Keto Diet Fundamentals and Core Concepts 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary fuel source the brain uses during nutritional ketosis?
- Glucose
- Ketone bodies (Correct answer)
- Fatty acids
- Amino acids
Correct answer: Ketone bodies
During ketosis, the liver converts fatty acids into ketone bodies (acetoacetate, beta-hydroxybutyrate, acetone), which the brain uses as its primary fuel.
Question 2: Which of the following correctly describes the standard macronutrient ratio for a classic ketogenic diet?
- 40% fat, 30% protein, 30% carbs
- 70-75% fat, 20-25% protein, 5% carbs (Correct answer)
- 60% fat, 30% carbs, 10% protein
- 50% fat, 25% protein, 25% carbs
Correct answer: 70-75% fat, 20-25% protein, 5% carbs
A classic ketogenic diet is typically composed of approximately 70-75% calories from fat, 20-25% from protein, and only about 5% from carbohydrates.
Question 3: What metabolic state must the body enter for ketone production to significantly increase?
- Gluconeogenesis
- Glycolysis
- Ketosis (Correct answer)
- Lipolysis only
Correct answer: Ketosis
Ketosis is the metabolic state in which the liver produces ketone bodies at elevated levels due to low carbohydrate availability and increased fat oxidation.
Question 4: Approximately how many grams of net carbs per day does most keto guidance recommend staying under?
- 100g
- 50g
- 20-30g (Correct answer)
- 75g
Correct answer: 20-30g
Most ketogenic diet guidelines recommend limiting net carbohydrates to 20-30 grams per day to reliably induce and maintain ketosis.
Question 5: Which organ is primarily responsible for producing ketone bodies?
- Pancreas
- Kidneys
- Liver (Correct answer)
- Small intestine
Correct answer: Liver
The liver is the primary site of ketogenesis, converting fatty acids into acetoacetate, beta-hydroxybutyrate, and acetone during periods of low carbohydrate intake.
Question 6: Which hormone drops significantly when carbohydrate intake is restricted on a ketogenic diet?
- Glucagon
- Cortisol
- Insulin (Correct answer)
- Leptin
Correct answer: Insulin
Restricting carbohydrates causes blood glucose to remain low, which significantly reduces insulin secretion and allows fat mobilization and ketogenesis to occur.
Question 7: What does the term 'net carbs' mean in the context of a ketogenic diet?
- Total carbohydrates minus fat grams
- Total carbohydrates minus fiber and sugar alcohols (Correct answer)
- Only simple sugars consumed
- Carbohydrates absorbed after cooking
Correct answer: Total carbohydrates minus fiber and sugar alcohols
Net carbs are calculated by subtracting dietary fiber and most sugar alcohols from total carbohydrates, as these do not significantly raise blood glucose.
Keto Diet Fundamentals and Core Concepts 2
What is the primary fuel source the brain uses during nutritional ketosis?