Best Keto Strips to Measure Ketones (2023): Review & Buyers Guide

Why would you want to measure your ketone levels? To see if you’re into ketosis, of course.

And why would you use a keto strip? Because they’re convenient, affordable, and easy to use.

Why should you spend time researching the best keto strip? Because these are accurate, lab-grade products, with an easy-to-read chart.

If you want to measure your progress while you’re following a keto diet, don’t settle on cheap, possibly old, or damaged strips.

Read the article below to find out which product is the best and what you should look for before buying urine keto strips.

Spoiler alert: most people make one mistake with keto urine strips that puts their lives in danger. Read this article to find out which deadly mistake you should avoid.

What Are Ketone Test Strips? How Do I Measure My Ketone levels?

Ketone strips analyze your urine to assess the volume of acetoacetates, one of the main ketone bodies.

The second most important ketone body are called beta-hydroxybutyrates, which appear in blood tests.

Keto breathalyzers measure ketosis the levels of acetone, which forms from acetoacetate.

The most precise type of analysis is blood keto analysis – I’ll tell you all about that below.

If you want to learn how to read SlimFast, the process is simple:

Top 5 Keto Strips

Here are the best keto strips on the market:

Perfect Keto Ketone Testing Strips – #1 Choice

Perfect Keto Ketone Testing Strips are the best keto urine strips available because they are developed by physicians and so they’re lab-grade accurate.

Keep in mind that keto urine strips measure ketones in urine accurately only for the first few weeks; afterward, your body becomes expert at burning most ketones, so fewer are secreted in urine.

These strips are easy to use to measure levels, whether you’re following a keto-friendly diet, Atkins diet, or if you have type 1 diabetes to find out if you’re at risk for diabetic ketoacidosis.

Perfect Keto is convenient for on-the-go tests because it’s not messy and it’s quick, seeing as you’ll get your results in only 40 seconds.

This helps you stay on track with your keto-friendly diet, as well as avoid the risk of very high ketone levels.

Smackfat Ketone Strips

If you’re interested in weight loss, the Smackfat brand was built by someone who lost 85 pounds in just a few months following the keto diet.

So if he built this brand from the ground up after losing so much weight, you’d figure he’s passionate about delivering the same experience to his customers.

That’s why these strips are accurate and easy to use if you need to test your levels.

If you buy them on Amazon, you get a satisfaction guarantee which allows you to change them for something else if you’re not happy with how they work.

Ketostix Ketone Strips

Ketostix is a popular brand of ketone strips with many happy customers.

Just like the Perfect Keto and Smackfat strips, there are a hundred strips in the box.

You’ll get one pack if you buy this product from Amazon, but Walmart packs it in two boxes.

That said, the airtight container is a favorite feature for most users because the strips last longer.

Keto-Mojo Ketone Strips

These Ketone Strips from Keto Mojo are ketone blood test strips.

The box contains 50 of them, along with a clear instructional video that takes you through all the steps of using them.

The downside is that you need the full kit first, which includes a lancet device and the blood testing ketone meters.

Although blood ketone strips are more accurate than urine ketone strips in the long run and Keto Mojo is a renowned brand, the kit plus the strips might be too expensive for some.

These strips are a good idea to get if you’re experiencing a plateau or if your urine strips don’t provide conclusive results anymore.

If you feel like you’re following your low-carb diet, but your urine levels of ketone are low, get the Keto Mojo strips for blood sugar test.

If your urine is extremely dark in color and you fear you’re at risk for ketoacidosis, the Keto Mojo Strips report back a result in numbers, not an interval.

This is a more precise way to find out if you need to consult your GP.

Nurse Hatty – Good Ketone Strips

The Nurse Hatty strips are made in the USA and approved by the FDA.

These are longer-than-average urine test strips, so at 4.2 inches you can dip them in your urine stream without getting your fingers wet.

Apart from the strips, the box includes various diet plans to detox, reduce your calories, and minimize bloating, plus a guide to ketosis.

Nurse Hatty claims to produce these trips from high-quality materials, but there’s no info online regarding the ingredients that go into these strips.

If you’re to believe most customers, though, Nurse Hatty is a product that works.

Although it’s not FDA-approved, the strips have been lab-tested and approved by in-house quality controls, both for efficacy and safety.

How to Read Keto Strips / Ketone Strips Color Chart

Each brand of urine strips features a color chart either on the box, or inside on a separate paper.

The first thing you need to check, apart from the overall accuracy of said test, is how easy it is to distinguish the different shades and colors.

All test strips have a negative, beige light shade for “negative.” This is a control shade, and it means you’re not in ketosis.

All the other shades mean you’re in ketosis.

The colors indicate your levels of ketone at different intervals, typically grouped as trace, small, moderate, large, and extra-large.

The large and extra-large intervals are the darkest, while the trace and small are the lightest.

Pro Tips:

Are Keto Strips Accurate?

Not all strips are created equal. Some brands are better than others, meaning they give more precise results.

That said, the best keto urine strips from the best brands on the market are indeed accurate, but blood strips like Keto Mojo or Precision Xtra Blood Ketone Test Strips are better in the long term.

That’s because, after the first few weeks of ketosis, your body starts using up more and more ketones, so fewer appear in the urine.

Besides, keto blood tests convey results in numbers, whereas keto urine strips convey intervals so:

What Are the Benefits of Using Keto Strips?

Keto strips have quite a few benefits:

What is the Difference Between Good Keto Strips and Keto Sticks?

Strips and keto sticks are used interchangeably to define the same thing: a strip you dip in urine to find out how deep into ketosis you are.

There are several differences between good strips and not so good ones, though, as the best ones:

How Often Should I Use Ketone Test Strips? Best Time to Use Ketosis Strips

Ketone test strips are better used first thing in the morning or a few hours after your last evening meal.

It’s believed that food and exercise influence your ketone lvls, whereas drinking too much water before getting tested dilutes your urine, and therefore your urine ketone lvls appear lower.

Blood test strips are better used once per day, after a meal to keep track of how different foods affect your ketosis.

Measuring Ketosis Using Urine When You Are on a Ketogenic Diet

When you’re just beginning ketosis, urine analysis can tell you the state of ketosis depending on your ketone levels:

How Many Ketones in Urine for Ketosis?

When you’re in ketosis, you have high levels of ketones in your urine. These can vary from a few hundred to a few thousand IU/ml. Since ketosis causes you to burn fat for energy, you want to be close to 3,000 IU/ml or below. Now, obviously, ketones in the urine tell you you’re in ketosis, but how many of these are you looking for?

Are you looking for the “thumbprint” – the shape of the ketones in the urine? Or are you looking for the total number of ketones in the urine? It’s true that the ketones in the urine indicate that you’re in a state of ketosis, but you need more than just the ketones to indicate ketosis. The Small and Large Ketones in Urine – Why It Matters. Well, first let’s discuss the size of the ketones in your urine. Since a small number of ketones can indicate ketosis, a large number of ketones can also indicate not being in ketosis.

What Color Should Ketone Strip Be For Weight Loss?

A little over a year ago, a couple of studies pointed out that ketones were the main hormones responsible for the fat-burning process. By definition, they are lipids used by your body to produce energy. In normal people, they are synthesized in the liver and called fatty acids. Ketones can either come from your body’s breakdown of fats, such as triglycerides, or from the breakdown of proteins in your muscles. It should be noted that ketone supplements such as NuPhen hydro and CholoPlus are not suitable for the purpose of weight loss.

To break it down, ketones are present in muscle tissues as well as fat tissues. The crucial difference between ketones and other chemicals present in your body is that ketones only cause a temporary change in glucose metabolism. The reason why it does not cause an instantaneous change is that when your body is already adapted to this chemical system, the whole process takes just a fraction of a second. Ketone strips, for example, are only useful for short-term use since they will reduce the glucose levels in your blood for a few hours.

What is a Good Ketone Level for Ketosis?

Ideally, you want to achieve a reading between 1.1 and 1.6 on your ketone meter. This is what is called the “action level,” and it is the highest level that indicates you are in ketosis. It is also the same level as when your body is producing ketones from your liver.

Some people can tolerate higher readings for the sake of avoiding hypoglycemia. But you don’t want to be high enough to start to produce liver fat in your urine. As mentioned above, the goal is to get your body to create ketones as a way to get rid of the dangerous liver fat. How to Run a Ketogenic Diet. If you are in good ketosis, your body will start to go into starvation mode. This is why you want to practice intermittent fasting when running keto.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 8.0 Too High for Ketosis?

Yes, a blood ketone level of 8.0 mmol/L would generally be considered quite high for ketosis. Ketosis refers to a metabolic state in which the body produces and utilizes ketones as an alternative fuel source, typically when carbohydrate intake is restricted. The range of blood ketone levels associated with nutritional ketosis is typically between 0.5-3.0 mmol/L.

While there is some variability among individuals, a reading of 8.0 mmol/L suggests an exceptionally high level of circulating ketones. Such elevated ketone lvls may occur in certain circumstances, such as during prolonged fasting, extreme carbohydrate restriction, or in individuals with specific metabolic disorders. It is worth noting that very high ketone lvls can lead to a condition known as ketoacidosis, which is a dangerous state characterized by excessively acidic blood pH.

For most individuals following a standard ketogenic diet, aiming for blood ketone lvls within the range of 0.5-3.0 mmol/L is considered optimal and safe. These levels are typically sufficient to indicate that the body has transitioned into a state of ketosis and is effectively utilizing ketones for energy. However, it is important to monitor ketone lvls in the context of overall health and consult with a healthcare professional for personalized guidance and monitoring, particularly if experiencing exceptionally high ketone lvls.

Do Higher Ketone Levels Burn More Fat?

The relationship between ketone lvls and fat burning is complex and influenced by various factors. While it is true that higher ketone lvls are often associated with increased fat utilization, the relationship is not necessarily linear. In a ketogenic state, the body primarily relies on fat as a fuel source, and higher ketone levels indicate an increased production and utilization of ketones.

However, it’s important to note that fat burning is not solely determined by ketone levels. The total energy balance, including calorie intake and expenditure, plays a significant role. To effectively burn fat, a calorie deficit needs to be achieved, meaning that the body must consume fewer calories than it needs for daily energy requirements.

While elevated lvls can indicate an increased utilization of fat, excessively high levels are not necessarily indicative of enhanced fat burning. It is more important to focus on overall caloric balance and maintaining a sustainable and healthy lifestyle. Consistency in maintaining a proper caloric deficit, engaging in regular physical activity, and adhering to a well-balanced diet will have a more significant impact on fat-burning and weight loss than solely relying on ketone lvl.

Moreover, individual responses to ketones and fat metabolism can vary. Some individuals may achieve higher ketone lvls while others may experience similar fat-burning effects with lower ketone lvl. It is crucial to prioritize overall health, and sustainable weight loss practices, and consult with a healthcare professional or registered dietitian for personalized guidance in achieving weight loss goals.

How to Use Ketone Test Strips?

Using ketone test strips is a straightforward process, often employed by individuals following ketogenic diets, managing diabetes, or monitoring their metabolic health. These strips help measure the presence of ketones, which are organic compounds produced when the body breaks down fat for energy. Monitoring ketone levels is crucial for assessing the state of ketosis, a metabolic state sought after by those on low-carbohydrate diets or by individuals with diabetes to prevent ketoacidosis, a potentially life-threatening condition. Here’s a detailed guide on how to use ketone test strips effectively:

1. Gather Necessary Materials: Ensure you have all the essential items on hand, including ketone test strips, a clean and dry container to catch urine, a timer, and, if available, the manufacturer’s instructions.
2. Hydration Status: It’s important to consider your hydration status. Excessive hydration can dilute ketone levels in your urine, potentially leading to false-negative results. However, dehydration can result in more concentrated ketones and potentially higher readings. Maintain a consistent fluid intake to reduce fluctuations.
3. Prepare Your Sample: Most commonly, ketone test strips are used with urine samples. To obtain a sample, urinate into a clean and dry container.
4. Dip the Strip: Remove a ketone test strip from its packaging, ensuring your hands are dry to avoid contamination. Submerge the strip into the urine sample, making sure the reagent area (the part that changes color) is fully immersed.
5. Time It: After immersing the strip, follow the manufacturer’s recommended time for color development, typically around 15 seconds.
6. Interpret the Results: Compare the color change on the test strip to the color chart provided on the packaging. The color change corresponds to the concentration of ketones in your urine. Typically, there are different shades of pink or purple, indicating varying levels of ketosis.
7. Record the Results: To track your progress, record the ketone level, date, and time of testing. This will help you monitor any changes and adjust your diet or lifestyle accordingly.
8. Understand the Measurements: Ketone test strips may use different measurement units, such as millimoles per liter (mmol/L) or milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). Familiarize yourself with the unit used on the specific strips you are using.
9. Repeat as Needed: Depending on your goals or health conditions, you may need to test ketone levels at different times throughout the day, such as in the morning, after meals, or during fasting.
10. Consult a Healthcare Professional: While ketone test strips are useful for self-monitoring, it’s essential to consult a healthcare professional for a comprehensive understanding of your metabolic health and to ensure your ketone levels align with your health goals.

In summary, using ketone test strips involves collecting a urine sample, dipping the strip, waiting for color changes, comparing them to a reference chart, and recording the results. Proper technique and consistent monitoring can be valuable in managing your health and dietary objectives. Always follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer and consult a healthcare expert for personalized guidance.

Final Words and Which One is the Best In The Market?

All the products in this review are good, but Perfect Keto Ketone Strips are the best. Why?

Because they’re the most accurate urine test strips on the market, almost on par with blood strips for newbie keto-ers, Perfect Keto strips are extremely convenient and value for money.

They are longer than other strips, and you can pee on them.

Other urine strips have a very small test area, meaning you need to collect your urine in a clean bowl first.

Perfect Keto strips are among the easiest to read, with a clear chart that uses bright colors.