The Science of Hunger, Optimal Health and Body Love with Celebrity Nutritionist Kelly LeVeque

Ketosis

Kelly LeVeque explains ketosis as a metabolic state where the body uses fat for energy instead of carbohydrates. This process involves the liver breaking down fat to produce ketone bodies, which serve as a constant energy source for the brain and body. She compares ketosis to a Prius operating on battery power, emphasizing the need to reduce carbohydrate intake to achieve this state 1.

When your body is feeding off of fat, you have all these stores of fat in your body. And then if you're eating fat, your liver is constantly producing ketones. And then your brain, it never has a lack of energy or fuel. It's just constant.

--- Kelly LeVeque

Kelly also highlights the benefits of ketosis, such as sustained energy levels and the potential for fasting to induce this state 1.

   

Fasting

Kelly shares her experiences with fasting, including a four-day fast she undertook with Chelsea Handler. She notes that after the initial adjustment, the body adapts, leading to benefits like immune system rebuilding and weight loss 2. Fasting, she explains, can trigger apoptosis, a process where the body eliminates old immune cells, allowing for a fresh start upon refeeding 3.

Your body starts going through programmed cell death and it kills off all of these antibodies. And then when you refeed at four days, your body completely rebuilds your immune system, fresh and clean.

--- Kelly LeVeque

She also discusses intermittent fasting, which can release hormones like human growth hormone and testosterone, aiding in muscle retention and lean gains 4.