Increased Ketones in the Blood
A hallmark of ketosis is having increased ketone levels in the blood. It also occurs with a reduction in blood sugar levels as the body starts to use fat and ketones for energy. Both are good news in achieving the potential benefits of going on a keto diet.
One effective way to determine if the diet works is to check one’s ketone levels through blood samples.
In medical laboratories, there is a specialized meter they use to calculate the number of ketones in the blood. There are also test kits available so one can perform the test at home, but they are a bit pricey. The process starts by taking a small amount of blood through a pinprick from the finger. Then, the blood sample is added to the ketone strip inserted into the meter. Blood ketone levels ranging from 0.5 to 3.0 millimoles per liter define nutritional ketosis.
Since ketones also exit on the breath and urine, an individual can use a breath analyzer or indicator strips to check urinary levels instead of blood testing.
