereating (as some dieters have done for years). When you reduce insulin load and eat enough and can access energy from fat stores to get your body running more like it’s supposed to, your metabolism should improve. That’s what I’ve gleaned from all the forum topics and videos and podcasts.

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #4

One way it does that is by not stimulating the secretion of insulin. Insulin is the fat storage hormone, but it has many other regulatory functions as well. High sustained blood serum levels have an inflammatory effect, which can reverse itself in the absence of insulin (actually, there is always some insulin in your blood, but below a certain level, it no longer triggers the effects that it triggers above that level).

Cholesterol is important to the functioning of your body. It forms the walls of your cells, for example. It is also the precursor molecule to an astonishing array of enzymes and hormones. Cholesterol levels in the blood are not affected by the amount of cholesterol in your diet. This is because the body can make all the cholesterol it needs, if it has to. Your diet can affect levels of LDL, however. If you consume a high amount of polyunsaturated fat in vegetable oils it can lower your LDL, for example, and eating a ketogenic diet can, in many people, raise total LDL levels (in most of those people, however, it is the light, fluffy LDL that increases, not the risky small, dense LDL).

Note, however, that how important cholesterol is as a marker for the risk of heart disease is disputed. The theory proposed by Ancel Keys was that a high total cholesterol level indicated increased risk of heart disease; this has pretty much been shown to be untrue. (In fact, in women over a certain age, a lower level of total cholesterol in the blood is associated with a higher risk of heart disease.) The type of cholesterol seems to make a difference; for example, it has been shown that increased levels of HDL are associated with a lower risk of heart disease. Most types of LDL have been shown to have no association with the risk of heart disease, but high levels of small, dense LDL are associated with an increased risk of heart disease.

An elevated level of triglycerides has been shown to have a strong correlation with increased risk of heart disease, and a ketogenic diet has been shown to lower the triglyceride level. The best marker for the risk of heart disease, it seems at present, is the ratio of triglycerides to HDL, the lower the better. Under 2.0 is considered excellent, and a ketogenic diet can lower the ratio well below that, both by lowering triglycerides and by increasing HDL.

My understanding is that because of the lowered insulin level, a well-formulated ketogenic diet can help reverse atherosclerosis. Cholesterol has been blamed for atherosclerosis when, in reality, it is one of the things the body uses to try to heal arterial plaque. Dr. Phinney says that blaming arterial plaques on the presence of cholesterol is like blaming fires on the presence of fire trucks. When the inflammatory stimuli are withdrawn by the lowering of insulin levels, many people find that their atherosclerosis begins to clear up (the amount of healing of course depends on the level of damage, how long insulin levels were chronically elevated, and so forth).

#5

Hadn’t heard that one. This is also very fascinating to me

#6

I worry about the eunder eating on some days that I’m just not that hungry for the most part I have a normal appetite
I think what I’m gleaning is not so much small meals but fast and then eat. So to get the benefits of fasting but not get into starvation mode so to speak. Which could possibly damage a possibly already damaged metabolism.
I want to start intermittent fasting though to get some of this weight to budge but I also love love love the effects of fasting on our health and the effects of ketosis on our health!
The more I learn the more interesting it gets I’m all and I truly want to make this a lifestyle but I am still kind of working out it I mus admit.

#7

Thank you Paul
It’s also very interesting.
I suppose it takes time to turn the titanic around but it makes one wonder if you consistently are in ketosis for a year how much change a body wouldn’t go through . [quote=“PaulL, post:4, topic:22703”]
increased
[/quote]

(Liz ) #8

OK when I started back in March I had the same issue with appetite being low from Keto and I was asking all over the place how will I keep my metabolism from slowing down and going into damaging starvation mode when I know I am not eating enough calories?? Like, wanted to hit 1400 but was only doing like, 1000. What I learned was: yes eat in a window, don’t graze, no snacks. Eat only if you are hungry don’t force feed yourself. Your appetite is low because your body is using energy from your own fat stores so your plate calories are augmented by your body fat calories, you are not ruining your metabolism. If your metabolism was actually slowing you would know because there are symptoms, cold, lethargy, feeling lousy.

The next thing I learned is some of your appetite will return later down the road!! I am 8 months in with 40 pounds lost and my body is asking for more food so I am complying LOL. So whatever stage you are in at this point in your Keto journey, be aware that it will evolve and you will make adjustments as necessary. I just finished a 72 hour fast with no issues, still have about 20 pounds to lose. I try to IF daily but switch up the timing to keep my body guessing, eat at noon some days, others wait until 2 or 3.

#9

Thank you, Liz!!

(Jason Fletcher) #10

This is good point and i wish more people would focus on how they feel like this rather then worry themselves to death about a lower base metabolic rate from not eating enough.

#11

It is a good point. Also age has something to do with our calorie needs.

(Karen) #12

Your early experience is exactly where I am one month in. I get full so fast on so little volume! Still getting in about 1100 cals a day on two small but fantastic meals and some BPC in the morning. Just listening to my body, keeping calm and keto’ing on! Congrats on your success.

(Liz ) #13

Thank you! Isn’t it wild? Especially if you are coming off a carb laden diet where you can never really feel full, suddenly you’re like, wait, I’m done eating?? KCKO!

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #14

The first time that happened to me, it was really weird. I mean, there was still food on my plate!

#15

That too is what I love about this “diet”.
But I will be looking forward to eating no more than I want That sounds nice to eating too much can be almost as bad as eating too little! :stuck_out_tongue:
I really have never had a huge appetite in my life

(Barbara Lehr) #16

So I have a question for the science geeks regarding hormones. Keto has definitely reset both my insulin and lepton sensitivity and I rarely get hungry until about two in the afternoon, I have a strong “full” signal when I am done eating, and I never crave carbs. All well and good until a week ago when a Dodge Ram truck T-boned me and left me with whiplash and a concussion. One hot minute after the accident I wanted to eat all of the carbs and drink all of the booze. The cravings were unbelievable! I didn’t give in, but ever since I have wanted to eat a lot more than usual, earlier in the day than usual, and a broader variety than usual. I have added more carbs than I’ve eaten in a long while, but carbs that also have a good deal of nutrient density. Anybody have any idea why my appetite and craving shifted so drastically? Is it a hormone thing or a brain thing?

(Ruthanne Robertson) #17

Not a science geek here, but it’s likely the stress and raised cortisol levels. It probably knocked your insulin sideways along with the rest of you. I hope you’re healing OK. Then there’s the natural reaction to such a trauma, as in “I really need a drink!”. So brain and hormone is my guess.

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #18

Healing requires a lot of energy. You might try increasing your dietary fat to see if that quiets the cravings. It’s good that you were able to stick to nutritious carbs. I’d probably have gone back to eating pasta and glazed doughnuts, myself!

(Rosemary Easter) #19

This helpful to me because I have very little appetite at the moment although I feel great. I eat a big breakfast at 11.30 am then am finding it really hard to eat dinner at 6.30 pm. Have only been doing this diet for 3 months so hopefully what you are saying applies to me too.

(Liz ) #20

Yes I think it does, a lot of folks have this experience, probably most. No need to eat if you’ve no appetite. This is why a lot of folks start fasting and intermittent fasting. If you follow my experience, your appetite will eventually even out again.