The Truth About Ketosis, Carbohydrates and Exercise Performance

This 20-minute educational video from the Institute of Human Anatomy explores the complex relationship between carbohydrates, ketosis, and exercise performance. Discover whether humans can truly survive without carbohydrates by examining which cells absolutely require glucose for energy, particularly red blood cells due to their unique anatomy. Learn about the brain's fuel preferences, comparing glucose and fat metabolism, and understand the energy trade-offs in ATP production from different sources. Explore gluconeogenesis as the body's backup glucose production system and gain insights into how ketogenic diets work by inducing ketosis and producing ketone bodies as alternative fuel sources for the brain. The video addresses important limitations of ketogenic diets, especially for athletes and during high-intensity exercise, and provides guidance on determining individual carbohydrate needs based on lifestyle and activity levels.