Can eating fat make us slim?

QUESTION One of the dietary buzzwords is ketosis. What is this? Is it good or bad for us?

Just like your car uses petrol, your body needs fuel — usually glucose. On a ketogenic or keto regimen, such as the Atkins diet, which is low in carbohydrate and high in fat, the body is starved of glucose.

this means that the liver’s backup glucose levels are depleted, blood sugar and insulin are lowered and the body looks for another fuel source: fat.

Ketosis leads to a build-up of acids called ketones, which are converted by chemical processes in the body to provide energy.

Intermittent fasting, a ketogenic diet of 80 to 90 per cent fat with moderate protein, but limited carbohydrate, and a lot of exercise can shift the body into a state of ketosis.

side-effects include weakness, headache, mental fatigue, irritability or ‘keto flu’ — mild flu-like symptoms.

these should stop after a few weeks. If not, stop the diet and see a doctor.

Ketosis should not cause health issues ( though it can cause problems for diabetics).

It can aid weight loss, lower blood pressure, increase HDL (good) cholesterol levels and raise mental performance.

After all, humans evolved this back-up energy supply to cope with times of enforced fasting.

Dr Ian Smith, Cambridge.

QUESTION Why is KFC known as PFK in Quebec?

FURTHER to earlier answers explaining that the Frenchspeaking province insists on KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) being translated as PFK (Poulet Frit Kentucky), on a visit to Montreal I saw how French Canadians are more French than the French. A cafe called a hot dog a chien

chaud; in France, it’s just called a hot dog. Hugh McCrea, Dunblane, Stirlingshire.