re: Thinking About Starting An All Plant Based Diet

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Why would the human body develop a reserve of something that would potentially be dangerous in certain emergency situations?

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The body is trying to get energy in whatever way it can. When the body deviates from the ideal source of something (in any situation) there will be consequences. Disclaimer: "ideal" means "optimal" it does NOT mean "gives you more [blank]." Steroids give you more testosterone but at the cost of shutting off your bodies ability to make testosterone, so your body says "I don't need these testicles anymore since I have so many steroids" and your testicles atrophy.

Similar situation here, it's the concept of robbing Peter to pay Paul. In this case youre taking lipids (stealing from Peter) to make energy (paying Paul). Now certain tissues do "prefer" ketones but agin that doesn't make it "best." I'd "prefer" to eat Chik-fil-a every day but that doesn't make it the right choice for my body. I say this because there are side effects to making ketones. Yes you paid Paul, but if you keep robbing Peter things could get ugly.

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From an evolutionary standpoint in starvation situations, that would be idiotic.

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I know how the body works currently, I can't speak on the evolution of our physiology.

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Ketones provide more ATP per oxygen molecule.

The fact is, ketones can be used by a majority of the organs in the body, especially the brain. The liver cannot use ketones, and it can be supplied via gluconeogenesis, which is a demand driven (not supplied driven) metabolic pathway.

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Correct. But again does that make it best? And at what cost? Type I diabetics go on ketogenic diets to avoid the demand-driven state of the body for insulin (which they don't have much of) and to avoid the body going into an ketoacidotic state on its own. It's so diabetics can control their ketoacidosis as opposed to the body handling it. The body is trying to correct the problem and if left to itself would only cause more damage (another example of my first statement). These diabetics need to be on STRICT diets to avoid major problems.

I know when it comes to healthy people, ketoacidosis this isn't an immediate issue. But a ketosis state can lead to ketoacidosis, if ketosis is long enough and can cause damage (see below).

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Ketones do not damage the kidneys, does not lead to arrhythmias, nor hypoxia.

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Incorrect. Let me explain

Glycogen is the reserve energy, what the body turns glucose into to be stored. I was saying when you use all of that up (via intense exercise, in low carb states, etc), your body turns to fat and makes ketones for energy. Ketones are very acidic. Initially these ketones are buffered in the blood to maintain blood pH. This is mild ketosis which doesn't have much of a negative effect.

If it goes on for too long, the blood's buffering system gets overworked and can no longer buffer the blood. Causing it to be acidic. Acidity can cause hyperventilation (because your body is trying to compensate by getting rid of the acidic CO2). Hyperventilation (breathing too fast) will cause you to not be able to inhale a good amount of oxygen leading to a decrease in oxygen delivery to your tissues (hypoxia).

Acidity can also cause potassium to be shifted outside of cells (because the body is trying balance the acidity and it does this by shifting H+ acid into the cell in exchange for potassium K+ which shifts outside). Increased potassium in the blood can mess up the rhythm of the heart because potassium is one of its major electrolytes to regulate heart rate & rhythm. This can lead to arrhythmias (& heart attack) and muscle weakness (potassium is also used for contraction of muscles).

Finally acidosis can also cause your kidney too make more bicarbonate to balance the acidic environment. Bicarbonate is a basic molecule trying to fight the metabolic acidosis. This increased work on the kidneys to excrete excess potassium and make more bicarb can lead to damage.

Several years back I read the Engine 2 Diet which is a book about a strong plant based diet. If you want to check out the reviews on Amazon you will get an idea of what impacts it has had on people. Another good book if you are looking on this is by Scott Jurek, Eat and Run.

After seeing your post it reminded me of something I had forgotten about. Me and a friend of mine started a version of the Engine 2 diet about 5 years back but it didn't stick. Long story short, that same friend passed away back in Feb from a heart attack at age 41. I think I am going dust off the old book and review the Engine 2 diet again and try a little harder to be more serious about it.