Thanks mainly to the true guru of MMA – Joe Rogan, ketosis (and psychedelics) has become a hot topic in the changing rooms of every mma gym worth it’s Himalayan salt.
What is Targeted Ketosis?
Targeted ketosis involves the same low carb, high fat dietary guidelines as standard ketosis.
With Targeted ketosis however, a fighter will consume 30-50g of high glyceamic carbohydrates consumed around 30 minutes before training.
The 50g of carbs will temporarily kick the fighter out of a state of ketosis and the related benefits will be lost over this time…but the athlete will be able to train at a higher intensity than possible in a standard ketogenic diet.
What are the benefits of targeted ketosis?
The athlete can train at a higher intensity thanks to the availability of carbohydrate.
On a typical ketogenic diet athletes report losses in strength, power and strength-endurance.
This reduction in strength is mitigated or completely prevented with targeted ketosis.
How often can you use targeted ketosis?
Everyday in theory – however eating carbs before training will typically mean that an athlete will stop produce ketones for at least an hour post-training.
The anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and other associated ketogenic benefits will also be lost within this timeframe.
Keto & fat adaptation will also be potentially impacted.
Why can’t ketosis maintain high intensity exercise?
Movement is powered by 3 energy systems –
ATP-PC -> a 60m sprint would use this system predominantly. ‘PC’ stands for ‘PhosphoCreatine’ by the way.
The lactic acid system – > A Circuit Training Class would use this system predominantly – depending on the person’s fitness etc.
The Aerobic System -> Requires oxygen, is much slower to generate energy (in the form of ATP) but yields a much larger amount than the other 2.
High intensity exercise is maintained by 2 metabolic energy systems
– the ATP PC system – fueled by creatine
– the lactic acid system – fueled by glucose
Fat can only fuel the ‘aerobic energy system’ which in turn maintains and powers ‘long, slow’ bouts of exercise – such as long distance running.
We are naturally endurance athletes, not strength athletes.
In the animal kingdom the human can outrun a horse in terms of endurance and hunters in many countries have historically run for hours and even days before killing prey. Prey were literally run/stalked to exhaustion. Our natural-state (arguably) ketosis, is therefore adapted to fuel endurance exercise and not power/strength related exercise has been of limited benefit of the millennia.
In terms of strength and power however, humans are right at the bottom of the league table. Intelligence, dexterity and endurance have made us superior predators. Ketones are also a more efficient fuel for the brain that glucose…
