Buy Ketostix from your local pharmacy to measure ketone levels in your urine. Just pee on them, wait for 15 seconds and compare the color against the chart on the bottle; the picture shows a negative result
(not 100% true as I stated in my post above) (beige color) and a positive trace ketones result (light pink). The darker the strip, the higher the ketone concentration. Ketostix are not necessary for experienced ketogenic dieters, who can easily tell whether they are in ketosis or not from how they feel and the metallic taste in their mouth, but are essential for beginners
(yes if you want to line the pharmasists pockets!). Ketostix help monitor how quickly ketosis is established, and is an invaluable tool in determining how many carbohydrates you can tolerate without being thrown out of ketosis
(bit of dangerous info) and in troubleshooting reasons for not becoming ketogenic (such as artificial sweeteners which affect some people but not others). Just be aware that Ketostixs are not 100% reliable since they only measure EXCESS ketones spilling into the urine (urinary ketosis) and are sensitive to hydration levels (drinking a lot will naturally dilute the ketone concentration in the urine) - it is very possible to be in ketosis even with no traces on the sticks. The only reliable way to assess the level of ketosis is to measure ketone concentrations in the bloodstream; some blood glucose meters used by diabetics
can do this. That kind of accuracy is rarely needed on a ketogenic diet, but for a diabetic rising ketone levels are a potential life and death situation. The depth of ketosis people enter also varies a lot from person to person. In theory, fat loss is best with only traces of ketones so don’t make it a hobby to try to reach very deep colors
(again not 100% true)! Ketostix are an important tool, but don’t invest all your emotion into them.
