Ketosis

Ketosis is a metabolic state, more accurately called benign dietary ketosis. When you initialy cut back on carbohydrates the Atkins way, your body starts primarily burning fat for energy. Fat is broken down into chemicals called ketones, which are used by your muscles and other cells for energy. Most of the cells in your body can "burn" both glucose and ketones for energy production, so your stored fat can be used for energy. That's how you lose fat when you control carbohydrates.

When your body burns fat very rapidly, some of the ketones escape into your breath and urine. The process is entirely normal; in fact, our bodies use ketones for energy when we are asleep. When you produce more ketones than you can burn, and extra ketones are excreted, then you are said to be in ketosis.

Ketosis is a perfectly safe bodily function. Even on an overnight fast, a normal individual may produce ketones. Its worth noting that a 30 day fast (drinking water but eating no food) raises ketones to 10 times the levels experienced by individuals who are restricting carbohydrate intake.

Benign dietary ketosis is often confused with the dangerous metabolic state called "ketoacidosis", which may occur in Type 1 diabetics with very high blood sugar or in sever alcoholics after a binge.