How many carbs do we need to eat for our livers to produce glucose or can it be made from fat?

[charlie000]

How many carbs do we need to eat for our livers to produce glucose or can it be made from fat?

Can it be made from fat? If we cut our carb content, won't the liver have nothing to feed off?

 

[Guzzler]

Carbohydrates are not an essential macronutrient. The liver can make glucose from protein if it must. Have you heard of getting fuel by being in ketosis? This is a process whereby the body uses dietary fats for fuel instead of carbs. This is said to be a 'cleaner' way of fuelling our bodys. Of course, the body then is able to use stored fat as fuel (the fat usually around the waistline but in other places too) which is why we can lose weight on a lower carb diet.

 

[Tophat1900]

What @Guzzler said...

 

[charlie000]

Carbohydrates are not an essential macronutrient. The liver can make glucose from protein if it must. Have you heard of getting fuel by being in ketosis? This is a process whereby the body uses dietary fats for fuel instead of carbs. This is said to be a 'cleaner' way of fuelling our bodys. Of course, the body then is able to use stored fat as fuel (the fat usually around the waistline but in other places too) which is why we can lose weight on a lower carb diet.

Why is it that we are recommended low carb instead of no carb then? I'm confused. Yes I know about Ketosis

 

[Guzzler]

Why is it that we are recommended low carb instead of no carb then? I'm confused. Yes I know about Ketosis

There are members here who aim for zero carb by way of a carnivorous diet and they thrive on it. It is all about choice. LCHF suits a lot of people and can result in the desired goals as can the Ketogenic diet.
In simple terms it's about finding a place on the sliding scale that suits one's comfort levels in terms of taste, health outcomes and results.

 

[Bluetit1802]

Why is it that we are recommended low carb instead of no carb then? I'm confused. Yes I know about Ketosis

Unless you only eat meat or fish, drink water or black tea/coffee and nothing else, you cannot do a zero carb diet. It is impossible because there are carbs in most other foods. There are carbs in vegetables, some dairy, even a small amount in lettuce. They are difficult to avoid.

 

[bulkbiker]

Why is it that we are recommended low carb instead of no carb then? I'm confused. Yes I know about Ketosis

Because no carb is almost impossible unless you are a completely muscle meat carnivore and drinking only water.
The cream in my coffee and milk in my tea both have carbs.. as do eggs, salami and cheese to a limited extent.. so keto is very low carb and low carb is more carbs than that.


Edit note to self read @Bluetit1802 's reply before hitting the send button...

 

[Member496333]

Glucose can be manufactured from both amino acids and fatty acids. There is no minimum requirement for carbohydrate beyond personal choice and circumstance.

 

[Resurgam]

To answer the question - none.
But my next meal will be a huge great crispy salad with a wide variety of leaves, stems even roots, plus protein and fats - so will a lot more meals during the next half a week until my next visit to the shops.
It means I am never hungry, seem to be well nourished and energetic, and my food is interesting and varied.

 

[Squire Fulwood]

Why is it that we are recommended low carb instead of no carb then? I'm confused. Yes I know about Ketosis

It was hard enough selling the idea of low carb so I think that advocating no carb would have gone down like a lead balloon especially since it is just about impossible to achieve. One way or another you will be eating carbs. The idea is not to eat too much/many of them.