Electrolyte Problems Solved

 

Puzzling over the great question of electrolytes and ketones, I saw several options.  Group one, ketone salts.  These are somehow derived from sodium, magnesium, calcium, or potassium.  A lot of them are in capsule form, with the capsule liberally filled with rice flour.  Just for good measure, I took my blood sugar before and after taking exogenous ketone capsules.  It was 106 before, 130 in thirty minutes.  Whaaaat????  A lot of people say these types of ketones don't help them go into ketosis.  Well, no wonder.  There aren't many exogenous ketones in them, and what there is has been hijacked by rice powder, which is as high as table sugar on the glycemic index.  And they are really expensive.  I decided to supplement with bulk bhb powder that is loose and contains no filler.  And more than half a pound is between $15 - 18.  Another nice thing is that one is supplementing electrolytes by taking them.  The capsules usually have around three electrolytes, like sodium, magnesium and maybe potassium or calcium.  Well, that's OK.   By taking a sodium bhb powder, you could conceivably go too high in sodium.  So mix it up.  Take sodium bhb once or twice, magnesium once or twice, and calcium once or twice.  

The other type of ketone supplement is called ketone esters, which is a liquid.  It's available but more expensive.  The good news is, it works.  

So why not use diet to go into ketosis?  Well, some people don't go easily into ketosis.  I can't seem to get into ketosis unless I fast for a few days.  And so what?  What difference does it make?  It makes a difference because the brain is sometimes better nourished in ketosis.  That was my original reason for going on the keto diet.  It did wonders for narcolepsy.  All sorts of problems can be related to a neurological misfiring, that even most doctors don't connect to lack of optimal nourishment to the brain.   They will tell you that you're depressed and don't realize it.  Or just unmotivated.  At first the sleep problem was solved completely, but after a couple of years it was not as well controlled, although it's always been much improved on keto.  

Often people will argue about how pointless taking exogenous ketones is.  Just go on the keto diet, they say.  Anyway, exogenous ketones won't make you lose weight.  That's debatable.  Furthermore, they will say, you won't be in ketosis as long.  Ketosis by keto diet or fasting will last all day, but taking exogenous ketones will only last up to four hours.  Hey, I know, take some more after a few hours!  The apparent thinking is that some clown out there wants to lose weight and not bother to diet.  Well, some clowns have bothered to diet and have not lost weight or achieved keto nirvana, and besides that, the other health benefits are not being realized.   

Two others ways to increase ketones are MCT oil (C8) and lots of exercise.  

I don't know if the supplements will help with ketosis, but at least the electrolyte problems are solved.   So I'll see soon, I guess.