Your Body Has a Second Fuel System

Most people have never been taught that the human body has two fuel systems.

We grow up believing that glucose is our body's primary—and perhaps only—source of energy. But that's only half the story.

If I had to choose one quote that captures the power of ketones in a simple, scientifically grounded way, it would be from Dr. Richard Veech:

"Ketones are the preferred fuel of the human body."

Read that again: the preferred fuel.

Our bodies are beautifully designed to run on either glucose or ketones. Yet for most of us living in the modern world, glucose has become the default. We don't just eat carbohydrates for energy—we eat them for comfort, convenience, celebration, stress relief, and habit. Sugar has become woven into our culture as much as our cuisine.

But what if there were a better way to fuel our bodies?

That question led me down a path I never expected to take.

When someone I love began struggling with perplexing neurological issues, I found myself searching for answers. We explored countless therapies and saw some progress, but I wanted to understand what was happening at the cellular level. That search introduced me to the science of metabolic health.

One of the first researchers who changed my perspective was Dr. Mark Mattson, former Chief of the Laboratory of Neurosciences at the National Institute on Aging and professor of neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University. He has spent decades studying fasting and ketones and explains:

"Ketone bodies are not just fuel; they also activate signaling pathways that improve cellular stress resistance and brain function."

That statement stopped me in my tracks.

Ketones aren't simply another energy source. They actually communicate with our cells, influencing brain function, mitochondrial health, resilience, and even healthy aging.

The deeper I dug, the more compelling the evidence became.

I began reading the work of Dr. Dominic D'Agostino, one of the leading researchers in ketogenic therapies, neuroscience, cancer metabolism, and exogenous ketones. He explains:

"Ketones are more than just an alternative fuel—they're signaling molecules that influence inflammation, oxidative stress, and cellular resilience."

Those words resonated deeply.

Oxidative stress is essentially the wear and tear our cells experience from free radicals. It comes from everyday life—poor nutrition, environmental toxins, emotional stress, lack of sleep, and even healthy stressors like exercise. Ironically, simply breathing oxygen produces oxidative stress.

Inflammation and oxidative stress are part of life. The question is whether we're giving our bodies the tools to manage them well.

For me, that became one of the greatest benefits of nutritional ketosis.

I won't pretend changing my diet was easy. I still understand the appeal of something sweet with my coffee or sharing dessert with friends. Those moments are enjoyable.

But I've also learned that every food choice nudges my metabolism in one direction or another. Choosing sugar and refined carbohydrates suppresses ketone production. Choosing healthy fats and limiting carbohydrates encourages my body to produce ketones.

As Dr. Annette Bosworth often says, we need to "take out the trash." Ketones help our bodies do exactly that by supporting the cellular cleanup and repair processes that contribute to long-term health.

That realization changed how I viewed food. It stopped being simply about calories or willpower and became about giving my body the environment it needs to function well.

People often ask why I choose a ketogenic lifestyle instead of simply eating low-carb or following a carnivore diet.

The answer is simple: hormones need fat.

A well-formulated ketogenic diet is naturally high in healthy fats, allowing fat—not carbohydrates—to become the body's primary fuel source. That approach supports not only ketone production but also the creation of many of the hormones our bodies depend on.

For me, keto isn't about chasing a trend or following restrictive rules.

It's about understanding how the body was designed, respecting its remarkable ability to use two fuel systems, and choosing—one bite at a time—to fuel it in the way that helps me feel and function at my best.

If you read this and thought, “This is me,” you don’t have to figure it out alone.

I help women use this science in real life—inside busy, messy schedules—through group coaching and 1:1 support.

When you’re ready, you can book a free call and we’ll look at what might be keeping your second fuel system from working the way it was designed.