Ask Our Keto Nutritionist: Coffee, Adding Carbs, and Urine Strips

Got questions for our keto nutritionist?

Dedicated to helping you live your best life through the ketogenic diet, we’ve partnered with a tried and true keto nutritionist to answer your questions! Please note that we’re not doctors. If you have any specific questions regarding your own health, please consult with your trusted medical partner. 

Does coffee count toward my water intake?

Yes, but just make sure you are also staying well hydrated from water and non-caffeinated beverages as well.

Should I add carbs the longer I’m on keto, or do I stay at the same level?

It depends on how you feel and if you have met your goal. There is no one-size-fits-all with keto. Insulin resistance often improves after you have adapted to keto, which may mean you can tolerate more carbs and maintain ketosis. For some, insulin resistance remains an issue and an increase in carbohydrate may cause side-effects including weight regain and increased blood sugar and insulin levels. Try increasing slowly and let your body decide. Just remember, keto is not a diet, but a healthy lifestyle.

Is peeing on urine strips a good way to gauge ketosis?

Urine ketone testing is the cheapest method of measuring, but also the least accurate. In the beginning, this is a good place to start as you can tell within a couple days if you are on the right track. However, urine ketones (acetoacetate) is the excess ketosis not being used as fuel. After you have become adapted to living keto, you will find urine ketones start to fade which is often misinterpreted as being out of ketosis, when in fact, this may be a sign that your body is efficiently using your ketones for fuel rather than peeing them out. For me, my blood ketones (beta-hydroxybutyrate) are high, but I register almost nothing on the urine strip.

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