Beware: Period question

(Jade) #1

I’ve been following the keto diet for almost 6 weeks. I’ve been in ketosis since day 2 and over the last few days I’ve really started to reap the benefits in mental clarity and energy levels. The first few weeks it was inconsistent, but over the last week it’s been so much better! So, no complaints. However, I’m curious… will hormones affect ketone levels? I know my ketone level doesn’t matter very much, as I’m staying below 20g carbs and feeling awesome, but I do test my ketones with a blood monitor and I have noticed something. It is 4 days until I expect my period and over the last couple days I have had consistently lower ketone levels. Instead of waking up to my usual 1.5 and above reading, it’s been .8 to 1.1ish. Is this a thing? Can someone show me some science? Lol.
Please and thank you!

(Celi Liu) #2

Are there any other symptoms? Do you sleep before 10 pm? Do you have cravings?

(Jade) #3

Not really… Just my usual period stuff. I’m usually in bed before 10pm. I retain a couple lbs of water, and I do have cravings, but I usually just tell them to eff off. If they’re really bad, I sometimes save room in my macros for a couple chocolate fat bombs. However, I eat them on a regular basis anyway. So, nothing new there.

(Celi Liu) #4

Hmmm I ‘think’ it may be something else then. A while back, I got bloodwork done (to check if I have allergies etc.) And went to a naturopath/nutritionist and she walked through step-by-step what I was lacking and what organs were being stressed, etc. etc. Then I was recommended to go on Keto + incorporate foods that I was lacking.

My period came regularly after that and I haven’t had PMS cravings since (which is hella odd on my part). It might be irregular cortisol levels or andrenal stress? Just a guess though. What sort of things are you craving? The types of foods are usually indicators (I used to crave grapes and oranges because of sugar, dark chocolate covered almonds, etc)

(Jade) #5

Nothing specific, just sweets, I guess.

(She had one feck to give and that feck is gone.) #6

There was a recent thread on an N=1 experiment someone did with exogenous ketones during TOM due to low ketone readings. I’ll see if I can find it.

Here it is…

https://www.ketogenicforums.com/t/exogenous-ketones-and-perimenopause/17225

(Allie) #7

I get some weird blood results at that time of the month. Sometimes as high at 5mmol, other times crazy low.

(Alex) #8

This is what I was wondering. I was 2.1 before my period, and since i have not been more than 0.6-0.7? Even though I am eating the same