Ketone Sticks (Ketostix) - What the colours mean

When I bought my Ketone Strips recently, I was provided with a leaflet explaining about Ketosis and the different colours. I thought I would share as I know there has been some confusion...

Ketone Strips are used for Urinalysis of Ketones (Acetoacetic Acid). Ketostix provides a fast, convenient way of testing urine for the presence and concentration of Ketones.

1) A colour change means you are excreting ketones, burning fat and are in Ketosis but it is wise to remember that it is possible to be in Ketosis and NOT lose or even to gain weight. While a positive test means you are burning fat as your promary fuel it does not necessarily mean you are losing weight. If you eat ecessively some fuel will be used by your bady, some will be excreted (making the stick positive) and some will be retained (and stored as fat).

2) The degree of colour chage is NOT important with respect to identifying ketosis - you are either in ketosis or not, the sticks do not accurately measure degree in all people. Different people get different colours and this is completely unrelated to either their degree of weightloss or their adherance to the plan.

3) No colour change does not necessarily mean you are not in ketosis. Some people never see a change. No change just means that the sticks are detecting none of the specific ketones for which it checks in the Urine.

4) A dark colour many indicate that you are dehydrated however, a dark colour may just be normal for you. If you are drinking enough water and it is still dark, do not overload on water as it is probably your normal colour and too much water can be harmful.

So in Summary:

You are either in Ketosis or not - it does not matter what the colours say..

Dark colours are not dangerous and could be your natural colour

As long as the stick is showing any colour of pink, you are in Ketosis.

Also, it is worth remembering that not eveyone has side effects when getting into ketosis..many people enter ketosis after day 1 and are unaware!

Great post - puts a few old wives tales to rest I think... Thanks xx

good post and very well said.

More info on this one too, there is a greater break down

http://www.minimins.com/lighter-life-forum/67569-readings-ketosis.html

Thanks for posting this, I have been looking for information on this subject!

Where did you get yours from? I asked at the pharmacy in boots and they had no clue!! Xxx

HI, I got mine in Boots, but also got some on amazon x

Thanks lozzer! I asked in boots ( I work there ATM as a Xmas temp) but they weren't in/around pharmacy!! Where we're urs? Might have to try amazon! Xxxx

My son is pharmacy manager but the pharmacist wont sell them to people who are on vlcd so i bought them on pharmacist day off. Think they are meant for diabetics but they were on pharmacy counter. Dont think its a problem just our pharmacist has a bee in his bonnet about it.

I've bought them in Boots but I had to ask for them. They didn't ask any questions she just got them out of a cupboard for me, about £5 I think. If they ask you what they're for just say you new to check your ketone levels x

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Very useful indeed - thank you OP

You can buy them from here:

http://www.**********.co.uk/epages/...Range"/"******** Total Food Replacement Bars"

Lilian15 said:

You can buy them from here:

http://www.**********.co.uk/epages/...Range"/"******** Total Food Replacement Bars"

Click to expand...

?!?!??! x

Hi Mrs B, I had to ask for them also, as they weren't kept on the shelf.

Hmmnm, i did ask, the guy went into the pharmacist bit and they said they don't do them!! Weird!! xxx

I got mine off eBay!

I asked again today - the boy i asked before had no idea, cos we *do* do them , we just don't always have them in stock!!! Not even sure i want/need them anymore!! Think i'd get too paranoid and check everyday for no reason! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I got them but I'd say I've only used about 5 in 4 months. Just sometimes if on antibiotics I wanted to make sure they didn't affect the ketosis.

Yeah, that's fair enough!! I don't have an excuse, just curious i guess!! xxx

sorry meant http://www.**********.co.uk where you can get the stix. I have been on LL total for 2 months and mine haven't changed colour at all. I am losing but not the vast amounts everyone else seems to, after the first couple of weeks.

Hi,
I don't lose huge amounts every week, just 2.5lbs most weeks, but boy is it adding up! The 2 month point can be a bit of an unsettling time, wanting to see things progress, but it eventually gets there.