The Best Ketone Meters To Monitor Ketosis – Christmas 2017
The goal of a high-fat, low-carb diet is to get into a state called Ketosis where the body burns fat as fuel rather than using glucose as its source of energy. Types of Ketone Meters There are several types of ketone meters available that monitor ketosis in vastly different ways, some more accurate than others and some more convenient others. We’ll discuss 3 types of Ketone Meters available starting with the best on the market today in 2017. Ketonix Breath Ketone Analyzer The Ketonix breath analyser doesn’t use any blood glucose test or test strip, it works by analysing acetone on your breath that your body produces when you’re in a state of ketosis. The Ketonix is slightly less accurate as blood ketone and glucose meters are per test. But they are more convenient With the Ketonix, you can test yourself an unlimited amount of times, hourly if you like. Which is ideal if you want to see how various foods effect ketosis after you’ve eaten them or even the effects exercise has. The Ketonix is affordable when you take into account the price of test strips for blood monitors. (Many companies give away cheap versions of blood monitors but make their money on testing strips). The Ketonix has no test strips and requires no further outlay. Ketonix also comes with software that will keep a log and also calibrates the device to the optimal settings for your goals. If you’re trying to monitor ketones under conditions such as athletic performance, weight loss, diabetes, alzheimer’s or epilepsy. The Ketonix adjusts its settings to test whether you’re in the ideal range for that condition. The Ketonix Breath Ketone Analyzer is a one-off payment you can read more & check them out here. Blood Ketone Meter One of the best & most precise ways of monitoring ketosis is with a Continue reading >>
How To Get A Free Blood Ketone Meter When Ketostix Fail
When I initially started a ketogenic diet, I would use the urine test strips to monitor for ketones, which would tell me if I was in ketosis or not. I wish someone had told me about this free Blood Ketone Meter! However, I later found that my readings started to show nothing even though I had been eating a high fat, low carb diet. I wondered… what on earth was wrong? Why do Ketostix Stop Working? After doing some research, I found that once my body started to become accustom to a high fat diet and began to utilise the ketones for energy, the free ketones in my urine either did not exist or where not as strong. Ketostix work mainly off the concentration of ketones in your urine. This makes the long-term use of Ketostix useless, as they will eventually start to read blank. Ketostix start at a yellow colour (which means you are not in Ketosis) all the way up to a dark purple (which means you’re in fairly heavy ketosis). Click on the Image Below to get Ketostix in Australia The solution? Blood Ketone Meter! My girlfriend Adele loves to source out bargains at different chemists. As I came along to a few of these bargain hunting trips, I began to notice that I could use a device that is usually suitable for Diabetics called a Glucose Meter to monitor my ketones. Diabetics need to monitor their ketone levels as to avoid Ketone Acidosis (which can be very harmful). They need to be very precise due to the nature of health risks that ketosis can pose to diabetics. I wondered up to the counter to check the price of the device that also could check for Ketones. BAM! $70. I was not going to buy one from a chemist. You would have to be crazy! Later that night I started researching these devices on eBay. Low and behold, I stumbled across this device for $29. What I did not notice Continue reading >>
Nova Max Plus: Blood Glucose & Ketone Testing All In One
Nova Max Plus Glucose & Ketone Meter System Nova Max Plus measures glucose or blood ketone with a tiny, 0.3 microliter blood sample. Glucose results are available in 5 seconds. Ketone results are available in 10 seconds, using a separate ketone test strip. There is no coding for Nova Max glucose or ketone test strips. Glucose and Ketones on the Same Meter The measurement and analysis of blood glucose and ketone separately can be a daunting task. It would be great to have a meter that monitors, stores, and transfers both glucose and ketone in 1 system. The Nova Max Plus glucose meter automatically converts itself to a ketone meter by inserting the Nova Max Plus Ketone strip. FEATURES Small Sample Size Needed Easy to Handle No Coding Required Alternate Site Testing Displays Glucose Results in 5 sec & Ketone Results in 10 sec Affordable and Reliable Glucose Meter Measures Glucose or Ketone The Best Overall Glucose Meter Nova Max Plus incorporates advanced technology for accurate and precise self-monitoring of blood glucose and ketones. Nova Max Plus has the most comprehensive features for fast, easy, and error-free blood glucose and ketone monitoring. With both glucose and ketone measuring on the same monitor, Nova Max Plus is ideal for children or adolescents with diabetes, insulin pump users, and anyone with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes who uses insulin. Nova Max Plus automatically reminds the user to check the blood ketones whenever a blood sugar level is 250 mg/dL or higher. Why Ketone Measurements Are Important Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) is a life-threatening metabolic complication of diabetes with a mortality rate of 2%-10%1 DKA is the leading cause of hospitalization, morbidity, and death in children with type 1 diabetes 2 The use of a blood test for early dete Continue reading >>
How To Test Your Blood With A Home Ketone Meter
testing is used by people with diabetes and by people on a ketogenic diet. You can test your urine or your blood for ketones. But because urine testing is not as accurate, the American Diabetes Association recommends blood ketone testing with a ketone meter as the preferable method. If you have diabetes, you should discuss home blood ketone testing with your doctor to learn whether it is recommended in your case and when you should perform the testing. Ketone testing is particularly important during periods of illness. Blood Ketone Meters for Testing at Home You will need a blood ketone meter and a kit that include the lancet pen and ketone test strips. These meters also will read blood glucose test strips, and both will download their results to your computer. Other brands and models may be available, including: Precision Xtra: This meter from Abbott Diabetes Care can store up to 450 measurements and will display your blood glucose averages over different time periods. You need to enter a code to switch from glucose testing to ketone testing. Users seem happier with the Precision brand, and researchers find it to be the more accurate. The strips require 1.5 microliters of blood. It also features a backlit display. Nova Max Plus: This meter from Nova Biomedical is often provided free with the purchase of two boxes of test strips. You don't have to enter a code to switch it from blood glucose to ketone testing; it does that automatically when you insert a ketone test strip. If you are using it primarily for blood glucose, it will remind you to test for ketones if your blood sugar level is 250 mg/dL or higher. The test strips for the Nova Max are less expensive but also flimsier and give more error messages, requiring retesting. The strips require less blood than the Prec Continue reading >>
The Best Way To Monitor Ketone Levels
Awareness and appreciation of the “low-carb high-fat” ketogenic diet has been steadily growing over the last few years. Along with that, you hear the words ketosis and ketones used more commonly. That’s excellent, but many people don’t really know what it all actually means. ..What are ketones? And what does your body do with them? What are the proper levels of ketones you should have to be in ketosis? With so many people talking about the diet/lifestyle, it’s understandable that there is more misinformation as a result. So, let’s clear it all up in this post. First we’ll review the details of ketones – what they are, how they’re formed, etc. – and then we’ll talk about how to monitor them. Let’s dive in! Contents: First Off, What Exactly Are Ketones? Ketones, or ketone bodies, are byproducts created by the body in the process of breaking down (metabolizing) fat for energy, when carbohydrate levels in the body are low. It works like this… The body prefers to use glucose (from carbs) as its source of fuel. But when there isn’t a sufficient level of glucose, and glycogen levels are depleted, blood sugar and insulin levels are reduced, as the body looks for an alternative source of fuel: fat. This process can occur during fasting, starvation, extended periods of exercise, or in the case we’re referring to in this post and on this site: while adhering to a low-carb, high-fat, ketogenic diet. …When the body switches to metabolizing fats for energy – a process called beta-oxidation – instead of glucose, ketones are created as a fuel source for the body and the brain. It is this process which is referred to as ketosis or ketogenesis…Or, as some people like to say, switching from being a “sugar burner” to a “fat burner”. If you’re Continue reading >>
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Blood Glucose Meter Guide
Tweet Keeping an accurate idea of your blood glucose levels is an integral part of successful diabetes management. Blood glucose meters allow you to do this. Choosing the right meter will depend on the products available to you, the cost of test strips (if you need to buy you our own), NHS prescription availability and the most suitable device for your individual requirements. Some blood glucose meters can also check for the presence of ketones which is useful for people with type 1 diabetes or those who are otherwise susceptible to ketoacidosis. Compare blood glucose meters The following independent blood glucose meter reviews detail the types of blood glucose meters available in the UK, who they are made by, the range of features each meter brings and how to get one. In addition, you can read user reviews or leave your own review. Your healthcare team should be able to advise you on how many times per day you need to check your blood sugar levels. Learn more about the recommended blood glucose level ranges as advised by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). You can also read reviews for insulin pumps and CGMs. Discuss your options with your healthcare team and GP. If you are buying your own meter and need to buy your own test strips, make sure to compare prices of test strips and lancets as it is these supplies that are the biggest cost associated with blood glucose testing. Some people prefer to have more than one blood glucose monitor - one for home and one for the office, or one for home and one for travelling. How easy are blood glucose meters to use? This will depend on the design interface favoured by the manufacturer, but some blood glucose monitors are definitely easier to use than others. Continue reading >>
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The Best Way To Measure Your Ketones
Hi guys! So if you are just starting out on the ketogenic diet, you may be wondering just how do I know I’m in ketosis? And if you’re a “I have to see it to believe it” person like myself, you need to see the proof! There are several ways out there currently to measure the ketones in your body. The way that we recommend is through a blood ketone monitor. We have another blog post reviewing all the ways to test your ketones and comparing the pros and cons of each method. We can spoil it for you here though…blood ketone monitoring is the method we recommend. We recommend blood ketone monitoring because it is the most available and accurate method to testing. Plus, you can test your blood glucose as well – which is important. The one we use is the Nova Max PLUS Blood Glucose Monitoring System. You’ll Need More Than Just The Monitor You’ll also need to purchase lancets that go with the machine and the ketone strips. We also recommend buying glucose strips because it is just as handy to understand your blood glucose when determining if you’re in ketosis. At the time of our purchase, Amazon was not the cheapest place to buy, but of course it is usually the fastest. It took at least a week to get the Nova Max Plus monitor from the company. We purchased: “Nova Max Plus Starter Kit” (Monitor, lancing device and some lancets) – from Nova Max company – Update: As of October 2017 the online storefront is down “Nova Max Sureflex Lancets” – from Nova Max company “Nova Max Ketone Meter Test Strips” (actually the glucose test strips)- from Nova Max company “Nova Max Test Strips 40 Count” (ketone test strips) – from Walmart.com (cheapest in large quantities, but definitely not fastest) If you like buying on Amazon, here is all that you need to b Continue reading >>
Using Ketonix Breath Testing For Nutritional Ketosis Review
If you have been a reader of the site before, you’ll know that I used the concepts from the Bulletproof diet and a lot Bulletproof coffee to help put me into nutritional ketosis and lose a bucket load of weight. That sent me down the should I be checking for ketones, but also thinking well if I’m eating (and drinking) so much saturated fat have I reached and maintained a level of nutritional ketosis? I really wanted to know too as nutritional ketosis (not diabetic ketosis!!) is meant to be the place where your brain is meant to work better. It is also the place where, if you do suffer epileptic seizures, that it helps to reduce the frequency of them. Now I don’t have epilepsy, but I do like the idea I am helping my central nervous system function at a better state. That is another reason why I experiment with and do take various supplements, like unfair advantage, adaptogenic herbs and nootropics for the brain. (more on those to come) Use “BIOHACKER” to get a discount at checkout – valid until the end of July 2017. Blood Vs Breath Ketones Testing I think a lot of people try guess when they have hit the magical place called nutritional ketosis. However, we learnt from ketone researcher Dr Brianna Stubbs interview that the three ways to measure ketone levels are using either blood strips, urine testing strips or breath acetone levels. Measuring acetone levels in your breath is the new kid on the block for testing ketone levels.. Now I think that is awesome not having to prick or finger all the time and also saving on not buying ketone strips from a pharmacy. Why Acetone Breath Levels Are Best Listen to Michel Lundell’s interview on episode 14 of the Biohackers Lab podcast. He explains from his tests why he feels measuring breath acetone levels is better than Continue reading >>
The Best Ketone Meter For Monitoring Ketosis
If you're on the ketogenic diet, measuring your ketone levels is crucial to make sure your body is actually in ketosis - otherwise, you're basically just leaving things up to chance. We spent roughly five days researching ketosis meters in order to find the most accurate monitor for measuring ketone levels, and after reviewing 20+ options, we've found the Precision Xtra to be the best ketone meter available. Using a light prick of the finger, it measures ketone levels using your blood, collecting nearly-exact numbers to help you manage your diet better than any other testing method. You will also need a set of ketone test strips to get started, which can be a little expensive, but we consider this a small price to pay when you're investing in your health. If you’re following the ketogenic diet, you probably already know how it works – low carb, high fat. By eliminating carbohydrates (our body’s main energy source), you’re manipulating your body to move into a state of ketosis, where it burns fat for energy instead of carbs. Maintaining ketosis is relatively easy if you stick to the core principles of the diet (60-70% fat, 20-30% protein, 5-10% carbs), but at the end of the day, you still don’t know for sure if your body has successfully made the transition. Instead, regularly using a ketone meter (also called a ketosis meter) is the preferred way to ensure your blood-ketone level consistently stays within the optimal range for ketosis. There are three main types of ketone meters: blood ketone meters, urine strips, and breath analyzers. Urine strips and breath analyzers work exactly as their names imply – one measures ketone levels using your urine, the other measures them using your breath. Blood ketone meters, on the other hand, work like a blood-glucose me Continue reading >>
Measuring Ketosis With Ketone Strips: Are They Accurate?
Many people following keto diets want to be in ketosis, a natural state in which the body burns fat for fuel. For this reason, people are curious about whether they are doing enough (via carb restriction) to achieve this state. As a result, ketone strips are a popular tool that numerous people use as a way of measuring ketosis. However, just how accurate are they? And how do they compare to alternate methods of measuring ketones? What is Ketosis? Anyone following a standard high-carbohydrate diet will be burning glucose for energy. However, the body can use both carbohydrate and fat for fuel (1). When carbohydrate intake is very low, the body switches to burning fat for energy. As this happens, our body enters a state of ketosis. Ketosis is a natural biological state during which our body burns fat for fuel. While we are “in ketosis,” our blood levels of ketones—a by-product from the breakdown of fats—rise. Measuring these ketones (also known as ‘ketone bodies’) can, therefore, provide a hint as to how deeply our body is (or isn’t) in ketosis. For this reason, ketone strips—which measure the level of ketones—have become increasingly popular in recent times. Key Point: Ketosis is a biological state where the human body burns fat rather than carbs. What are Ketone Test Strips? For people who want to know if they’re in ketosis, ketone test strips are a cheap and simple way of detecting ketone levels. They are otherwise known as ‘ketone sticks’ and work by urinalysis to tell us the volume of acetoacetate in our urine. If you don’t know what acetoacetate is, then let’s start at the beginning. First of all, there are three types of ketone body; Acetoacetate Acetoacetate is one of the two main ketone bodies, and it is present in urine. We can test f Continue reading >>
The Best Way To Test Ketones
How many ketone bodies are in my body? How can I tell? And what’s that weird number and/or color on my tester? You’ve got ketone testing questions, we’ve got ketone testing answers. An overview of common ketone testing methods and best practices for your viewing pleasure. Ever wondered whether or not you’re in ketosis? Well, you can consult the magic ketogenic crystal ball or you can just, you know, test your ketones. (You can also, if you wish, ditch both the magic ketogenic crystal ball and the ketone testers, and train yourself to look out for signs of being fat-adapted.) But you want (read: need) specifics, eh? You want all those numbers and science and stuff, eh? I hear you, brothers and sisters. You’re in for a doozy of a video. We’re about to open up a can of ketone testing knowledge and you’re about to down it like Popeye throwing back some tasty spinach. If you’ve ever scratched your ketogenic head and pondered what was the best ketone testing method or stared at your new ketone tester in utter confusion, this video will bring everything into focus. For video transcript PDF, scroll down. Your Mini Guide & Transcript A 5-10 page PDF with the transcript for this video, resources, and exclusive steps to taking your fat burning to the next level. Download to your device and access anytime. Simply click the button above, enter your details, and the guide will be delivered to your inbox! Get the mini guide & transcript now. Highlights… Common ketone testing methods explained Pros and cons for each method Ketone testing tricks of the trade Resources… Follow our new YouTube channel, Explorking (where we share what it’s like to live full time in an RV) Check out the new + improved Keto Bundle – it has metric + standard measurements, over 50 new p Continue reading >>
Top 10 Popular Blood Glucose Meters Put To The Test
With countless blood glucose meters on the market, how do you know which one to choose? Do you choose the most expensive one; it must work the best if it costs the most, right? Or are you a techie looking for a Bluetooth meter that syncs to your smartphone? Perhaps, you’re concerned with the cost and you’re looking for the most affordable meter. Top 10 Glucose Meters We’ve taken the time to test the ten most popular blood glucose meters. Take a look to find the meter that’s the best fit for you. Winner and our favorite meter is One Touch Ultra 2. OneTouch Ultra 2 Accu-Chek Aviva Connect Walmart ReliON Confirm OneTouch Verio Abbott FreeStyle Lite Walgreens True2Go Contour Next EZ Livongo Health In Touch Meter Nova Max Plus Sanofi iBGStar Our Pick After a careful review of the top glucose meters on the market, our #1 recommendation is the One Touch Ultra 2. It’s simply one of the best in terms of functionality and price. Click here to learn more. (Helpful Tip: Although you can get one from your local pharmacy, you’ll find it cheaper on Amazon. Click here to get yours.) Accu-Chek Aviva Connect The Accu-Chek Aviva Connect gets its name from the Bluetooth connection that syncs to the user’s smartphone. The Connect utilizes an app to keep track of both short-term and long-term readings on a person’s smartphone. The user can also view their trends via bar graphs and maps on the app. The Accu-Chek Aviva Connect will cost you $29.99 and $1.75 for a single test strip. One con to this meter is that the test strips are one of the highest priced strips on the market. However, they are readily available in almost all drug stores and pharmacies. Accu-Chek also offers a supplemental program called Preferred Savings which can reduce most test-strip co-pays to $15-$45. Ot Continue reading >>
Testing For Ketones
Testing for Ketones 3 Types of Ketones How to go about testing for Ketones? There are 3 types of ketone bodies. Acetone, Acetoacetate and Beta-Hydroxybutryate (BHB, though technically not really a ketone body) The body (the liver) converts long and medium chain fatty acids into BHB and Acetoacetate. BHB and Acetoacetate live in reversible equilibrium (they can transform back and forth). Acetoacetate can also be turned into acetone. After converted to acetone, it can not be converted back. Acetone is typically excreted through the urine or breath. If your body has been in ketosis for a while, you will see a reduction in acetoacetate. Muscles begin to use acetoacetate and turn it into Beta-Hydroxybutryate for fuel, so less is present in urine as you get more keto-adapted. This is the flaw of the urine test. It only tests for acetoacetate so it will go down as your body gets more efficient at using ketones for fuel. 3 Methods for Testing Ketones Urine strips only test acetoacetate. Ketonix only tests acetone in breath. Blood Strips test for Beta-Hydroxybutryate (BHB), what your body uses for fuel. 1. Urine Test Strips Pros: Cheap. Cons: Very inaccurate in testing level of ketosis. Our bodies excrete excess ketones in two ways. Through the urine or through the breath. When you are testing for ketones in urine you will typically see higher levels in early stages of a ketogenic diet because your body isn’t using ketones for fuel yet. After you are fully Keto-Adapted (2-4 weeks or so), you will see less and less ketones in your urine because your body in now using more ketones for fuel instead of excreting them through the urine or breath. The urine test strip is also very susceptible to changes based on your state of hydration. The more hydrated you are (and we should all b Continue reading >>
How To Use The Ketonix Breathalyzer
A few months ago, I received my first keto breathalyzer and would like to share my thoughts on this device. The creator of the Ketonix breathalyzer, Michel Lundell, also runs a website to help and support people who use the device for measuring their ketone levels. The price of Ketonix is $ 149 (or $ 169 with the battery). You can buy the Ketonix breathalyzer at Ketonix.com. I was given this device free of charge and I'm not affiliated with Ketonix. The opinions expressed and photos in this post are my own. Measuring Ketones in a Nutshell Before I get to details of how to use the Ketonix breathalyzer, I'd like to start with some basic facts. There are 4 ways to measure your ketone levels: Ketostix. It measures urinary ketones (acetoacetate), is inexpensive but inaccurate because it only measures "wasted" ketones in your urine. In fact, once you get keto-adapted, you may not be able to measure any. Blood Ketone Meter. It measures beta-bydroxybutryate (BHB) and is the most accurate method of measuring ketones (although BHB is not technically a ketone). The drawback is that the strips are fairly expensive, especially if you measure frequently. Observation and following a healthy ketogenic diet. In my opinion, if you don't follow a keto diet for therapeutic purposes (or for performance enhancement), you don't need to measure your ketone levels. In fact, you don't need to follow a very low-carb diet to lose weight. What matters is finding your personal carb intake and also consider other factors that I explained here. Breathalyzer (Ketonix). It measures acetone (acetone is made from a break down of acetoacetate). It's great value for money as it's a one-off payment, there is no need to buy expensive strips and it's accurate enough to tell you whether or not you are in nutrit Continue reading >>
Testing Ketone Levels After Taking Exogenous Ketones
Are you taking exogenous ketones and wondering if they’re working for you? If so, the first question to ask yourself is: am I actually testing my ketone levels? And are you doing so regularly? Testing your ketone levels after taking exogenous ketones is imperative in order to know if they are working for you. I (and many other Ketonians) made this mistake for a long time before realizing that it’s the best way to honestly learn if we need to make adjustments. There’s an underlying reason we don’t want to test ourselves. We might not get the answer we want. Pride and shame conspire to tell us we don’t need to check our results. The key is to not take yourself so seriously and just go for it. The two possible outcomes are We are in ketosis. Great! We aren’t in ketosis. It’s great to know that! Now we can make adjustments. There’s a lot of confusion around the whys and hows of ketone testing when you’re trying to enter and maintain ketosis, especially if you’re using exogenous ketones to raise your ketone levels. So, let’s first talk about the main methods of testing and what’s most important here: Testing Ketone Levels There are three main methods people use to test their ketone levels: While these can all have their uses, urine and breath testing are pretty weak compared with blood testing if you want an accurate view of your ketone levels. Let’s break down why: Urine Ketone Testing Urine ketone testing is simple. You pee on the stick, tap off any excess urine, wait just a bit, and read the strip to see if any levels of ketones have been detected in your urine. So, what’s the problem? Pee tests are unreliable because they measure the unused ketones in your body that are spilling over into your urine. Sounds simple enough, right? Well, the prob Continue reading >>
