How to boost your energy on Keto?

When you feel tired on keto, there are a few common reasons why. Usually it’s because you aren’t sleeping well, are stressed, or have nutritional deficiencies. Or you’re in the middle of the adaptation phase when your body is transitioning from burning sugar fuel to fat fuel. In this case, take B vitamins or potassium, and that should clear up your fatigue. But sometimes it goes deeper than that. I’ll explain. Your cells have energy factories called mitochondria. They take the food you eat and turn it into something called ATP, which is like the energy currency of your body. Many diseases, including cancer and diabetes, start with a breakdown of the mitochondria. Often, doctors aren’t taught a lot about the connection between nutrition and the mitochondria, although they run on certain vitamins and minerals.

Your mitochondria are under constant assault from things that include smoking, pollution, and chemicals, along with high sugar and insulin and other factors. Collectively, we call this oxidative stress, which is similar to what happens when metal rusts. Oxidation damages your mitochondria, DNA, genes, and other parts of your cells. On the flip side, you have antioxidants that neutralize the oxidation. Your body makes antioxidants, and you get them from food. Antioxidants from plants are called phytonutrients or phytochemicals. Cruciferous vegetables, for example, are high in phytonutrients. As well, foods like fish oil and grass-fed beef are high in omega-3 fatty acids, which are antioxidants. So too are certain trace minerals and B vitamins.

Stay away from synthetic antioxidants, and get them from food or food concentrates. If you’re doing keto and intermittent fasting without an adequate supply of high-quality vegetables, you’re not going to be able to repair your mitochondria. So, if you’re tired on keto, I advise you to consume a high-quality plant-based shake for one week, and see if you feel more energetic, like three people I treated did. Keto is a protective mechanism, so it’s worth it to stick with it even if you’re tired on keto!