STEVIA and KETONES lowering

food
(Lauren G. ) #1

So, I have only been on this journey since the beginning of November. The month prior I was not doing it correctly and my macros were way off. I seem to notice when I eat anything sweet (which is usually only with Stevia) when I check my ketones the next morning they are incredibly low (.03) and my glucose levels are higher than they ever are(104-109). Is my mind tricking my body or vice versa? Has anyone ever had this happen? I REFUSE to get discouraged and I will just cut out the use of Stevia all together. Please share your experience…I greatly appreciate it.

(Annika) #2

Stevia should not lower your ketones. You should check so there is no other sweatener in there. For example aspartam aor acesulfam K will kick you out of ketosis. Can there be something else in your sweets that kicks you out? I took away stevia for making me have cravings, so, no sweets for me but it means that things that were not so sweet before, after a while tends to be sweet enough for you. I doubt that you can psykologically lower your ketones, than you should be able to increase your ketones as well, that would be cool. :wink:

(Lauren G. ) #3

I hardly ever eat sweets-that’s the thing. This was coconut butter, cocoa powder and a little but of stevia. And I ate half of a bar called “No Cow” that my friend wanted me to try… I am about to look and see what other sugars may have been in there. This is also checking ketones/glucose in the morning and not after a meal. What I mean is would my brain send signals to my body that it’s eating sugar and therefore making insulin release? I feel like that may be possible…ugh… either way I guess I am just going to go back to being strict and no sweet food at all…Thank you for your response!

(Annika) #4

Is your moning glucose higher too?

(Keri) #5

There is a such a thing as cephalic phase insulin release (CPIR) triggered by sweet taste. I dunno how strongly it would antagonize ketone production. What are your ketones normally?

You could try a tolerance test with stevia. Check glucose and ketones before and then at intervals after eating it and see what happens.

(Annika) #6

Good idea!

(Lauren G. ) #7

Yes! Higher than its ever been! And this is from allowing myself to use Stevia yesterday and the day before I ate another half of the no cow bar. So it must be hidden sugars? Or again, my body tastes sweet and maybe releases insulin?

(Keri) #8

There are potential confounders. My glucose gets all out of whack during certain phases of my cycle. If I eat something suspect, I might blame the food when it’s really the hormones. Testing the suspect directly is the best way to determine if it’s really the culprit.

(Lauren G. ) #9

Just coming off of my cycle as well. Hmm… This is a good point. I will stay away for a few days and then do a direct test while fasting, you think?

(Lauren G. ) #10

Since I am fairly new to this they are usually around .07-1.1… and I always feel like I am doing something wrong… I do not know what else to do. I do intermittent fasting, as well. And yes, I was thinking that maybe my mind thinks it is sugar no matter what. I will look into these things.

#11

There are studies out there that Stevia raises insulin. Personally it’s horrific taste keeps me away from it.

(Bunny) #12

I use natural organic Stevia (the expensive stuff) and have had no problems with it! Real Stevia is bitter if you use too much of it!

But maybe it’s just the method in which I do Ketosis (using a glucose meter).

DOES YOUR STEVIA HAVE ADDED “HIDDEN” SUGAR?
https://wholelifestylenutrition.com/videos/how-to-make-your-own-pure-stevia-liquid-stevia-part-2/

(Keri) #13

Did you mean 0.7 to 1.1?
That’s nutritional ketosis. And seems to me it’s good since you’ve not been at it long. How did you do with sticking to carb counts over Thanksgiving?

The first time I did keto in 2015, I was in that range most of the time other than post exercise (I couldn’t test as much as I wanted due to the cost of abbott strips). This time around (I started again Oct 2), my first 3 weeks were consistently in that range. After the first three weeks I increased my exercise, but also my net carbs. My fasting ketones went up into the 2-3mmol range. I didn’t bother sticking to keto over thanksgiving, so my ketones went down (lowest was 0.3). Getting back to routine, it’s taken 2 weeks to get glucose back in the low 80s and ketones to 1.5-2mmol in the morning. Then comes another shark week—glucose is all over the place regardless of carb count/insulin load.

I will stay away for a few days and then do a direct test while fasting, you think?

That sounds like a good plan. Heads Up Health has a cool platform for logging these types of tests.
https://www.headsuphealth.com/blog/features/carb-tolerance-test/

(Bunny) #14

I eat everything I want to on special occasions because you can do that!

The only factor is; if your just starting out (amount of time you have been in Ketosis?)

(Lauren G. ) #15

I have no problem with restriction. I am one of those people who sees the benefit of keto and I want all it has to offer. I am also celiac and I tell my family not to cater to me. I bring my own food everywhere I go. If I stray from my diet I usually have a severe bout of mental obsession; I have been like this my whole life so it’s not much different than what I am used to. I will definitely check out that article. I really appreciate your input and experience. I also find that when I am coming off my cycle I seem to have POST menstrual symptoms so I guess it would make sense if my numbers are a little haywire due to hormones. Either way I am going to cut out the Stevia for now and see how it goes.

(Lauren G. ) #16

I use the whole foods 365 brand which says it is pure stevia leaf extract. I do not mind the bitter taste. lol When I first started keto on 09/28/17 my macros were all over the place and I was off for about 3 weeks. So I’ve been doing it for around 6 weeks, almost? I know I need to be patient with myself but I am incredibly hard on myself in all areas of my life. So this process is teaching me a lot about trying to be more gentle. I check my blood compulsively…which I hear isn’t the best idea. lol

(Lauren G. ) #17

And yes that is what I meant; .7-1.1. But this morning like I said, after 12 hours of fasting it was .4. :frowning:

(Lauren G. ) #18

I just listened to a podcast about it and it makes a lot of sense. My brain tastes “sweet” and therefore reacts. I guess
I am just a bit more sensitive in that way? I know some people for whom it has never been an issue. For now, I am going to stay away and see and maybe do a test/experiment to see what’s going on. Thank you!

#19

Well, all sweeteners can create a cephalic response, but stevia also stimulates pancreatic cells directly.

(Lauren G. ) #20

wow! This is good info to know! I am glad that I a learning about this now; early into my journey-instead of down the line with a lot of frustration. How long have you been doing keto? And do you do any sweetners?