Ketosis and acidosis often occur together in the body, but have different symptoms and metabolic pathways. Ketosis is the burning of fatty acids for energy, while acidosis occurs when acids build up in the body due to prolonged ketosis. Ketosis can be reversed by consuming carbohydrates, while acidosis may take longer to recover from and can damage organs.
Ketosis and acidosis are conditions that often occur together in the human body, but their terms usually describe very different circumstances and symptoms. More often than not, the difference between ketosis and acidosis lies in the timing and symptoms, as both seem to occur at the same time due to dietary factors. The term ketosis is often used to describe the body when it enters a state of burning fatty acids for energy, instead of carbohydrates and glycogen stores. When prolonged ketosis occurs within the human body, often due to starvation or a low carbohydrate diet, acids can build up in the body, causing acidosis.
The main difference between ketosis and acidosis lies in their different symptoms and metabolic pathways; however, both conditions normally occur together in the body. When the body is starving, excess carbohydrate stores are usually burned as the primary source of energy. After these carbohydrate stores are depleted, the body enters ketosis, a condition in which fatty acid stores are burned for energy. Ketosis often occurs after prolonged fasting from carbohydrate foods, mostly in the form of a low-carb diet, which generally results in temporary weight loss.
Acidosis is a condition that usually occurs soon after ketosis, as long as starvation or carbohydrate restriction is prolonged. When excess fatty acids are burned as fuel, the acids are produced within the human body and can build up. This mainly occurs when the body’s pH falls below a certain level and can cause damage to the body over time if carbohydrate stores are not adequately supplied. While ketosis generally doesn’t cause damage to internal organs, the resulting acidosis can damage the kidneys and other adjacent organs.
Another major difference between ketosis and acidosis is the reversal aspect of both conditions, as both ketosis and acidosis generally require different healing times. Ketosis often stops and reverses after you consume food energy in the form of carbohydrates, which are found primarily in fruits, vegetables and an assortment of grains. The turnaround time for acidosis often takes much longer, as the accumulation of acids must decrease over a set period, depending on the person and the situation. If damage to the kidneys or other organs occurs, it may take much longer to recover and reverse the condition.
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