On Wed, 9 Aug 2000, Amadeus Schmidt wrote:

> hm hm I thought that in a savannah ketosis would not happen too
> often because at least every few days some carb resource would be available
> inhibiting ketosis but ok...
> For completeness according to your request I would add...
>
> In a situation with close to zero carbohydrates (e.g. < 60 g carbohydrate
> per day) as in starvation or when very few carbohydrates in the
> diet are available, the brain can resolve its energy demand in about half
> from fat, after a few days of adaption.

According to Lyle McDonald, the brain can adapt so that about 70%
of its energy needs are met by ketones.  Thus, given your initial
estimate of 500 kcal/day from glucose, after adaptation to
ketosis that would be about 150kcal/day from glucose.

Also, once in ketosis, moderate carb consumption doesn't
necessarily take you out of ketosis.  This is because when muscle
glycogen reserves (and liver reserves) are low, incoming glucose
goes to replenish those reserves.  Actually, I've seen the same
phenomenon on this Anchell diet.  I can be in ketosis for several
days, then have a potato with a meal and still be in ketosis.  In
fact, I'm in "trace" to "mild" ketosis pretty much all the time,
only occasionally dipping into "moderate" or deeper ketosis.  The
high-intensity workouts have something to do with this, no doubt,
but I believe they also simulate paleolithic exertion patterns.

Todd Moody
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