Following the ketogenic diet involves making a significant change in your body and how it gets energy. You will eat fewer carbs and high amounts of fat in order to achieve the state known as “nutritional ketosis.”
This is a state which is marked by high levels of ketones in your bloodstream. If you are new to this lifestyle, it might seem hard at first to stick to it. As a result, you look for ways to get into ketosis faster.
Exogenous ketone supplements are one way to help you do this. But do they really work, and if so, how? Let’s explore all that and more in this article.
First Things First: Understanding Keto Pills
First, let’s understand the two main types of ketones.
Once the body enters ketosis, your liver will make ketone bodies that take over the glucose, which is usually crafted from carbohydrates. We call them endogenous ketones.
Keto pills, meanwhile, grant your body some ketones from an outside source. We call these exogenous ketones, and businesses making these supplements utilize molecules that are chemically stable to boost the ketone levels in your bloodstream and recreate the consequences of ketosis.
The increase in ketone levels in your blood after taking those pills is supposed to help you get into ketosis without the need to follow a strict ketogenic eating regimen. Plus, it is thought that these ketones can suppress our appetites, which is excellent for those of us that want to drop weight fast.
But do these really work?
Does it sound way too good to be true?
Why I’m Not Big on Keto Pills
I will say it now like I’ve said in the past: You can’t take shortcuts to get what you want. There is simply no easy shortcut into ketosis!
You have to put the work in to get the results you want. After all, keto can be a lifestyle, and if you don’t learn how to adapt to it, you are doomed to regain any weight you lose.
My other problem is this: If these supplements actually worked, how come there are still overweight folks walking around?
Bottom line: You can’t take shortcuts into getting into ketosis. You have to follow the low carb, high-fat lifestyle as close as possible if you expect to get results.
Now let’s get into the science of the matter.
Keto Pills Aren’t the Keto Diet
Keto pills are not the same as the actual keto diet. If you take a shortcut, you can sabotage your success and actually prevent yourself from reaching your wellness goals.
With a keto lifestyle, you are not switching out one food in place of something else. You are helping your body learn to get energy from a new source and get into a different metabolic state.
Ketone pill ingestion but lack of carb-cutting can very well affect how the body uses foods to energize itself.
Plus, we know that when there are elevated levels of exogenous ketones in our bloodstream, the liver will reduce its creation of these ketones. Our bodies are well-oiled machines, and there are signals in place that stop ketone levels from making our blood too acidic.
But ketone supplements can turn off our body’s ability to utilize fat as energy and thus hold back the body’s shift into ketosis.
“I Don’t Want to Cut Carbs”
I hear this a lot from newcomers. They want the health benefits of ketosis, but they don’t want to give up carbs. However, it’s higher ketone levels that are connected to a reduction in appetite, but ketone supplements might not grant this.
There’s some evidence that they are only good to consume while fasting rather than after a high carb snack or dish. It means our body utilizes lesser ketones for fuel because the glucose we get from carbohydrates is already there.
Undertaking a new diet is not an easy task. If you don’t want to cut carbs, I understand. It’s totally OK if keto is not for you, but I don’t think it’s ideal to use keto pills as a means of getting into ketosis.
In order for ANY diet to be good for you and effective, and for it to eventually become a lifestyle you follow for your continued health, you have to stick with it and avoid taking shortcuts.
Keto is not something to rush. Work up to it slowly. Let your body adjust to the new lifestyle. We have plenty of resources on ForKetoLife to help you out, like our 28 Day Challenge.
So, Do They Really Work or Not?!
Let’s take a look at what Brendan Egan, an associate prof of exercise and sports physiology, had to say when speaking to the publication Mens’ Journal.
Hypothetically, stated Egan, by consuming supplements loaded with synthetic ketones, we could very well move the body into ketosis in just a matter of minutes and enjoy the effects for a few hours.
But this does not mean increased athletic performance, your body thinking it is suddenly devoid of carbs and rocketing itself into ketosis, or fat melting off your body in fast succession.
The article then goes on to say that the only method by which you are going to reap the fat-torching benefits of a keto diet is to stick to the diet. You can’t simply swallow some pills or drink a keto shake and expect to become slim while eating whatever you want.
What If I Still Want to Try It?
If you would still like to try keto pills for your own curiosity or you feel you could benefit from using them, here are some things we want you to know:
- If you are new to keto, make sure you research it thoroughly. The lifestyle is great because it is effective when followed closely, but it’s not for everybody, and that’s OK! It’s always a good idea to talk to a doctor first to ensure this diet is good for you.
- If you seek to incorporate a supplement into your keto lifestyle, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor first about that as well. Some of us are on medications that could interact with the supplement, leading to side effects we don’t need or want. It’s better to be safe rather than sorry when it comes to your health.
- Be mindful that if you buy your keto supplement pills anywhere other than Amazon, you could be getting scammed. (And even so, Amazon’s not entirely perfect, people have bought useless products from there as well). Some of these companies, for example, will have you purchase the pills once but then sneak in an “autorenewal” service, so you keep getting charged month after month. Some of these places make it VERY hard to cancel.
Other Stuff to Be Mindful Of
- Are the keto pills you want FDA approved? Are they made in an FDA approved facility using cGMP or certified good manufacturing practices? If you don’t see this written on the site where your keto pills are sold, I would strongly reconsider the purchase.
- The FDA doesn’t regulate dietary supplements- just something to keep in mind.
- Can you see the ingredients label? And even if you can, can we really be sure what’s in it is safe and effective? Ask the company selling your keto pills for information about what’s in it and what research they have to back up their claims that the product works. Any manufacturer worth their salt should be able to give you information about what’s in their product without hesitation.
Avoid Keto Pill Scams
One great thing about keto is that it is for people of all ages. Unfortunately, that means people who could be our grandmothers are getting scammed.
An 83-year-old woman named Marjorie was scammed out of over $200 when she responded to a pop up on her smartphone advertising a keto pill called Ultra-Pure 360.
She was told she would get her order for free if she canceled within just 30 days.
Unfortunately, this was not the case. Marjorie’s card was billed twice for the shipping costs, and she was also charged for a “cleanse.”
She could not get hold of anyone at the company to discuss her problem and get her money back. Even AARP, who published this story, could not get a response from anyone at the company.
You can check out the article here. My point? It’s better to just stick with doing it the hard way- it will absolutely take longer, but you will get honest and real results.
Hey, What About Raspberry Ketones?
It is the natural part of red raspberries that gives them their smell. You can also find it in kiwi, cranberry, and blackberries.
It’s only recently they became a weight loss supplement. Most of the time, these ketones are synthetic due to the large amount of raspberries needed to extract the ketones.
But raspberry ketones have zero to do with low carb lifestyles and don’t have such an effect on the human body. And at this time, we don’t have any studies on how they affect the human body.
Once more, you can purchase these supplements in droves at popular retailers. However, it’s best to just stick to the low-carb lifestyle, get regular exercise, and listen to your body.
Conclusion
Thank you for taking the time to read about how keto pills work. There are some great keto supplements out there; for example, we really love the ones featured on our list here at ForKetoLife.
But the kicker? They are to be taken in conjunction with a ketogenic diet and exercise. So, such supplements can help you, but unlike the keto pills, they don’t promise instant weight loss and fat burning while downing all the carbs you want.
Keto can work for you, but you have to do the work. We can help! Stick with us at ForKetoLife, and you can absolutely reach your goals.