Keto Strips: How Do They Work?

The ketogenic diet is a low-carb, high-fat, and moderate-protein diet that has been gaining popularity for its health benefits, including weight loss, blood sugar control, and longevity. A common goal for people on this diet is to achieve ketosis, a natural metabolic state in which the body burns fat for fuel. To determine if they are in ketosis, many people use keto strips, which are small strips of plastic or paper that can detect the presence of ketones in urine. These strips typically have colour codes that indicate the level of ketones in the urine, with darker colours indicating higher levels of ketones. While keto strips are a convenient and affordable way to test for ketosis, they may not always be accurate, especially for people who have been on the keto diet for a long time. In such cases, blood ketone meters or breath ketone meters may be more accurate options, although they are also more expensive and invasive.

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 a state of ketosis. Ketosis is when your body has used up all its glucose stores and starts metabolising fat for energy instead. This is achieved by following a ketogenic diet, which is a low-carb, high-fat and moderate-protein diet.

There are two types of keto strips: urine and blood. Urine strips are ideal for people new to the keto diet as they are easy and affordable. Blood strips are more accurate but also more expensive, and you need a meter to read them. Here are the steps to follow for each type:

Using Urine Keto Strips:

• Wash your hands.
• Collect a urine sample in a clean container.
• Hold the absorptive end of the strip in the urine sample for a few seconds.
• Shake the strip gently to remove any excess liquid.
• Wait for the amount of time specified on the package for the strip to change colour.
• Compare the colour of the strip to the colour chart on the packaging.
• Dispose of the urine and strip appropriately and wash your hands again.

Using Blood Keto Strips:

• Wash and dry your hands.
• Insert a blood ketone test strip into the meter, following the directions provided.
• Prick your finger to draw a small drop of blood.
• Bring the strip into contact with the blood drop and check the results.
• Dispose of the strip and lancet as per the directions.

Tips for Using Keto Strips:

• For urine strips, stick to a specific time of day for testing, such as the morning or several hours after your last meal, to ensure the best comparison.
• Urine strips are most accurate during the first few weeks of a keto diet. After that, your body adapts to using ketones for fuel, so you may get false negatives.
• Blood strips are more accurate but also more expensive, and you need a meter to read them.
• Store your keto strips properly to ensure accuracy. Do not expose them to sunlight or moisture, and always check the expiry date before use.

What keto strips measure

Keto strips, also known as ketone strips, are used to measure the level of ketones in your urine or blood. They are often used by people following a ketogenic diet to check whether they are in ketosis.

There are two types of keto strips: urine and blood. Urine strips are small strips of paper that you hold in your urine stream or dunk in a cup of your urine. The paper is specially formulated to react in the presence of ketones by turning a different colour. Blood strips, on the other hand, require a blood sample, usually from a finger prick, which is then placed on the strip.

The colour of the keto strip after it has been exposed to your urine or blood is then compared to a colour chart to determine the concentration of ketones. The darker the colour, the higher the level of ketones.

It is important to note that keto strips are not always accurate, especially for people who have been on the keto diet for a long time. This is because urine strips only measure the unused or excess ketones in your body, and as your body adapts to using ketones for fuel, fewer ketones will be excreted in your urine. Additionally, hydration levels can affect the concentration of ketones in your urine, leading to inaccurate readings. Blood strips are considered to be more accurate but are also more expensive and less convenient.

How accurate are keto strips

Keto strips are a good tool to measure whether you are in ketosis, especially during the first few weeks of starting a keto diet. However, they are not always accurate, and their accuracy depends on several factors.

Factors Affecting Accuracy

• Time spent in ketosis: As your body gets deeper into ketosis and becomes more adapted to using ketones for fuel, it becomes more optimized in producing them, leaving fewer unused ketones to be excreted in urine. This means that if you've been following a keto diet for many months, a keto strip may indicate only trace amounts of ketones or none at all, even if you are still in ketosis.
• Hydration levels: Dehydration can lead to increased ketone levels in the urine, resulting in higher readings on keto strips. Ensuring proper hydration can help produce more accurate and consistent results.
• Expiration: Using expired test strips may also affect accuracy. Keto strips typically expire within 3-6 months of opening, so it's important to check the expiration date before use.
• Comparison to previous readings: For the most accurate results, it is recommended to compare keto strip readings with previous readings to track any changes in ketone levels over time.

Urine Strips vs. Blood Strips

Urine keto strips are a convenient and affordable option, especially for those new to the keto diet. They are easy to use and can provide quick results. However, they are not as accurate as blood keto strips in determining nutritional ketosis and how well your body is utilizing ketones as fuel. This is because urine strips measure excess or unused ketones that the body excretes, which may not reflect the actual level of ketosis.

On the other hand, blood keto strips are more accurate but also more expensive and invasive. They measure the concentration of ketones in the blood, which is a more reliable indicator of ketosis. Blood keto strips are recommended for those who have been following a keto diet for several months and want a more precise measurement of their ketone levels.

The best time to use keto strips

If you are using urine keto strips, it is best to test early in the morning on an empty stomach. This is because your body will have rested and cleared the food taken in before night-time, giving you the most accurate results. You can also test several hours after your last meal of the day, for the best comparison.

If you are using blood keto strips, it is recommended to test while fasted, in the morning, an hour or two after waking and before lunch or dinner (fasted for at least two hours).

It is important to note that urine keto strips are ideal if you are new to the keto diet and want an easy and affordable way to ensure you are headed towards ketosis. On the other hand, blood keto strips are more accurate but also more expensive. They are a more suitable option if you have been on a ketogenic diet for several months and want a more accurate picture of your ketone levels.

Different types of keto strips

There are two main types of keto strips: urine and blood. Urine strips are a cheap and convenient way to test for ketosis, especially for those new to the keto diet. They are also easy to use, with the process being as follows:

• Wash your hands, then take a urine sample in a small container.
• Immerse the absorptive end of the strip into the sample for a few seconds, then remove.
• Wait for the amount of time outlined on the package for the strip to change colour.
• Compare the strip with the colour chart on the packaging.
• Dispose of the urine and strip, then wash your hands.

However, urine strips are not always accurate, especially for those who have been on the keto diet for a long time. This is because the body adapts to using ketones for fuel and becomes more optimised in producing them, leaving less unused. Therefore, a urine strip may indicate that your urine contains only trace amounts of ketones, if any, which can mislead people into thinking they are no longer in ketosis.

Blood keto strips are a more accurate but also more expensive way of measuring ketosis. They are also more invasive and require a meter to read the blood strips. The process for using blood keto strips is as follows:

• Load the lancet with the needle, following the directions provided.
• Insert a blood ketone strip into the ketone meter.
• Prick your finger to draw a small drop of blood using the lancet.
• Let the strip come into contact with the drop of blood and check the results.
• Dispose of the strip and lancet as outlined in the directions.

Frequently asked questions