The body has many different fuel sources available to use. Each fuel source has its benefits and downfalls. However, arguably the most beneficial source is ketones.
Typically our bodies ‘go to’ source for energy is sugar. Sugar is not the most efficient source of energy, but it can be used rapidly from every cell in the body. When we use sugar for fuel, we sacrifice efficiency for speed. This can lead to the formation of potentially harmful molecules called free radicals.
Conversely, when you are on the keto diet, your carb intake is very limited. When carb intake is limited, your body will begin using more efficient fuel sources.
BHB is a specific ketone that provides us with the most energy without producing so much metabolic waste. BHB can benefit our bodies in a plethora of different ways from accelerating weight loss to enhancing cognitive function and even preventing cancer.
Table of Contents
What is Beta-Hydroxybutyrate (BHB)?
When on the keto diet you are forcing your body to switch from using carbs for energy to using ketones for energy. This puts you in a state of ketosis which is the goal of the keto diet.
One of the ketones you use for energy is called beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB). BHB is the most abundant of the ketones—making up 78% of ketones in the blood.
BHB is the main ketone used for energy because it is extremely stable and abundant. Making the switch to using BHB is vital. BHB works better, is completely natural, and is abundant in health benefits. Increasing BHB levels in the blood is the desired final product of the keto diet.
How Your Body Produces and Uses BHB
Turning fats into BHB and BHB into energy involves two different processes.
• Ketogenesis — The process by which BHB is produced in the liver.
• Ketolysis — The process of transforming BHB into ATP (our primary molecule of energy transfer).
Before your body begins to produce BHB, stored fat needs to be converted into free fatty acids. This is done by following the keto diet and taking exogenous ketones. Triglycerides are stored fat tissue. Triglycerides are turned into glycerol and free fatty acids during a process call Lipolysis. The glycerol and free fatty acids enter the blood and travel to the liver to be turned into BHB.
After the process of Lipolysis, the ketogenesis process begins. After ketogenesis the ketolysis process takes place. You are now successfully using BHB for fuel.
Most cells in our bodies can use ketones for fuel. Once BHB is released into the circulation, your heart, brain, and other organs absorb it to turn it into energy. It is a complex process with seemingly endless rewards.
BHB vs. Glucose: Which is the Better Fuel?
BHB is essentially a cleaner and more efficient fuel when compared to glucose. BHB produces fewer free radicals and acts as an antioxidant while also providing us with more energy per molecule.
Not only is BHB a highly efficient fuel, but it produces incredible benefits all throughout the body. BHB can help reduce inflammation, fight oxidative stress, increase longetivity, enhance cognitive function, and can even help prevent and fight cancer.
Exogenous Ketones
Your body has to to get used to producing and using BHB for energy. This process can take time and can leave you with very unpleasant symptoms. These symptoms are referred to as the ‘keto flu.’ The keto flu can feel much like the regular flu with symptoms like fatigue, headaches, and nausea.
Instead of waiting for your body to get used to the process while you suffer, you can help aid the process with exogenous ketones. Taking an exogenous BHB ketone supplement will give you the benefits of BHB faster and will help you skip the keto flu.
Taking an exogenous keto BHB supplement regularly will also help you sustain the keto lifestyle and stick to the keto diet. Not only that, it will help you maintain consistent levels of ketones which is vital.
How to Optimize Your BHB Levels and Maintain Consistency
In order to receive all of the benefits of BHB, it is crucial to maintain consistent ketone levels. Exogenous BHB ketone supplements help you do that.
In order to optimize your BHB levels, you need to follow the keto diet. The keto diet involves staying away from grains, sugar, fruit, and carbs. Not only that, but you also need to exercise and try intermittent fasting. This lifestyle is difficult to sustain, and if not followed correctly it will be challenging to maintain high levels of ketones like BHB.
Exogenous BHB ketone supplements make this lifestyle easier to attain and sustain. Exogenous BHB helps you maintain ketone levels allowing you to reap the constant benefits of BHB without interruption. Exogenous BHB is essential to living the keto lifestyle.
There are a few ways to check your BHB levels. It is important to check your BHB levels to make sure you are on track and maintaining those precious ketone levels. You can use urine strips, a ketone breath meter, or a blood ketone meter. The simplest way is to keep track of certain signs and symptoms you will show when you are maintaining ketone levels.
There are several signs that indicate you are producing ketones and maintaining ketone levels. Some of these signs are reduced hunger, weight loss, increased focus, and energy. If you do not take an exogenous ketone, you will experience negative symptoms like fatigue and digestive problems.
Key Takeaways
Exogenous ketones are vital to sticking with the keto lifestyle. BHB is a ketone that offers incredible benefits when produced and maintained in the body. Exogenous ketones help you maintain consistent levels of ketones including BHB. Amplify the results and the incredible benefits of the keto diet by taking a quality exogenous ketone supplement.
MindZymes offers a specially formulated exogenous keto BHB supplement to help you get into ketosis faster and avoid the keto flu. Try our BHB keto supplement and start maintaining the powerful, long-lasting benefits of BHB.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Products discussed are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.