Measure ketosis: There are different options
Measuring ketosis is particularly popular at the beginning of a ketosis diet. This is the only way to know to what extent your metabolism has already changed. There are three different measurement options available for checking your ketosis, we will introduce them to you.
Measure ketosis - the cheapest option
Ketosis recipes are fashionable because they help you lose weight. However, it takes around three to five weeks for the body to change. With the help of various measuring methods, you can check to what extent your organism is already in the so-called ketogenic state.
- Measuring ketosis using urine test strips is the cheapest method. You can get the ketone sticks from pharmacies or drugstores. You can already get 100 pieces for around four euros. Unfortunately, this method of measuring ketosis is not very accurate.
- Basically, the measuring method is only suitable at the beginning of the change in diet. As the ketosis diet progresses, the measurement method becomes increasingly unsafe because the body learns to only produce as much ketone as it needs. This is more difficult to detect in urine.
- In addition, the urine reacts very sensitively to many other factors, such as illness or alcohol consumption, so that the result is also falsified.
- It is important that you always measure at the same time with this method. It is recommended that you wake up in the morning because your urine will give you the most pristine result after resting overnight.
- The measuring process itself is simple. They hold the strip in the urine for a few seconds. Then you can recognize the ketone concentration from the discoloration of the test strip. The exact times and the meaning of the colors can be found in the respective manufacturer's information.
Breathing air - this is how you measure the ketone bodies
Measuring ketosis with a breathing apparatus is even easier and, above all, more convenient. However, convenience usually comes at a price: the breathing apparatus will cost you around 50 euros. However, all costs are covered, except for the so-called ketone meter, you do not need anything else.
- The mode of operation is similar to that of an alcohol control, except that in this case the acetone concentration in the air we breathe is measured. Breathing often smells sweet and sour with a ketosis diet.
- You blow into the breath tester for a few seconds and then the ketone body utilization is shown on a display or by a color button. You will also receive devices that you can connect to the computer. With the appropriate software you save the measured values and thus have a long-term overview.
- Of course you can measure as often as you like. However, you should also set certain times because the ketone body concentration in the body changes over the course of the day.
- Just like measuring with the test strips, however, this measuring method of ketosis also carries the risk of inaccuracy.
The safest method of ketosis measurement
The safest way to measure ketosis is through the blood. In contrast to the other measurement methods, several parameters are taken into account in this variant. However, this measurement of the ketone bodies is more expensive.
- In addition to the ketosis meter, you need a test strip for each measurement. The test strip costs you approximately between 1.50 and 2 euros.
- You also need to draw a little blood every day. The amount is minimal, but the daily stabbing in the fingertip is not necessarily for everyone.
- To ensure that the result is precise, it is best to take the ketone measurement in the morning on an empty stomach.
- The measured values are displayed in millimoles (mmol) per liter of blood.
- With a value between 0.5 and 1 mmol you are already in a mild ketosis. The so-called ketogenic adjustment is used for values between 1 and 3 mmol.
- It becomes interesting with values from 1.5 mmol, because then you slowly come into the area where the body begins to lose fat. Incidentally, to lose weight, you do not have to reach more than 3 mmol.
Too one-sided: almost blind due to poor nutrition
In another post you will learn everything you need to know about ketogenic nutrition.