Ketones, The Fourth Fuel: Warburg to Krebs to Veech, the 250 Year Journey to Find the Fountain of Youth

by Travis Christofferson

In The Fourth Fuel, science writer Travis Christofferson weaves a fascinating narrative of humanities quest to understand how our bodies produce energy—transporting us on a scientific expedition from the past to the present—across early modern Europe to modern laboratories spanning the globe. The reader is taken on a riveting and revelatory journey that follows Nobel Prize-winning scientists from the 19th and 20th centuries as they map the pathways and cycles that comprise human metabolism. The reader is left with a new and lasting appreciation for the silent chemical motion that keeps us alive and healthy. Ultimately, the narrative arrives at a remarkable discovery that rewrites everything we thought we knew about metabolism—with profound therapeutic consequences. Coming back to the present, Christofferson reminds us that Americans are sicker than they have ever been. Heart disease, cancer, dementia, obesity and type 2 diabetes are rapidly becoming the norm. Yet we are presented with a the realization that we all have a potent, and easy-to-access hybrid metabolism that generates a different fuel—the fourth fuel—that “supercharges” our metabolism in a way that slows aging and by-passes the metabolic dysfunction that leads to the multitude of diseases that plague modern society.

Genres: Health, Science, Nonfiction

223 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 18, 2020

Reviews

[Braydon Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating story behind the discovery of ketones, and how it influenced the diet and nutritional world. It’s incredible that we have evolved energy system that is more efficient than glucose metabolism. It’s the reason we store body fat, in case of times of starvation which would have been common in our ancestry. Most people today never experience ketone metabolism from chronic carbohydrate consumption. What fascinates me is how much more efficient ketone metabolism is than glucose metabolism, allowing for greater energy production. That leading into the beneficial mental/psychological effects of ketone bodies & the anti inflammatory effects of ketone bodies.

Give this book a read if your interested in learning about ketones more than just the ketogenic diet for weight loss reasoning. The story of the discovery, how the science got lost and rediscovered is fascinating in and of itself.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

While modern medicine insists on using a scattershot of symptom reducing remedies, imagine if we actually implemented strategies to prevent disease! Gets a little too technical for me in parts, but overall - excellent and informative read.

[Joseph B. Carriker · Rating 3 out of 5]

So so. Not really interested.
Did not finish.

[Sebastian Castillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started reading this one thinking coming back to the keto diet I practiced back in 2014 without knowing the great historic, biographic-ish, health conscientious, and easy-to-read adventure that was ahead.

TLDR; 5 stars reading which tells you the evolution of biochemistry from the discovery of oxygen, combustion, answering questions like what is life? what is energy? why we eat? what is to breathe? what is a cell? how we convert food and breathing into energy? and finally what is to age? what is Alzheimer's and how can we prevent it altogether with a criticism on the current health care system and how we are not focusing on prevention but on generating revenue.

I have been drinking MCT oil daily for a year without actually understanding the big implications of it.. I was thinking of it just as boosting my energy in the morning, but short did I know about the pleitropic properties of BHB (ketones) helping sirtuins expressing the right genes, reducing free radicals, and allowing stem cells to replace apoptotic ones.

If you have a relative with initial Alzheimer's symptoms, diabetes or it's getting 50 please read this book. I'm personally getting my parents tested for AC1 and then giving them MCT oil daily from now on. But I'm not a doctor, go ask yours before taking anything on a daily basis.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heavy on evolution metaphors and chemistry, this book walks a line between a chemistry book and history book but through it all the author fairly glows with excitement.

I rated it 3 stars because I don't think most ppl I know will wade through 65% of it to get to the practical benefits of ketosis, which is how the book finishes.

You need to practice fasting. You need to start now. Ketogenic diets really do work, amazingly well, to repair the body and prevent against disease.

Since I'm already doing a carnivore diet, this book just confirmed that my decision to eliminate sugar and carbohydrates entirely (at least for the next six months) will ultimately benefit me in ways I can't even measure.

[Nick Urban · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid breakdown of metabolic science.

Heavily focuses on the history of BHB but also covers future applications. Includes a simple summary of the state of the longevity industry:
- Several theories of aging
- Sinclairs work
- Pleiotropic effects of ketones
- NAD boosters
- Sirtuins

Found the final chapter on the future especially interesting. Without giving anything away, Christofferson posits that even if we were to cure cancer, we'd really only increase mean lifespan by 2-3 years due to the 2nd law of thermodynamics (entropy).

Would have liked more on different conditions BHB positively impacts and recent developments.

[Brian Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are seriously interested in the history of LCHF (low-carb, healthy-fat) diets and have a basic understanding of the science behind the metabolism, then this book will be an enjoyable history lesson in the study of metabolism and ketones. However, if you don't have a little science background, then you'll get lost quickly and probably struggle to the end. Personally, I appreciated the thorough chronological account that the author meticulously researched and compiled.

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

awesome if you're scientific (I AM with a background in gas physics so I LOVED IT) - but would be really interesting for anyone of any level - some of the details might get in the weeds for folks just wondering about Ketones BUT he does a great job of telling the story in an intersting fashion and explaining everything. I highly recommend the book.

[Joshua J. Holland · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most important pieces of literature I’ve read in the fields of health, wellness, fitness and lifestyle.

We should ALL learn about the importance of ketosis or exogenous ketone supplementation against metabolic pathologies and a whole host of diseased states that are common in our modern society.

[Charles Gerard Maher · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing - the beginning of a new world !

So well researched - so inspiring. Reading through the history and all work done ..And the dots being connected brings more depth to choosing a Keto lifestyle. A special book for sure

[Harry Lockhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eye opener

This book is challenging as a non biologist ordinary dude but that I finished it is a testament to how interesting and informative I found this read to be. If you're interested in health or investigating the potential impacts of Ketosis it will be imminent satisfying.

[Mike Burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding!

I am so glad I got this book! It requires some careful attention and some thought, but it is an excellent book which clearly illuminates the concepts of metabolic energy and ketosis.

[Eugene Dagon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Weaving years of medical knowledge into a story of discovery

Any one who wishes a healthy long life free from the chronic illnesses by hacking the metabolic pathways and preventing 70% of the illnesses of aging.

[Kaiden Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Using biography to explain biology.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book #8 in 2023
3 Stars - Audiobook

[Eric Xia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story with very essential health information.

[Jose Lobato · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book complements quite nicely the books from Gary Taubes. Especially from the historical point of view. “Good Calories, Bad Calories” gives many details about the history of the investigation on diets and the last century. Still, it was hard to follow due to the many subjects and characters in the book.

In contrast, this one center on the characters and with them builds a story of a century of investigation culminating on the ketones as we understand them now.

It was an enjoyable read, and I think I’ll give it another go before the end of the year.

in my [blog](https://josealobato.com/travis-christ...)

[Mike Lisanke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book for anyone looking to understand the mechanisms of Nutritional Ketosis. It starts at the beginning with the history of the luminaries who discovered/explorer the pathways of metabolism and energy currency of eukaryotic cells. And then explains the case histories involved with the proposed mechanisms for nutritional ketosis in treating/curing many (most) human health disorders... primarily by curing metabolic disorder by bypassing insulin resistance.

My science book club is having their monthly call this week about this book and I've just reread it. I'll be outlining it for my call. I can confirm this is a great science book. It talks about the science history and key scientist in the field and the biochemistry of nutritional ketosis and disease fighting theory of ketones! It remains my goal to use the bibliography to do more in-depth reading But for anybody interested in Ketosis, this it the book for background information!