Water and the Ketosis testing strip question

[aleahs123]

I was wondering whether or not the amount of water you drink affects the results of those ketosis testing strips. I mean it would make sense that the strip tests for the amount of ketones in your urine but if you are drinking a lot of water wouldnt the ketone level be diluted?

[not2late]

Yes it does.

Hospitals and doctors offices use a urine test strip that includes ketones, glucose and something called "specific gravity". Specific gravity corresponds to the degree of hydration. So they can use that value as a way to help interpret the other tests on that strip. The regular ketostix doesn't have the specific gravity test. So you really can't tell much except that you are producing ketones. I work in a doctor's office, so I've done experiments on myself. If I am alittle dehydrated, the ketones are "more". If I drink water and 15 minutes later I test, the ketones are "less".

Also, the ketostix only test for 1 kind of ketone. We produce 3 kinds of ketone bodies. The ketostix only tests for acetoacetic acid, which comprises about 10-20% of the ketones you produce. So it's very possible to be producing ketones with negative results on the stix. We've had several members here who have lost weight and never turned a single stix color.

The bottomline is the ketostix are a helpful tool, but don't get hung up on them. As long as you are following the rules and losing weight, don't worry about what those stix say.

[aleahs123]

Thanks! I know I over use them but it is a great motivational tool for me since I can physically see something happening even if I have not lost weight yet!