The Biology of Macros and Micros
More than 100,000 years ago, our ancestors foraged for food. The food they hunted and gathered was unadulterated and nutrient-dense. There wasn't such a thing as factories that turned a field of corn into high fructose corn syrup. Whole foods was all they knew. Today, the landscape of our food industry is largely imbalanced and misleading when it comes to food that has been processed and packaged. Before humans began ingesting refined sugar and carbohydrates, we were always in ketosis. To achieve and maintain ketosis, it is ideal to begin eating fewer than 20 net carbohydrates per day. The objective of a KETOlife-style is to maintain a daily macronutrient intake (or “macros”) at about 10 percent carbs, 20 percent protein, and 70 percent fats. Suprisingly, you’ll realize this is easier than you think, after you get the hang of it. Once you determine how many carbs you can consume before kicking yourself out of ketosis, you may find you can raise the bar from 20 to 50 net carbohydrates per day.
A Ketogenic lifestyle is trending which puts you at an advantage. Online resources are populating which enables you to do your own research and self-direct a plan. However, it is very important to consider the accuracy of information and it's source. The internet is littered with unreliable claims and unscrupulous recipes.
Partnering with a qualified nutritionist who can support your efforts is the wiser way to go. As you ramp up, a KETOlife-style can be a tricky slope. There are tools to avoid the pitfalls and as a holistic nutritionist, my experience has successfully helped many make sustainable changes for life.
Adopting a program that embraces a holistic approach
A ketogenic diet is a food quantity diet. You restrict carbohydrates and moderate protein so your body uses a different energy system. You can approach this discipline in one of two ways. (1) Strictly focusing on macronutrient ratios with little consideration of food quality. That’s great and all, but it misses the point of nutrition entirely. You technically don’t need to worry about food quality to be in a state of ketosis, and most people don’t, unfortunately. (2) Incorporating a holistic mindset that emphasizes not only macro needs, but also encompasses the role of micro or phytonutrients. Following the latter will set you up for a multitude of health benefits including increased energy, cellular regeneration which has a direct impact on slowing down the aging process, reducing your carbon footprint and gaining access to information that will elevate the quality of your life.
