If you’re reading this, then it’s likely that you’re looking to learn more about ketones, why they are important, and how you can check your ketone levels. We’ve got you covered! Read on to learn everything you need to know about ketones.
What is a ketone? A ketone is a chemical compound produced by the liver when it breaks down fats. Our bodies usually use glucose as its fuel source. But when it isn’t readily available, our bodies use ketones as an alternative source of energy.
If you feel tired or weak, it might be a sign that your body has started producing ketones. It’s important to keep an eye out for this so that you keep your health and wellness in check, because a high amount of ketones might indicate that you are imposing too many restrictions in your diet.
If you have diabetes and experience any of the following, then it is critical that you check the ketone levels in your urine:
- High levels of blood sugar
- Frequent bathroom visits
- Feeling more thirsty than usual
- Having a dry mouth
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
Even if you don't have diabetes and experience any of the following, it’s still worth checking your urine’s ketone levels:
- Frequent bathroom visits
- Having bad breath or trouble breathing
- Nausea and vomiting
- Having a hard time focusing
- Feeling more tired or sleepy
- Feeling more thirsty than usual
You can check ketones in your body with ketone tests strips, which provides you with information on your wellness. If you’re on a ketogenic diet, you can check whether you are in ketosis using ketone tests.
Ketone tests use a sample of either your urine, blood, or breath. But today, we’ll focus largely on checking ketones in urine through at-home urine tests.
How to test ketone levels?
Ketones can be tested at home using a urine ketone strip, blood ketone strip, or blood ketone meter. However, blood ketone test strips and meters are more expensive, and can be more difficult to use.
At-home urine strips are one of the best ways to test ketone levels in your body because they are much more affordable and easier to use.
How to check ketones in urine?
A urine ketone test can be used to detect ketones in the urine. When these urine tests come into contact with your urine, they change color. The color that it turns into corresponds to your urine's concentration of ketones, ranging from zero to high. The darker the color after urinating on the test, the higher your ketone level.
When you take a urine ketone test, it can be difficult to read your own results, because there is always room for error when trying to determine your urine ketone levels based on a change in color. That’s why you should try out Vivoo! Vivoo is an at-home urine test that can test your urine ketone levels using an App. You just urinate on the strip and scan to the app to get your results in 90 seconds, taking out the need to analyze your results yourself. In addition, Vivoo gives you real-time data on your body’s wellness based on wellness parameters like ketones, as well as other parameters such as your body’s vitamin C, water, and magnesium levels. Vivoo’s highly developed image processing technology turns your smartphone into an optical reader!
How much ketones should be in urine?
Even though ketones aren’t normally found in urine, it is also normal to trace amounts of ketones in urine. But if you follow a ketogenic diet, your test results will be interpreted differently compared to other individuals.
With Vivoo, you can find out exactly how much ketones are in your urine, and determine whether you have too many ketones in your urine depending on the diet you follow. Here are the reference ranges that Vivoo uses for those not following a ketogenic diet:
- Label: Great Value: 0 mg/dL
- Label: Moderate Value: 5-15 mg/dL
- Label: Weak Value: 15-150 mg/dL
Here are the reference ranges that Vivoo uses for who are following ketogenic diet:
- Label: Negative Value: 0 mg/dL
- Label: Optimal Value: 5-50 mg/dL
- Label: High Value: 50-150 mg/dL
How to use keto strips?
With home ketone test, checking ketones in urine is one of the easiest and simplest things you can do on your own. If you want to get real-time body data and insight into what your body needs, Vivoo can help you! Vivoo tests your body against 9 wellness parameters - of which one is your ketone levels - and offers you nutritional advice based on whether there are ketones in your urine and the diet you follow.
It’s pretty simple to start using Vivoo. All you need to do is:
- Download the Vivoo App.
- Urinate on the strip and scan it to the Vivoo App.
- Get personalized nutritional advice.
Vivoo translates your urine information into personalized nutritional and lifestyle advice that you can easily incorporate into your daily life. All Vivoo advice has been prepared by registered dietitians, nutritionists, and doctors. Start your wellness journey now to track your ketone levels right away!
Related: A Beginner’s Guide to Ketones
I’m Not On a Ketogenic Diet So Why Are There Ketones In My Urine?
