Skip to main content

Ketosis

Meaning

Ketosis is a natural, adaptive metabolic state characterized by a significantly elevated concentration of ketone bodies—acetoacetate, beta-hydroxybutyrate, and acetone—in the blood and urine. This fundamental shift occurs when the body’s primary cellular fuel source transitions from glucose to fatty acids, leading the liver to produce ketones as an alternative, highly efficient energy substrate. In the hormonal health and wellness domain, nutritional ketosis is often intentionally induced through a very low-carbohydrate diet to promote fat loss, enhance metabolic flexibility, and positively influence appetite-regulating hormones.