Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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Ive read on some of the other questions about woman who are overweight and have been doing paleo and training that get pregnant but talk about ketones being ok or even good. I have lost close to 20lbs before pregnancy in the last 2-3 months with paleo and feel great. I am confused and terrified of getting diabetes in pregnancy and have heard from looking online thats what ketones mean. I eat clean and really not any or barely any carbs so I dont understand why this would happen. Can someone please ease my mind of why maybe its ok for the ketones to be there? We tried for a while to have a baby for a year and nothing that was pre-paleo life(PCOS, endometriosis) and after doing paleo for a while and deciding to try again it happened in a month so I am shocked and want to remain healthy and if I lose weight by eating paleo healthy then cool.

flag	asked Aug 2 at 16:44 paleolace 11●2

Ambimorph · Answer 1 · 2012-08-04 09:08:18Z UTC

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The reason they measure ketones in pregnancy is because it can be a sign of dehydration.

Ketosis is not actually dangerous during pregnancy. See for example: http://paleohacks.com/questions/19808/ketosis-during-pregnancy/19998#19998

answered Aug 4 at 9:08

Ambimorph
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Rob · Answer 2 · 2012-08-02 18:25:32Z UTC

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I personally treated my own mother nutritionally for endometrosis, I will write up a detailed account of the nutrition and diet I used in due course but for now I thoroughly recommend introducing some paleo OK starches into your diet.

Yams and sweet potato every few days will lower your ketones and make for a far safer pregnancy.

Also no need to worry about diabetes on the paleo diet, it places very little stress on the pancreas even if you are eating paleo OK starches.

answered Aug 2 at 18:25

Rob
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See my answer Rob. There is no problem with ketosis (and no need to "lower ketones") in an otherwise healthy pregnancy. – Dragonfly Aug 2 at 18:46

Pregnancy is not something I have a lot of experience in, but I do have a lot of experience in the effects of raised cortisol. By keeping ones body in permanent ketosis there will be a large increase in cortisol, as cortisol is a key signalling hormone in the glucogensis and ketone production. Without rigorous testing it can't be said if ketones are or are not harmful to a developing baby, but it is well estabilised that vitamin deficiencies are harmful, key vitamins that raised cortisol levels will cause the body to waste/use very rapidly. – Rob Aug 2 at 18:57

Starvation-induced ketosis is an issue WRT highly raised cortisol, not low carb ketosis, from what I understand. Big difference. – Dragonfly Aug 2 at 20:23

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If cortisol is being utilized for gluconeogenesis, surely it doesn't stick around in the body long? – BoneBrothFast Aug 2 at 23:08

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Nor is ketosis dangerous in pregnancy: paleohacks.com/questions/19808/… – Ambimorph Aug 4 at 9:09

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Dragonfly · Answer 3 · 2012-08-02 18:43:03Z UTC

Congratulations on your pregnancy!

You can relax about ketones in pregnancy. Kelly is correct about ketoacidosis being the issue with ketones & this is in the case of Type 1 diabetes, not Type 2.

My thoughts have been influenced by this article:

http://www.lucastafur.com/2011/01/ketones-fuel-fetal-development_27.html

Practically, many women may be in ketosis during the night, unless they are eating constantly.

And you will want to read this article, too, BEFORE you decide to have a GTT: http://robbwolf.com/2010/09/06/gestational-diabetes-what-constitutes-low-blood-sugar/

And this one: http://rixarixa.blogspot.com/2008/01/michel-odent-on-gd.html

Unless you have a previous history of Type 2 diabetes, there is really no point in worrying. You won't suddenly develop Gestational Diabetes if you are eating a low carb diet.

BoneBrothFast · Answer 4 · 2012-08-02 16:59:12Z UTC

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Wait, why would being pregnant and ketosis give you diabetes?

You don't have to be in ketosis to produce ketones necessarily btw.

answered Aug 2 at 16:59

BoneBrothFast
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	I dont know, thats why I am asking. I googled what ketones in pregnancy means and this is what started popping up, I couldnt even look at the links due to being so freaked out. I just want a healthy baby and a healthy self.... – paleolace Aug 2 at 17:23
	Also, why do you think carbs would give you diabetes? – Korion Aug 4 at 10:28

Kelly B · Answer 5 · 2012-08-02 16:58:22Z UTC

For diabetics, the concern with ketone levels is the possibility of something called ketoacidosis, which can be fatal. If you're not diabetic, I don't think the presence of ketones brings on diabetes - in fact, it means that your body is using fat for energy rather than sugar and probably (I am NOT a medical professional, BTW) means you're at a lower risk for diabetes.

All that said, I don't know whether ketosis during pregnancy is a good idea or not. If you have access to one of the Paleo Physicians' Network docs, you might want to make an appointment and ask them.

pregnancy with paleo and elevated ketones?

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