You may have heard about “keto” or “low-carb” diets in recent years because of their popularity with a wide range of people.  Celebrities use it for weight management, high-level executives experiment with it to improve mental clarity, and athletes try it to enhance performance in events like the Tour de France. Originally used to treat patients with neurologic disorders and for brain health, ketogenic diets are one of the oldest...

If you've been following a ketogenic diet or even just considering trying keto, you've probably heard of the term "BHB".So you might be wondering...What is Beta-Hydroxybutyrate (also known as BHB)? And probably more importantly, what does BHB do? What Is Beta-Hydroxybutyrate (BHB)? You may hear beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) be referred to as exogenous ketones or BHB salts. These are all interchangeable names for the same thing. BHB is a dietary supplement ingredient...

Everyone wants to be more productive, more alert, and mentally sharp. And everyone wants to stay that way for the long term.When your brain is “on”, you’re more focused, work becomes easier and complex tasks are more enjoyable. The good news: your brain’s ability to perform optimally is directly related to the foods you consume, so you have the ability to improve your mental clarity through diet.As eating patterns like...

Medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) are pretty cool. They’re an unassuming, odorless, transparent liquid at room temperature, but they pack a serious health kick when incorporated into your diet.Initially used to treat epilepsy (read: good for your brain) [1], they are now being cited for promoting weight loss [2], increased energy [3], mental focus [4], and a host of other health benefits ranging from improved cholesterol levels [5] to gut health [6]. And this isn’t just our...

Ketosis is when your body breaks down fat for energy. Burning fat leans out the body while preserving muscle mass. This is probably why so many professional athletes are increasingly going ketogenic.But ketosis is good for a lot more than simply looks or sports performance. The same reason it leans you out (lower blood sugar) also makes it preventative of major diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and many cancers. “Many...

Low-carb, high-fat diets owe much of their popularity and effectiveness to the fact that they place a greater emphasis on unprocessed whole foods. In addition to enjoying more flavorful meals, dieters are able to obtain good sources of important nutrients directly from food sources, like certain vitamins, which are more bioavailable in fats. As a result, this reduces the need to supplement when consuming low-carb, high-fat diets. Having said that,...

Popular nutrition lore states that humans can only burn one type of energy as fuel: sugar. Doctors call this “blood sugar” or, more precisely, glucose. Once we exhaust our reservoirs of sugar, we need to eat more food for energy — much like a furnace. This oversimplified notion is not only wrong, but it’s making us sick. Diets that are high in sugar and refined carbohydrates (think bread, pasta, and...

You're hitting all your macros, working out regularly, and drinking your BHB religiously, but how do you truly know whether you're in ketosis? Ketone strips are a good way to determine whether your body has transitioned to fat-burning mode. It varies by individual, but in general, it will take 2 to 7 days for your body to achieve ketosis, depending on what you're eating, your body type, and your activity...