How Can Ketone Strips Help in Monitoring and Improving Weight?
An individual is hitting the gym and working out regularly while following the ketosis diet, but how do you know if he is genuinely in ketosis? In such a scenario, ketone test strips come in handy, as they help determine whether an individual’s body has transitioned to fat-burning mode. It varies from person to person, but generally, it can take 2 to 7 days for a body to achieve ketosis. It all depends on what a person is eating, his body type, and his workout activity level. This article will explain how ketone strips can help monitor and improve weight.
How Does a Ketone Strip Work?
When an individual switches to a low-carb and high-fat diet consisting of 75% fat, 20% protein, and 5% carbohydrates, his body will start producing molecules called ketones. When he restricts his consumption of carbohydrates while eating more fat, the level of ketones will increase. Different types of ketone test strips are designed to measure those ketones.
The number of ketones a body produces will give an individual an idea of what level of ketosis he has achieved. If a ketone test strip shows the production of ketones at a particular level, it means that one has attained a state of ketosis, which further leads to weight loss.
Ketone strips can indicate ketone levels in both urine and blood tests. The result is in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) of acetoacetate in urine and millimoles per liter (mmol/L) of BHB in the blood.
Ranges of Ketone Strip Test
Here is the breakdown of ketone strip test ranges:
Urine acetoacetate mg/dL
- Baseline: 0 (negative)
- Light Ketosis Level: 5-15 (pink)
- Medium Ketosis Level: 40 (mauve)
- Deep Ketosis Level: 160 (dark purple)
- Fasting Ketosis Level: >160
Blood BHB mmol/L
- Baseline: <0.5 mmol/L
- Light Ketosis Level:5 – 0.8 mmol/L
- Medium Ketosis Level:9 – 1.4 mmol/L
- Deep Ketosis Level:5 – 3.0 mmol/L
- Fasting Ketosis Level:0 – 8.0 mmol/L
How Ketone Strips Can Help with Weight Loss?
Although ketone test strips don’t directly help with weight loss, they let one know if their blood ketone levels are high enough to reach a state of ketosis, i.e., maximum fat-burning mode. Generally, if an individual’s blood glucose level is high after a cheat meal or consuming excess sugar, then ketone strips will indicate lower ketone levels. It will serve as a reminder to return to the diet and workout.
What is the Right Time to Test Ketones Level Using Ketone Strips?
The best tie to test ketones level using a ketone strip is the morning after waking up and before having breakfast or drinking tea or coffee. To get accurate results, test ketone levels in the early morning after sleeping for at least 3 hours.
Conclusion
The ketone test strip measures ketones in the blood or urine. It’s a quick and accurate means that anyone at home can use. The best way to track the weight loss progress is to use ketone strips by comparing them with similar results from past tests. An individual can better understand how well he is doing on the ketosis diet.
