Keto Strips: How Do They Work?

Ketone strips are used to measure the level of ketones in your urine or blood. Ketones are acids produced in your liver when your body doesn't have enough of the hormone insulin to turn sugar into energy. This process is called ketosis. Ketone strips are particularly useful for people on the ketogenic diet, which is a low-carb, high-fat and moderate-protein diet. The strips are usually small and are covered with a paper that reacts to ketones by turning a different colour. The darker the colour, the higher the level of ketosis.

How to use keto strips

Keto strips are used to measure the level of ketones in your urine, which indicates whether your body is in ketosis—a state in which your body burns fat for fuel. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to use keto strips:

Step 1: Collect a urine sample

Start by washing your hands and collecting a urine sample in a clean container. It is recommended to do this at a specific time of day, such as in the morning or several hours after your last meal, for the best comparison.

Step 2: Immerse the strip

Hold the absorptive end of the keto strip in the urine sample for a few seconds. Some strips need to be shaken in the container to remove any excess liquid.

Step 3: Wait for the colour change

Wait for the amount of time specified on the package for the strip to change colour. The strip will turn a particular colour depending on the concentration of ketones in your urine. The darker the colour, the higher your ketone levels.

Step 4: Compare the colour

Compare the colour of the strip to the colour chart provided with your keto strip kit. This will indicate whether you have no ketones, a trace, a small, moderate, or high amount of ketones in your urine.

Step 5: Dispose of the strip

Dispose of the urine and strip appropriately and wash your hands.

Important considerations:

• The strips typically expire within three to six months of opening, so keep this in mind when purchasing.
• Urine strips are not always accurate, especially for people who have been on the keto diet for a long time. In this case, blood keto strips may be a more accurate option, although they are more expensive.
• To ensure accurate results, do not expose the strips to sunlight or moisture, and always check the expiry date before testing.

What keto strips test for

Keto strips test for ketones in the body, which are produced when the body doesn't have enough of the hormone insulin to turn sugar (glucose) into energy. The body then uses fat as an alternative energy source, producing ketones as a result.

There are two types of keto strips: urine and blood. Urine keto strips are small strips that change colour when they come into contact with ketones in the urine. The darker the colour, the higher the level of ketones. Blood keto strips, on the other hand, provide a more accurate reading of ketone levels in the body but are more expensive and require a meter to read the results.

Keto strips are typically used by people following a ketogenic diet to check whether they are in a state of ketosis, where the body primarily burns fat for energy instead of glucose. They are also used by people with diabetes to monitor their ketone levels and detect a potentially dangerous condition called diabetic ketoacidosis.

It is important to note that urine keto strips may not always provide accurate results, especially for people who have been on a keto diet for a long time. This is because the body adapts to using ketones for fuel and becomes more optimised in producing them, resulting in fewer unused ketones being excreted through urine.

Accuracy of keto strips

The accuracy of keto strips depends on several factors, including the length of time on the keto diet, hydration levels, and individual metabolic differences. While keto strips can be a useful tool, they are not always completely accurate and should be used with caution.

Keto strips are a popular tool for measuring ketosis, the state in which the body burns fat for fuel. There are two types of keto strips: urine strips and blood strips. Urine strips are a cheap and convenient way to measure ketone levels in the urine, while blood strips are a more accurate but more expensive option.

When first starting a keto diet, urine strips can be a good way to measure ketone levels. During this initial period, the body is not yet efficient at using ketones for energy, so there will be a higher concentration of waste ketones in the urine. As the body adapts to burning fat for fuel, it becomes more optimized in producing and using ketones, resulting in lower levels of ketones in the urine. This can be misleading, as it may indicate that ketosis has not been achieved when it actually has.

Additionally, hydration levels can affect the concentration of ketones in the urine. Dehydration can lead to higher concentrations, while over-hydration can dilute the urine and affect the reading. However, for individuals consuming typical amounts of water, hydration is not likely to significantly impact the reading.

It is also important to note that ketone levels in the urine do not always reflect what is happening in the body. Blood ketone levels are a more accurate way to measure ketosis, as they reflect the concentration of ketones being used by the body for energy.

In summary, while keto strips can be a useful tool for measuring ketosis, they should not be relied upon as the sole indicator of ketone levels. Other factors, such as hydration and individual metabolic differences, can impact the accuracy of the readings. For a more accurate measurement, blood ketone meters or breath ketone analyzers can be used, although these methods are more expensive.

When to use keto strips

Keto strips are a useful tool for anyone on the keto diet who wants to check if they're in ketosis. They are especially useful for people who are new to the keto diet and want to ensure they're on the right track.

If you're following the keto diet, you can use keto strips at any time to check your ketone levels. However, there are certain times when your results are likely to be more accurate. For example, testing your ketone levels first thing in the morning on an empty stomach is likely to give you a more accurate reading. This is because your body will have rested and cleared the food you ate the night before, giving you accurate results. Testing several hours after your last meal of the day can also be a good time.

It's also important to test at the same time every day so that you can establish a baseline and accurately compare progress. For this reason, many people opt to test twice a day at different times. For example, you could test first thing in the morning and then again in the evening.

It's worth noting that hydration levels can affect the concentration of ketones in your urine, so drinking a large amount of water before testing may result in a lighter colour due to the temporary dilution of your urine. Similarly, your results may vary depending on whether you've just eaten a meal (causing the colour to temporarily lighten) or if you've just exercised (causing the colour to darken because you've burned more carbs and fat).

Where to buy keto strips

Keto strips are available at your local pharmacy, supermarket, or online. They can be purchased over the counter and are relatively inexpensive, ranging from $6.95 to $15 for a package of 50 to several hundred strips.

• Smackfat Ketone Strips: Available on Amazon for $9.95 for 100 strips.
• Nurse Hatty Ketone Strips: Also available on Amazon, these strips are one of the cheapest options at $6.95 for 150 strips.
• Keto Nutrition Ketone Strips: These "professional-grade" strips are also available on Amazon for $8.95.
• Walgreens Ketone Test Strips: Sold at Walgreens stores and online for $10.99 for 50 strips.
• ReliOn Ketone Test Strips: Sold at Walmart stores and online for $10.99 for 50 strips.

Frequently asked questions