The definition of a Ketogenic Diet in its truest sense is when one maintains a state of nutritional ketosis (not to be confused with ketoacidosis), whereby ketones (energy) are produced naturally by the body through fat metabolization. This happens when carbohydrates are severely restricted, and typical SAD meals are recreated with plenty of natural fats and proteins, to personal satiation.

The body has two sources of fuel: glucose and ketones. Carbohydrates (a macronutrient that is not fat or protein) are converted instantly to glucose for immediate use by the body. Whatever is not used by the body is stored away in finite amounts as glycogen in the liver, and the excess glucose then turns into body fat. This is insulin’s job as the fat storage hormone. If you do not eat carbs, insulin will not be triggered, and no fat will be stored. Forget calories. There are no receptors in the body to recognize calories, which are a false laboratory measurement. Our bodies’ metabolisms are much more intricate and every action and reaction is based on hormonal response. It’s all about carbohydrates and the insulin hormone that signals storage of unused glucose (aka carbs) into fat. Ketones are produced from dietary and stored fat, when the body is in the absence of carbohydrates (glucose).

Here's an excellent example to illustrate the effect of insulin on fat storage. Type 1 Diabetics diagnosed pre 1921 often didn’t live beyond a year. Up until insulin was discovered in 1921 by Canadians Banting & Best, those with Type 1 Diabetes (where pancreas does not produce any insulin) faced a horrible fate of debilitating symptoms from chronically high blood glucose, malnourishment and ultimately death, no matter what or how much they ate. Insulin treatment saved them. Their bodies could, with the addition of insulin, remove damaging glucose from the blood stream and store essential fat throughout their bodies. Many live to full life expectancy today because of this discovery. This is why too much insulin secretion (known as insulin resistance) over years of dietary mismanagement, causes diseases like Type 2 Diabetes, obesity and other related illnesses. Eating low carb will help get this under control again.