‘Well with Arielle Lorre’: Why Ketones Might Be the Smarter Energy Boost Than Coffee

What if there were another way to fuel your body and mind without the crash, jitters, or restless nights caused by coffee? On Well with Arielle Lorre, host Arielle Lorre sits down with Dr. Latt Mansor, a researcher and global expert in metabolic health, who holds a PhD from the University of Oxford. Specializing in physiology, nutrition, and human performance, Mansor is one of the leading voices on ketones, and he’s on a mission to help people rethink the way they create energy.

The conversation focuses on understanding how the body works, in language that is easily comprehensible to anyone. At its core, the episode explores a question many of us wrestle with daily—how do we get more energy without burning out? Coffee and caffeine-based solutions have long been the go-to. Still, as Mansor explains, they aren’t the only—or necessarily the best—option. That’s where ketones come into play.

How ketones create energy differently

Caffeine works by stimulating the body, raising the heart rate, and drawing energy from reserves already stored within. Ketones, on the other hand, are an actual fuel source. They are produced in the liver from fatty acids when carbohydrate intake is low, such as during fasting or on a ketogenic diet. Mansor explains that ketones enter the cell directly to be metabolized in the mitochondria and converted into energy. He contrasts this with caffeine, which doesn’t provide energy itself but instead forces the body to burn through glucose and fat more quickly.

This difference means ketones can offer something caffeine never quite delivers: sustained energy without the crash. As Mansor explains, “A stimulant like caffeine does not provide you with energy. It does increase your heart rate and blood flow, but ultimately, it is still pulling energy from within your body. Ketones, on the other hand, are the molecules that your cell uses to produce energy.” This promising potential of ketones to provide sustained energy without the crash is a reason for hope in the quest for better energy management.

Why ketones can calm you down instead of hyping you up

One of the most unexpected aspects of the episode was learning that ketones not only power the body but also help the brain achieve clarity and calm. “It helps me with my sleep quality,” Mansor says, acknowledging that many people find this confusing at first. The key is that ketones increase GABA, the neurotransmitter that helps quiet the nervous system. Taken at night, they can actually support better rest.

Lorre chimes in to compare the effect with popular supplements. “GABA is what everybody is trying to hack through taking supplemental L-theanine or magnesium even. And I feel like this is way more effective, at least in my experience,” she says.

That difference is crucial for anyone who has struggled with caffeine keeping them wired long after they’d prefer to wind down. With ketones, the energy boost feels more like clarity than chaos—something Mansor describes as helping him “connect my brain to my mouth.”

From the lab to daily life

Mansor has incorporated ketones into his own health journey, crediting them with supporting his workouts, sleep, and even appetite management. He uses ketone supplements before his workouts to enhance his performance and recovery. “It helps me go into a better sort of calorie deficit because it has a slight appetite suppression effect,” he explains. This was especially useful at night, when late-night hunger might otherwise derail his goals. He also takes ketones before important meetings or presentations to enhance his focus and mental clarity.

Beyond personal experience, research continues to demonstrate the wide-ranging applications of ketones, from aiding endurance athletes in conserving glycogen to enhancing focus in students. 

Coffee culture versus ketone culture

Coffee isn’t going away anytime soon. But the conversation with Lorre makes clear that many of the reasons people rely on caffeine could be better served by ketones. The shift isn’t about cutting one out completely—it’s about understanding that caffeine stimulates while ketones fuel. “It is not a stimulant,” Mansor emphasizes. “It does not block the receptor like caffeine and prevent you from feeling tired.”

For anyone who has felt let down by their morning latte—energized for a bit, then crashing hard, or tossing and turning at night—the possibility of swapping some of that caffeine for ketones is a compelling one.

It’s important to note that while ketones can be a beneficial energy source, they may not be suitable for everyone. For instance, people with certain medical conditions, such as diabetes or pancreatitis, should consult a healthcare professional before using ketone supplements. 

Read Next

• Forget Immortality. ‘Treated with Dr. Sara’ Makes the Case for Living Fully, Not Forever
• On ‘Treated with Dr. Sara,’ Cynthia Thurlow Shares Why Perimenopause Is the Perfect Time to Pause
• Keep Your Culture on the Plate: ‘All on the Table’ Tackles Healthy Eating Without the Food Guilt