You don't have to understand the basics for the ketogenic diet, but it helps. Knowing more about the underlying chemistry and your body's metabolism will help you to make better decisions when things are difficult.

Chemistry basics

If you think chemistry is what happens between men and women, the you should read this section. It provides the chemistry ideas necessary to understand about fats and fatty acids.

(prototype)    Metabolic chemistry

It is no accident that carbon is the basis of living organisms. The carbon atom is the smallest atom which has a valency of four (ie the greatest interconnectivity), and so molecules based on carbon can form a much wider range of shapes than any other. Biochemistry is based on the wide range of shapes that are possible, leading to molecules with very different properties.

Butter and margarine and other fats

The ketogenic diet is not prescriptive about fats, and largely regards all fats as equal, although the protocols from individual hospitals may implicitly make rather stronger recommendations about which fats to use. There is, however, more general dietary information about fats, most of which should be directly applicable to the ketogenic diet. Indeed, because of the very high content of fat in the ketogenic diet, general dietary concerns about fats should be regarded very seriously.

Trans- fats

There is not much useful information about trans- fats available, which makes it difficult to avoid them when planning the ketogenic diet.

General dietary considerations

The ketogenic diet defines the proportions of fats, protein and carbohydrate - but does it matter which fats, protein or carbohydrate we use?

return to   The ketogenic diet
return to   An introduction to the ketogenic diet

(checked: )
(update 2.2: 18 July 2002)
(issue 2: 19 February 1998)