I’ve been testing my blood for about 4 months now. After learning of a breath testing analyzer available for sale through Ketonix, I took the leap and ordered one for myself all the way from Sweden.
I ordered the sport version, which is red. You can read about the difference on the Ketonix website as they explain it far better than I could!
I have continued to test my blood, then use the Ketonix immediately after to see whether the two are consistent. The breath analyzer does not provide a numbered result, but instead flashes different colors to tell you whether you are have little to no acetone in your breath (blue), a small amount (green), moderate amount (yellow), or high levels (red). When my ketone levels as measured by my blood are hovering around 1.0 – 1.4 mmol, the breath analyzer flashes yellow. Yesterday I had a 3.9 mmol result from testing my blood (my highest ever and I’m still not sure why), the breath analyzer registered red, signaling a high level of acetone in my breath.
For me, the correlation is good enough between breath and blood. They are measuring different things (beta hydroxybutyrate vs. acetone in your breath) so the results aren’t going to be exactly the same – it’s like comparing apples to oranges. The best part is how easy it is to use. You simply exhale into the analyzer and wait for a color to register.
I’ll probably continue to test my blood periodically as that is one way I gauge how different foods affect my ketone levels, but the Ketonix will be my daily tester. Aside from the high up front cost ($149 plus shipping), you will save a lot of money in the long run as compared to purchasing ketone blood testing strips that cost close to $5/piece and are very sensitive to error (I’ve ruined about $50 worth inadvertently over the last few months). Plus you don’t have the unpleasant experience of having to poke your finger and squeeze out as much blood as possible to get a good test result and avoid an error and ruined stick.
If you want a really detailed review of the Ketonix breath analyzer vs. blood testing, there is a good one here. Be sure to see the updated review at the end of the Ketonix sport model.
Have you been continuing to use the Ketonix device now that you’ve had it for 6+ months?
How are you liking it at this point?
I really don’t use it much! I prefer blood testing instead. But the Ketonix device is a good alternative when I run out of blood testing sticks.
How about you? Are you using breath testing regularly?
At this point I’m not, since I haven’t been in keto for a while. Tinkering with low carb non keto at the moment.
the blood test strips are expensive aren’t they?
Yes, they are!
Interesting. You should be aware thought that the breath analyzer measures for acetoacetate where blood sticks measure b-hB. The adapted metabolic pathway is fat->liver->b-hB->muscle->acetoacetate ->brain. *)
So when in training your muscles will burn bhb to aa, which gets used by the brain – fluctuations will occur between the two especially if your exercising!
*) The Art and Science of Low Carbohydrate Living, J.F. Volek, S.D Phinney
I was watching about this on youtube, and the lady demoing it said that coconut oil kicks her out of ketosis, are you also seeing this?
That doesnt sound right. I’ve read it does the opposite and this is supported by the fact I can get a reading from my Ketonix in the morning and follow it up with a bullet coffee (coffee, coconut oil, cream and butter) and it immediately raises my breath results.
It doesn’t sound right to me, either. I’ve never had coconut oil negatively impact my ketone readings.
Thanks for all the comments! i’m contemplating getting one as new to leto and figuring out the most cost effective way long term