FILE: Joggers enjoy the sunshine while exercising in Federal Heights area of Salt Lake City. Photo credit: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
SALT LAKE CITY — If you’re looking to take a break from food and want to make the most of it, the results of a BYU study found that a workout will get your body into the ketosis phase more quickly.
Ketosis is what happens when your body runs out of glucose, its normal source of energy, said Bruce Bailey, an Exercise Sciences Professor at BYU.
“We wanted to see how long it takes a person to get producing a significant or meaningful amount of ketones in the body over a fast,” Bailey said.
Bailey said their study found those who start a fast with a workout can reach ketosis up to 3-and-a-half hours sooner. At that point, your body begins to rely on stored body fat for energy.
On top of burning off some fat, those ketones can help fend off diseases like cancer, diabetes, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s.
Bailey also said that if fasting isn’t for you, even a walk after a meal has benefits that can impact that number on the scale.