There are 3 types of ketone bodies that are found inside the body:
- Acetoacetate (AcAc) – primary ketone body in the urine
- Acetone – primary ketone body in the breath
- Beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) – primary ketone body in the blood
As we can see there are 3 ways to determine the presence of ketones.
Urine/Keto Sticks
The traditional method for measuring ketones is testing Acetoacetate levels in your urine.
The ketone strips are very easy to use. All you have to do is hold the stick in your urine stream for several seconds and after 15 seconds you should notice that the colour has changed on the strip.
- Beige – no ketones
- Pink – some ketone
- Purple – many ketones
These keto strips will determine whether you are in ketosis or not – however they are not very accurate and don’t give you your exact ketone level. The upside is that they are readily available and won’t break the bank. For all intense and purposes as a beginner it is a great way to determine if you are on the right track.
When you are new to a ketogenic diet you should notice a dark purple colour. On the other hand if you have been on a ketogenic diet for a few months the results may be a much lighter colour and give people a false negative. This is not a bad thing because your body is much more efficient at creating ketones to fuel your body.
You can order them from Amazon, but they are usually available in pharmacies.
Breath Meters
Technology has its advantages and a breath meter is much easier to use. All you have to do is blow into it and it will give you a reading. The breath meter measures the levels of acetone.
The breath meter is more accurate than the keto strips, but the results vary widely if you compare it to a blood meter. Essentially the results can be misleading.
There are different breath meters out there, they retail at anything from $150 to $200.
Blood Meters
Blood meters are the most accurate. There is some blood involved, where you have to prick your finger and put it on the strip to get a reading. The results are real time and show the exact measurement of ketones in your blood.
Ketone reading should be between 1.0 and 3.0 mmol/L
The blood meter is great however the keto strips can become expensive as they retail at around $1 each.
Leave A Response