Something new and emerging has finally hit the market. Something that is going to be a real game changer, that we have never seen before and, for a great amount of people, something that actually works. This supplement goes beyond assisting weight loss, that's merely a side effect to what therapeutic advantages it can offer. From slowing the progression of Alzheimer's, to decreasing inflammation and even controlling seizures and treating cancer patients.
What if I told you it was possible to detect ketones in the blood and urine just 1 hour after ingesting a ketone supplement? Well, if you're like me you would probably dismiss it as too good to be true, like I initially did. But you would also be open minded and curious enough to read a little more about it before dismissing it entirely.... Right?
What if I told you it was possible to detect ketones in the blood and urine just 1 hour after ingesting a ketone supplement? Well, if you're like me you would probably dismiss it as too good to be true, like I initially did. But you would also be open minded and curious enough to read a little more about it before dismissing it entirely.... Right?
Right.
So real talk. You came here to find out what the deal is with this product I've been taking and thats just what I'm going to tell you.
So lets get to it.
So real talk. You came here to find out what the deal is with this product I've been taking and thats just what I'm going to tell you.
So lets get to it.
What is it???
This ketone product is whats referred to as an exogenous ketone. Exogenous meaning coming from an outside source as opposed what we're use to talking about, which are endogenous ketones that are formed by the body when diet is manipulated.
These exogenous ketones are made up from β-hydroxybutyrate (aka BHB) and are often paired with sodium to act as a buffer since ketones are naturally acidic on their own. BHB Salt is a product of β-hydroxybutyrate, an organic compound that is extracted via acid hydrolysis, and then bonded with salt to create the base of the product you actually take. Once a little MCT oil (and flavor to mask the terrible taste) is added, it is packaged and shipped to you in a powder form to simply add to water and drink.
Here's the long version of what BHB is:
Beta-Hydroxybutyric acid (also known as beta-hydroxybutyrate, 3-hydroxybutyric acid or 3-hydroxybutyrate) is an organic compound with the formula CH3CH(OH)CH2CO2H. It is a beta hydroxy acid. It is a chiral compound having two enantiomers, D-3-hydroxybutyric acid and L-3-hydroxybutyric acid. Its oxidized and polymeric derivatives occur widely in nature. {link}
3-Hydroxybutyrate is a hydroxy fatty acid anion and ketone body synthesized in the liver from acetyl-Coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) by the enzyme 3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase. 3-hydroxybutyrate can be used as an energy source when glucose levels drop. Elevated urine and serum levels of 3-hydroxybutyrate are seen in (nutritional) ketosis and ketoacidosis. {link}
Chemistry, anyone?
I really wish I had taken Organic Chem right about now because to be honest my head spun a little when I tried to wrap my mind around what exactly this was and how it was made. Luckily this community is filled with wonderful people and all I had to do was simply reach out to my friend, Jimmy Moore, and in no time he had me corresponding with Dr. D'Agostino, Assistant Professor at the University of South Florida College Of Medicine, Molecular Pharmacology & Physiology.
No big deal...
These exogenous ketones are made up from β-hydroxybutyrate (aka BHB) and are often paired with sodium to act as a buffer since ketones are naturally acidic on their own. BHB Salt is a product of β-hydroxybutyrate, an organic compound that is extracted via acid hydrolysis, and then bonded with salt to create the base of the product you actually take. Once a little MCT oil (and flavor to mask the terrible taste) is added, it is packaged and shipped to you in a powder form to simply add to water and drink.
Here's the long version of what BHB is:
Beta-Hydroxybutyric acid (also known as beta-hydroxybutyrate, 3-hydroxybutyric acid or 3-hydroxybutyrate) is an organic compound with the formula CH3CH(OH)CH2CO2H. It is a beta hydroxy acid. It is a chiral compound having two enantiomers, D-3-hydroxybutyric acid and L-3-hydroxybutyric acid. Its oxidized and polymeric derivatives occur widely in nature. {link}
3-Hydroxybutyrate is a hydroxy fatty acid anion and ketone body synthesized in the liver from acetyl-Coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) by the enzyme 3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase. 3-hydroxybutyrate can be used as an energy source when glucose levels drop. Elevated urine and serum levels of 3-hydroxybutyrate are seen in (nutritional) ketosis and ketoacidosis. {link}
Chemistry, anyone?
I really wish I had taken Organic Chem right about now because to be honest my head spun a little when I tried to wrap my mind around what exactly this was and how it was made. Luckily this community is filled with wonderful people and all I had to do was simply reach out to my friend, Jimmy Moore, and in no time he had me corresponding with Dr. D'Agostino, Assistant Professor at the University of South Florida College Of Medicine, Molecular Pharmacology & Physiology.
No big deal...
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Also, take 10 minutes to watch Dr. Dominic D'Agostino's TED talks. Pretty remarkable stuff that is finally gaining traction and momentum.
Be part of it. |
who should take this?
For those who are seeking weight loss only, I am going to be quite blunt here and remind everyone reading that this is a supplement, not a magic potion. A supplement is "something that completes or enhances something else when added to it". So in my opinion, this supplement is not for those who are still following a poor diet full of processed foods, sugary drinks and drive thru dinners. Don't be surprised if nothing changes when you're not willing to make any dietary adjustments in the first place. Change your diet first, then try this out, otherwise you're likely just going to waste your money.
However, I will say that this product does allow some people to reach nutritional ketosis without such a strict ketogenic diet. So in short, it allows them to be a little loose with their carb restriction, but this is very dependent on the individual's response to carbs and level of activity. Also keep in mind that not everyone is taking this product to lose weight, so everyone's measurement of success will be dependent on their own personal needs.
For myself, the high fat/low carb diet alone could get me reading .5-1.0mmol/l on the blood ketone monitors but once I started to supplement with this product, I could easily hit 2.0mmol/l without eliminating carbs completely or working out like a mad woman. This supplement is especially helpful for those who are extremely carb sensitive, eat too much protein on their ketogenic diets, or just naturally find themselves falling short of their desired ketone readings despite every attempt.
Not only that (and I hesitate to admit this, but its true), mentally it is so incredibly motivating to see those pee sticks turn that darkest shade of purple! It's very encouraging and the ability to reach a state of nutritional ketosis that much quicker keeps you on track by immediately decreasing appetite and sugar cravings while increasing and maintaing energy.
Besides weight loss, which to be honest is the least impressive result of a ketogenic diet, many people with metabolic disorders, autoimmune disease, epilepsy, inflammation, neurological disease and even cancer are finding relief and even reversing disease all together with this diet, and now, supplement.
However, I will say that this product does allow some people to reach nutritional ketosis without such a strict ketogenic diet. So in short, it allows them to be a little loose with their carb restriction, but this is very dependent on the individual's response to carbs and level of activity. Also keep in mind that not everyone is taking this product to lose weight, so everyone's measurement of success will be dependent on their own personal needs.
For myself, the high fat/low carb diet alone could get me reading .5-1.0mmol/l on the blood ketone monitors but once I started to supplement with this product, I could easily hit 2.0mmol/l without eliminating carbs completely or working out like a mad woman. This supplement is especially helpful for those who are extremely carb sensitive, eat too much protein on their ketogenic diets, or just naturally find themselves falling short of their desired ketone readings despite every attempt.
Not only that (and I hesitate to admit this, but its true), mentally it is so incredibly motivating to see those pee sticks turn that darkest shade of purple! It's very encouraging and the ability to reach a state of nutritional ketosis that much quicker keeps you on track by immediately decreasing appetite and sugar cravings while increasing and maintaing energy.
Besides weight loss, which to be honest is the least impressive result of a ketogenic diet, many people with metabolic disorders, autoimmune disease, epilepsy, inflammation, neurological disease and even cancer are finding relief and even reversing disease all together with this diet, and now, supplement.
What people are saying
"Nearly all of your normal cells have the flexibility to readily adapt to using ketone bodies for fuel in lieu of glucose, but cancer cells do not have this metabolic flexibility. Hence, they effectively starve to death while all your normal cells actually operate more efficiently than before." {link}
"Ketones as an alternative fuel are also under study at USF in the lab under direction of Dominic D’Agostino, Ph.D. for treatment of cancer, ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), wound healing, oxygen toxicity, epilepsy, and status epilepticus, using ketogenic diets that contain medium chain triglycerides and also ketone esters. The cancer studies are looking at combinations of ketogenic diets with hyperbaric oxygen and glucose lowering substances to further enhance the effect on killing cancer cells, which thrive on glucose but cannot use ketones, while preserving normal cells. Results of several of these studies have now been published and others are forthcoming." {link}
"Using coconut/MCT oil supplements in normal, healthy adults will raise ketone levels in the blood from 0.09 mM to 0.3-0.4 mM immediately, and over time one can get 10 times those levels sticking to the supplement and a low carbohydrate diet. Ingestion of 50 grams of a supplement called a ketone ester can double those levels within an hour, leading to 6-7mM concentrations one can only find in humans with prolonged fasting. Ingesting the supplement every 3-4 hours can maintain these high levels." {link}
"Ketone bodies (KBs), acetoacetate and β-hydroxybutyrate (βHB), were considered harmful metabolic by-products when discovered in the mid-19th century in the urine of patients with diabetic ketoacidosis. It took physicians many years to realize that KBs are normal metabolites synthesized by the liver and exported into the systemic circulation to serve as an energy source for most extrahepatic tissues. Studies have shown that the brain (which normally uses glucose for energy) can readily utilize KBs as an alternative fuel." {link}
Pretty remarkable stuff, right?
"Ketones as an alternative fuel are also under study at USF in the lab under direction of Dominic D’Agostino, Ph.D. for treatment of cancer, ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), wound healing, oxygen toxicity, epilepsy, and status epilepticus, using ketogenic diets that contain medium chain triglycerides and also ketone esters. The cancer studies are looking at combinations of ketogenic diets with hyperbaric oxygen and glucose lowering substances to further enhance the effect on killing cancer cells, which thrive on glucose but cannot use ketones, while preserving normal cells. Results of several of these studies have now been published and others are forthcoming." {link}
"Using coconut/MCT oil supplements in normal, healthy adults will raise ketone levels in the blood from 0.09 mM to 0.3-0.4 mM immediately, and over time one can get 10 times those levels sticking to the supplement and a low carbohydrate diet. Ingestion of 50 grams of a supplement called a ketone ester can double those levels within an hour, leading to 6-7mM concentrations one can only find in humans with prolonged fasting. Ingesting the supplement every 3-4 hours can maintain these high levels." {link}
"Ketone bodies (KBs), acetoacetate and β-hydroxybutyrate (βHB), were considered harmful metabolic by-products when discovered in the mid-19th century in the urine of patients with diabetic ketoacidosis. It took physicians many years to realize that KBs are normal metabolites synthesized by the liver and exported into the systemic circulation to serve as an energy source for most extrahepatic tissues. Studies have shown that the brain (which normally uses glucose for energy) can readily utilize KBs as an alternative fuel." {link}
Pretty remarkable stuff, right?
Product Comparisons
So lets get down to the breakdown of products and cost of this stuff...
I'll start by saying that it's not easy to obtain, it is expensive and yes you can achieve similar (maybe not as efficient though) results by adhering to a high fat/low carb/moderate protein diet.
But like I said before, this is intended to supplement and enhance those dietary changes, not do all the work for you.
That said, there are currently only 3 products on the market that I am aware of selling exogenous ketone supplements.
Here is the breakdown of each and where to find them.
I'll start by saying that it's not easy to obtain, it is expensive and yes you can achieve similar (maybe not as efficient though) results by adhering to a high fat/low carb/moderate protein diet.
But like I said before, this is intended to supplement and enhance those dietary changes, not do all the work for you.
That said, there are currently only 3 products on the market that I am aware of selling exogenous ketone supplements.
Here is the breakdown of each and where to find them.
KetonX is a product by Forever Green and to be honest I have never tried it because it has been unavailable since I learned that exogenous ketones hit the market. On top of that, if you go to their website it's nearly impossible to navigate with no actual page to purchase product on. Overall, their information seems to be either buttoned up for affiliates only or just incomplete. I have no idea where to find a product list of how much it costs but I have heard from someone who is affiliated that they charge $120 per 10 day "reset pack", which includes a meal replacement shake and a snack called dough bites. Overall, they are my least favorite and I cannot recommend them at this time. If that changes, I will be sure to update.
KetoForce by Prototype Nutrition is an exogenous ketone product sold in a clear liquid form without any added flavors or MCT oil. This part is especially appealing to those who are seeking out the most basic form of exogenous ketones on the market. However, it has to be the most awful tasting thing I have ever tried in my entire life. Dr. Attia said it best on his blog post about experimenting with exogenous ketones:
"The ketone esters are, hands-down, the worst tasting compounds I have ever put in my body. The world’s worst scotch tastes like spring water compared to these things. The first time I tried 50 mL of BHB monoester, I failed to mix it with anything (Dom warned me, but I was too eager to try them to actually read his instructions). Strategic error. It tasted as I imagine jet fuel would taste. I thought I was going to go blind. I didn’t stop gagging for 10 minutes. (I did this before an early morning bike ride, and I was gagging so loudly in the kitchen that I woke up my wife, who was still sleeping in our bedroom.)" {link}
Pretty intense, but overall it can easily be mixed with tons of water to dilute it down and chased with cheap vodka to mask the taste.
Personally, I've had higher readings with KetoForce, most likely due to the fact that there are 11.7g of BHB per serving vs 8.1 with Keto OS, but I just can't stand the taste. This company does make an alternative product (that I have yet to try due to being out of stock) called KetoCaNa, which is flavored and in a powder form. Both the liquid and powder form cost $75 for 16 servings. The fact that there is a NO REFUND policy makes it hard for me to recommend this product without giving full disclosure as to how terrible it tastes. However, I do recommend KetoForce over KetonX at this time
"The ketone esters are, hands-down, the worst tasting compounds I have ever put in my body. The world’s worst scotch tastes like spring water compared to these things. The first time I tried 50 mL of BHB monoester, I failed to mix it with anything (Dom warned me, but I was too eager to try them to actually read his instructions). Strategic error. It tasted as I imagine jet fuel would taste. I thought I was going to go blind. I didn’t stop gagging for 10 minutes. (I did this before an early morning bike ride, and I was gagging so loudly in the kitchen that I woke up my wife, who was still sleeping in our bedroom.)" {link}
Pretty intense, but overall it can easily be mixed with tons of water to dilute it down and chased with cheap vodka to mask the taste.
Personally, I've had higher readings with KetoForce, most likely due to the fact that there are 11.7g of BHB per serving vs 8.1 with Keto OS, but I just can't stand the taste. This company does make an alternative product (that I have yet to try due to being out of stock) called KetoCaNa, which is flavored and in a powder form. Both the liquid and powder form cost $75 for 16 servings. The fact that there is a NO REFUND policy makes it hard for me to recommend this product without giving full disclosure as to how terrible it tastes. However, I do recommend KetoForce over KetonX at this time
Keto OS is a product made by the company Pruvit, which is the product I will continue to use when I run out of my KetoForce. Keto OS is formulated with powdered MCT oil, as well as potassium to compensate for lost electrolytes when adhering to a ketogenic diet. However, their original formula v 1.2 had 1.9 grams of sodium in it! Even a salt addict such as myself had to cringe at that number. Luckily, their current formula v 2.0 has half that amount at 970mg with intentions of releasing an even lower sodium formula in the next phase. Comparatively, KetoForce has 1.6 grams per serving and all exogenous ketones will have a high amount of sodium due to the way they are formulated in the first place. You also have the choice of caffeinated ("Charged") or un caffinated blends. While it doesn't taste like jet fuel, it's flavored with "natural" (gotta love those) ingredients and Stevia to create a flavor similar to an orange creamsicle with a salty undertone.
Keto OS is going to cost you about $120 per month for 30 servings if you sign up for auto-ship. There is an option to purchase smaller bundles of the product to try out before committing and best of all, there is an excellent 100% money back guarantee. I've had friends who signed up and canceled auto ship immediately with no hassles. On top of impressive endorsements, such as Jimmy Moore and Maria Emmerich, customer service has been quick to respond to my endless questions and their website is incredibly easy to navigate with a very detailed FAQ page found here.
Keto OS is going to cost you about $120 per month for 30 servings if you sign up for auto-ship. There is an option to purchase smaller bundles of the product to try out before committing and best of all, there is an excellent 100% money back guarantee. I've had friends who signed up and canceled auto ship immediately with no hassles. On top of impressive endorsements, such as Jimmy Moore and Maria Emmerich, customer service has been quick to respond to my endless questions and their website is incredibly easy to navigate with a very detailed FAQ page found here.
In closing....
Overall, I am very confident in endorsing the use of exogenous ketones as a supplement, particularly Keto OS. I am affiliated with this product now, meaning if you were to purchase through my link I would make a commission. This is similar to purchasing Avon, DoTerra or Mary Kay from someone who represents those companies.
I spent a great deal of time researching this product as well as using it myself before I decided to finally write this blog post endorsing it and sharing my affiliate link, found here. It truly doesn't bother me if you purchase this product through me, or someone else. I'm just here to share the information. I have a job, and it's not this. After over 10 years on a 911 responding ambulance I make $15.67/hr so trust me when I say that I don't do things for the money.
What I am most excited about is getting this information out there to as many people as possible. According to the CDC, nearly half of the entire adult population is living with one or more chronic diseases. {link} I see disease every single day at work and it is a fate I am certain I will be significantly less likely to face because I am educated and aware that options such as a ketogenic diet and exogenous ketone supplements exist.
Let us finally take note from what Hippocrates said nearly 2,000 years ago:
“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”
Please be sure to share what you've learned here, and as always, thank you for reading!
I spent a great deal of time researching this product as well as using it myself before I decided to finally write this blog post endorsing it and sharing my affiliate link, found here. It truly doesn't bother me if you purchase this product through me, or someone else. I'm just here to share the information. I have a job, and it's not this. After over 10 years on a 911 responding ambulance I make $15.67/hr so trust me when I say that I don't do things for the money.
What I am most excited about is getting this information out there to as many people as possible. According to the CDC, nearly half of the entire adult population is living with one or more chronic diseases. {link} I see disease every single day at work and it is a fate I am certain I will be significantly less likely to face because I am educated and aware that options such as a ketogenic diet and exogenous ketone supplements exist.
Let us finally take note from what Hippocrates said nearly 2,000 years ago:
“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”
Please be sure to share what you've learned here, and as always, thank you for reading!
References:
http://ketonutrition.blogspot.com
http://www.rsc.org/learn-chemistry/wiki/Substance:Beta-Hydroxybutyric_acid
http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/3541112#section=Chemical-Vendors
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beta-Hydroxybutyric_acid
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/06/30/dagostino-cancer-research.aspx
http://ketonutrition.blogspot.com
http://www.rsc.org/learn-chemistry/wiki/Substance:Beta-Hydroxybutyric_acid
http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/3541112#section=Chemical-Vendors
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beta-Hydroxybutyric_acid
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/06/30/dagostino-cancer-research.aspx
