Before we delve into what raspberry ketones are, and how they work, we feel it is important to understand that ketones aren’t exclusive to red raspberries. Ketone bodies are actually a naturally occurring compound in our body.

What Are Ketones?

Ketone bodies are the metabolic end products of our body’s fatty acid metabolism. The liver breaks down fatty acids in our body as a way to provide us energy when blood-glucose levels are low. Ketone bodies are the by-products of this process. They become available to the body as an alternative energy source. Ketones are naturally occurring in our body, going all the way back to birth.

Ketone bodies are essentially three water-soluble compounds. The liver transports two of these, acetoacetate and beta-hydroxybutyrate, to other tissues where they can be reconverted to acetyl-CoA to supply energy. The third compound, acetone, cannot be reconverted to acetyl-CoA. It is instead excreted in urine or exhaled while breathing.

The Body And Energy

It is commonly known that glucose (sugar), just like ketones, are another source of fuel and energy within the body. The carbohydrates that we consume in our diet ensure that glucose is present in our bloodstream. This is the first place your body will turn to when looking for fuel. The problem is the human body does not store glucose very well without consistent replenishment. This isn’t a problem for most people, since we as a nation tend to consume an unhealthy amount of sugars and carbohydrates, and don’t burn them off with sufficient exercise.

In cases where glucose is less available, for instance if we engage in strenuous exercise, or we are fasting, or trying out a low-carbohydrate diet, most tissues turn to fatty acids for an additional energy source. However the human brain cannot. Most fatty acids are unable to break through the blood-brain barrier. This is why we will inexplicably crave sweets, or even breads and pasta, more than anything else, when hungry. Our brain is basically telling us it needs a glucose fix.

Ketones however are able to break through the blood-brain barrier and supply the brain with energy at times when blood-glucose levels are low. The brain will try to salvage whatever little glucose is stored and go directly to ketone bodies that are held in the liver for energy.

The Role Of Raspberry Ketones

Using a raspberry ketones supplement gives your body a greater amount of bio-available ketone bodies. This elevated level of ketones is known as a state of ketosis. Your body is basically fueled on ketones rather than glucose. It is forced to burn fat rather than carbohydrates.

Raspberry ketones studies also suggest that these ketones can increase the production of adiponectin. Adiponectin is a hormone involved in the breakdown of fat cells for energy.

This means that ketones are not only an alternative source of energy and fuel whenever blood-glucose concentrations are inadequate – even for the brain – but ketones can also increase the body’s ability to use fats for fuel when a large amount is present in the body and bloodstream.

The late Doctor Atkins used a high-fat, low-carb, and high-protein ketogenic diet to shift the body’s primary energy source from glucose to fatty acids and ketones to melt off excess fat.

The Atkins Diet had many critics because it was far from healthy. It involved eating excessive amounts of saturated animal fats. But many people still experienced results and lost a considerable amount of weight.

Raspberry ketones use elements of that same science but in an all-natural way. With a healthy fruit supplement with no cholesterol, or excessive fatty food consumption.