The following Mark's Daily Apple article was written by Mark Sisson,

and is narrated by Tina Lehman.

Why am I getting low ketone readings on a ketogenic diet?

Even having finished and printed the keto reset, the question Why am I getting low ketone readings on a ketogenic diet?

Even having finished and printed the keto reset, the quest for deeper understanding continues.

I keep researching, thinking, revisiting, and discussing the science and practice of ketosis.

My writing partner, Brad Kearns, and I, maintain a running dialogue on all things keto. The latest conversation revolved around two very common questions or problems that keep coming up in the ketogenic community.

Why do some people on a keto diet blow high numbers of ketones while others eating the same way blow low numbers.

And is ketosis glycogen sparing or glycogen inhibiting?

I won't offer definitive answers fit to etch into stone. I will offer my exploration of the

research, some educated speculation, and actionable advice you can ruminate on.

And by all means, get back to me with your take on the questions and my explorations, please.

Dialogue is essential to understanding.

So why do some people on ketogenic diets produce low ketone readings when they test?

One theory is that some keto-adapted people are so

adapted to producing and burning ketones that they don't leave any extra to spill into the urine

and breath. They make only as many as they can use, and their cells gobble up almost every

ketone they produce. Under this argument, low-kitone numbers on a ketogenic diet are a reliable sign of full ketone they produce. Under this argument, low ketone numbers on a ketogenic diet are a reliable

sign of full ketone adaptation. This sounds plausible, but I haven't seen any empirical evidence

that that's the case. Another theory is that the keto adapted have built so much fat-burning

metabolic machinery in their muscles

that they can burn free fatty acids directly and don't require much additional fuel from ketones.

...