Finally! How Ketosis Really Works.

Summary

This video explores the fascinating science behind ketosis, fasting, and ketogenic diets, explaining how fatty acids activate key proteins like AMPK and EIF4E to promote ketone production. The host shares personal experiences of increasing ketone levels with specific fats like sesame (tahini) and macadamia butter, highlighting the differences between unsaturated and saturated fats. The video also delves into cancer research, specifically pancreatic cancer, and the potential therapeutic benefits of combining ketogenic diets with EIF4E inhibitors. Overall, it emphasizes the power of metabolic knowledge in both health optimization and potential cancer treatments.

Takeaways

• 😀 Fasting and ketogenic diets promote a metabolic state called ketosis, where the body uses fats to produce ketones, which fuel the brain and body.
• 😀 Fatty acids released during fasting or a ketogenic diet act as signaling molecules, influencing enzymes like AMPK, MNK, and eIF4E.
• 😀 The protein eIF4E is crucial in the process of translating messenger RNA into proteins that help with fat burning, ketogenesis, and hormonal signaling.
• 😀 Fats from foods like sesame and tahini, which are rich in linoleic acid, can significantly increase ketone production by activating AMPK more effectively than other fats like butter.
• 😀 Consuming 3-4 tablespoons of sesame oil or tahini before a 24-hour fast can raise ketone levels to 5-6.5 millimolar, similar to a 6-day fast.
• 😀 Ketones are not just an energy source but also part of a broader signaling network that influences metabolic functions like fat oxidation and protein synthesis.
• 😀 Different fats have distinct fatty acid profiles, which can affect their ability to activate metabolic pathways, such as the AMPK pathway that stimulates ketogenesis.
• 😀 The metabolic knowledge of how fatty acids and proteins interact provides valuable insights into enhancing ketosis for both health and fat-burning purposes.
• 😀 Cancer cells, especially pancreatic cancer, can adapt to using ketone bodies for fuel, but a combination of a ketogenic diet and eIF4E inhibitors could inhibit tumor growth.
• 😀 Understanding the central role of eIF4E in the metabolic switch from carbohydrate to fat metabolism provides potential therapeutic avenues for treating cancers resistant to ketogenic diets.

Q & A

What is ketosis and how does it relate to ketogenic diets and fasting?

Ketosis is a metabolic state where the body turns fats into ketone bodies, which are used as fuel for the brain and body. It occurs during fasting or when following a ketogenic diet, which is very low in carbohydrates, triggering the body to rely on fat as its primary energy source instead of carbohydrates.

What is eIF4E and what role does it play in metabolism?

eIF4E (eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E) is a protein that helps control the process of translation, where messenger RNA (mRNA) is translated into proteins. It is involved in the overall balance of proteins in the body, including those related to fat burning and ketone production, especially during fasting or a ketogenic diet.

How do fatty acids from fasting or a ketogenic diet influence eIF4E?

Fatty acids, which are the primary fuel during fasting or a ketogenic diet, activate an enzyme called AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase). AMPK then activates another enzyme called MNK, which modifies eIF4E. This ultimately leads to changes in the translation process, promoting fat oxidation and ketone body production.

What are some key differences in the fat profiles of sesame (tahini) and butter, and how does this affect ketone production?

Sesame (tahini) contains a high proportion of linoleic acid, an unsaturated fatty acid that has been shown to activate AMPK, increasing ketone production. On the other hand, butter contains more saturated fats, which do not have the same effect on AMPK activation. This explains why sesame or tahini can lead to higher ketone levels compared to butter.

How does the fat composition of sesame oil or tahini contribute to increasing ketones in the body?

Sesame oil and tahini have a high content of linoleic acid, an unsaturated fatty acid that activates AMPK. This activation promotes a cascade of events that increase ketone body production. Consuming these fats, especially before fasting, can significantly boost ketone levels in the body.

Why is the ketogenic diet effective for some cancers, and why might it not work for pancreatic cancer?

The ketogenic diet works for some cancers because it deprives cancer cells of glucose, which many cancers rely on. However, pancreatic cancer cells are particularly adept at adapting to ketones as a fuel source, making them more resistant to a ketogenic diet. Therefore, additional therapies may be needed for this type of cancer.

What does the new research on eIF4E and pancreatic cancer suggest?

The research suggests that pancreatic cancer cells rely heavily on eIF4E for survival in a ketogenic state. Combining a ketogenic diet with an eIF4E inhibitor in animal models has shown promise in inhibiting tumor growth, indicating that metabolic manipulation could provide a potential treatment strategy for pancreatic cancer.

What is the significance of using eIF4E inhibitors alongside a ketogenic diet for cancer treatment?

Using an eIF4E inhibitor alongside a ketogenic diet offers a potential combined approach to targeting pancreatic cancer. While neither alone was sufficient to reduce tumor growth, together they inhibited the growth of tumors in animal models, showcasing a possible new therapeutic strategy.

How does the body switch from carbohydrate to fat metabolism during fasting or a ketogenic diet?

During fasting or a ketogenic diet, the body reduces its carbohydrate intake, which forces it to shift its energy metabolism from glucose to fatty acids. Fatty acids are then converted into ketone bodies, which provide energy to the brain and body, leading to ketosis.

Why is it important to understand the physiology of fats and their impact on metabolism?

Understanding the physiology of fats, especially how different types of fats influence metabolic processes like ketogenesis, helps optimize dietary strategies for better health outcomes. This knowledge is particularly useful for people looking to increase ketone levels or leverage the benefits of fasting and ketogenic diets.