Keto urinalysis strips and ketosis

(Marc Colbeck) #1

Hi guys, first-time post here. I’m hoping someone can help.

I’m 3 months into the diet. When I first started I was very careful to measure every carb, lost 10 kg of body fat, got CRAZY amounts of energy and felt better in just about every way - but my BP didn’t come down (I’m 150/100 whilst on two antihypertensive medications). That was my main reason for getting on the diet.

I’ve slowly gotten a bit lazier about counting carbs but I use the urinalysis strips every day. I used to use them in the morning, but now I test at night. I’ve been assuming that as long as the test strips say I’m in ketosis I don’t really have to worry about how many carbs I eat. But with my BP not coming down I’m wondering if perhaps my ‘short cut’ to monitoring my carbs has been a bad idea.

Any thoughts? If the strips say I’m in ketosis do I need to worry about counting carbs? Is there anything else I should try to get my BP down (other than fasting, which I just don’t feel ready for yet)?

Thanks for any insights you can offer.
Marc

(Eric - The patient needs to be patient!) #2

I’m interested in this topic. My BP is a little high. I do 18/6 fasts but will go longer soon.

#3

Urine strips aren’t great. You should really be testing your blood ketones and glucose.

#4

My dad eats some of my moms keto cooking but also eats bread and fruit and produces urine that changes a ketostrip.

(Alec) #5

My recipe for going from high BP (150/110) to low BP (90/55) :scream:

  1. I lost 30kg in weight
  2. I fasted 2 days per week for a year (not fat adapted at the start, and NOT recommended!!)
  3. I ate keto (I don’t carb count, but my carbs are low, say 20-30)
  4. I exercised: ran an average of 25 miles per week for a year

All high BP issues gone. :grinning:

(Marc Colbeck) #6

Thanks for all the replies so far guys. I’m getting into prolonged exercise now which I suspect will help, but I’m building up to it. I’ve been rowing a half hour a day and slowly building up the physical endurance to run. I’ve joined a gym and am starting to do functional resistance training too. Slowly, slowly (I’m 50 years old).

I’m worried about fasting for a few reasons; (1) I’m fairly lean - about 17% body fat right now, and (2) I get WICKED hungry and when I fast. (3) I also seem to recall one of the gurus (Dr. Fung?) saying you shouldn’t fast if you don’t have excess body fat. (4) Also, in one of the podcasts it was mentioned that you can only release so many calories a day from stored body fat, so unless you have a fair bit of fat you won’t be able to keep your metabolism running through the day.

Thanks again, I’m appreciating the feedback.

(Marc Colbeck) #7

I looked for a BP section to the health forum but didn’t see one. How do we suggest one? I’m primarily interested in keto because of my BP.

#8

You might not be in ketosis… you probably aren’t fat adapted. I imagine carb consumption is keeping you a sugar burner. Just track your macros better and reel in the carbs. I also don’t really know what I’m talking about unless you can get a PHD from listening to podcasts and google searches…

(Eli) #9

Pee strips are crap, they only test one type of excess ketone. Theyre good for telling if your in ketosis when starting. Get a blood ketone tester, very acurate :slight_smile: