Exogenous Ketones

Author : Mama Keto | Published On : 30 Nov 2023

Exogenous Ketones

Truth about exogenous ketones: Do they work ?

What are ketones?

When you restrict carbs (carbohydrates) and consume moderate amounts of protein, the liver begins to convert fat into ketones — small molecules that can be used as fuel when blood sugar is in short supply.Using ketones instead of glucose for fuel is associated with a number of benefits, including appetite control, improved mental performance, more constant energy and increased physical endurance.

What are exogenous ketones?

You may have heard the terms endogenous and exogenous being thrown around in relation to ketone supplements, but what do they actually mean? Well, endogenous ketones are produced naturally inside the body by the liver as a result of restricting carbs and sugar. The word comes from the Greek, endon, which means “within”.But scientists have also discovered a way to administer ketones to people, usually in the form of a drink, meaning that you can take ketones into your body from outside. These are exogenous ketones, which comes from the Greek word exo meaning “outside”.

There are two types of exogenous ketones available in market

  • Ketone esters : Ketone esters consist of a ketone body combined with a ketone precursor. There are a small number of these available on the market to consumers and there appears to be more robust science in support of their benefits.
  • Ketones salts : Ketone salts consist of a ketone body combined to a mineral ion, often sodium. There are different types of ketone body, but ketone salts use beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB).

Benefits of exogenous ketones supplementation

  • Increased fat burning/ accelerated weight loss
  • Maximized cognition/ improved focus
  • Increased energy
  • Better mood
  • Improvement in athletic performance
  • Appetite suppression
  • Help getting back into ketosis after consuming carbs
  • Decreased inflammation
  • Better sleep

Potential side effects of the exogenous ketones supplements :

  1. Price :The supplements are expensive — very expensive. 60 servings per month would cost you around 300–400USD
  2. Secret recipes : Some companies do not disclose full information about the contents of their products, stating instead that theirs is a “proprietary blend”. The trouble with this is that although you know the ingredients of the product, you often don’t know the quantities, and you have no idea how much BHB you are getting for your money
  3. Lack of science : Although at first glance it seems as though ketone supplements are supported by heaps of fantastic science, a closer look shows that a lot of the scientific articles used on the sites refer to the benefits of endogenous ketones or ketone esters, not ketone salts.
  4. Reported side effects : side effects are more common with ketone salts than ketone esters and include nausea, diarrhea and stomach discomfort.

Take away : Ketone supplements are claimed to put your body into ketosis without having to follow a ketogenic diet. One study found that exogenous ketone supplements may decrease appetite for over four hours when taken in a fasted state, but other research suggests that they may hinder weight loss efforts. Until more research is available, there’s no real support for using ketone supplements as a weight loss aid.

Read the details on the blog.

Source Link — https://mamaketo.co.in/blog/truth-about-exogenous-ketones-do-they-work