Keto Supplement Scams: What to Watch Out For

In summer 2019, keto fat burner pills that claimed to be featured on Shark Tank popped up all over the internet.

It was a scam.

They were never on Shark Tank.

They were never in major news outlets like Women’s Health or Shape like they claim.

The transformation photos aren’t humanly possible in the time frame they’re claiming.

The celebrity transformations and quotes about their products are fabricated.

They have a ton of names, including: Keto Melt, Ultra Fast Keto Boost, Keto Ultra, NutriFlair, PureFit Keto, Keto Rapid Max Pure, Keto RX, Ultra Apex Keto and more, and they’re still available all over the internet.

They don’t tell you what is actually in the pills.

Some advertise 800 mg of BHB (beta-hydroxybutyrate or ketones). 800mg of BHB isn’t even close enough to see a rise in blood ketone levels. That is less than 1g of BHB.You need about 11-12g of BHB in order to see a rise in blood ketone levels.

They are an absolute junk product. And they’re not alone.

So let’s discuss which keto supplements are a waste of money and which are actually worth consideration.

Exogenous Ketones/BHB

Verdict: Worth consideration IF you understand what they are and what they aren’t

What they are:

Exogenous ketones are a supplement form of the same ketones naturally produced by your body (called endogenous ketones) during carbohydrate restriction or fasting.

The most popular form is ketone salts/BHB (powdered ketones in the form a drink mix), but you can also purchase ketone esters (the pricier and more effective liquid version).

They will raise blood ketone levels and correspondingly lower blood sugar.

In this supplement-simulated state of ketosis, you get some of the temporary benefits that you would get in a true ketogenic state, including mental clarity, possible appetite suppression, focus and body energy.

Therapeutic applications of exogenous ketones are being researched, including central nervous system disorders, psychiatric diseases, type 2 diabetes and cancer.

I recommend these for people who are already on a ketogenic diet for a boost in energy between meals, to enhance cognition, fight inflammation and and also for those who want to explore therapeutic benefits.

What they aren’t:

Fat burners.

There are ketone companies out there that will tell you you can eat your cake and be keto, too. Literally.

While yes, they will temporarily lower blood sugar while ketones course through your blood stream, it’s not enough to cause your body to break up your fat cells and use them for energy.

In fact, many wonder if ketones actually delay the fat burning process, suggesting that your body has no need to break up fat cells and turn them into ketones for energy when it already has ketones circulating through the blood.

There is no definitive research on this, but definitely an interesting conversation and something to consider.

This is why I recommend looking at exogenous ketones as an energy booster, mentally and physically, and not a weight loss product.

Raspberry Ketones

Verdict: Waste of money

This is not to be confused with raspberry-flavored BHB or exogenous ketones.

Raspberry ketones are synthetically manufactured versions of the trace amounts of ketones found in raspberries.

They claim to help break down fat and increase a adiponectin, a hormone that helps regulate metabolism, because of a test tube experiment on rat fat cells.

You can increase adiponectin levels at a much higher rate through exercise or caffeine than you can with raspberry ketones.

There is no human research on raspberry ketones and they are ineffective for fat loss.

Keto Weight Loss Shakes

Verdict: worth consideration IF you’re looking at them as convenience food and not a weight loss product. Still not optimal.

Any shake you drink is simply food. And processed food at that. It is calories in, not a weight loss product. It won’t expedite fat burning. It’s an alternative to a meal when you need calories.

Watch out for deceiving labels such as:

“Clinically Proven! Lose Weight and Keep it Off!” (SlimFast Keto Meal Shake)

“Keto Fit Weight Loss Shake: Burns Fat & Fights Cravings” (Garden of Life Keto Fit)

There is nothing inherently in the shake that is going to melt off your body fat or cause you to lose weight.

Most of these shakes contain medium chain triglycerides (MCT’s), which are fats that your body will convert into ketones in your liver for energy, which means you are burning the fat that is in the shake, not your own body fat.

Keto shakes are a convenience item. They are a way to get fat and protein into your day. End of story.

Look for one with a natural sweetener such as stevia or monk fruit (not Sucralose), no hidden-sugar fillers like maltodextrin, and high quality ingredients like grass-fed collagen and MCT from coconuts. Avoid any product that contains canola oil.

Salt + Electrolytes

Verdict: needed

You kidneys excrete sodium at a much faster rate in a ketogenic state, so it’s important to stay on top of your vital electrolytes sodium, potassium and magnesium.

I recommend salting food generously with high quality salt, drinking at least 3/4 your body weight in ounces of water a day, and adding in an unsweetened or stevia-sweetened electrolyte powder to water once or twice a day.

MCT Oil

Verdict: definitely worth consideration

Medium chain triglycerides (MCT’s) are derived from coconut or palm (we prefer coconut because of the unethical sourcing of palm) and are the carbon-length of fatty acids that convert quickest into ketones. Within minutes of ingesting MCT’s, the liver will metabolize them into ketones, producing brain and body energy.

This natural source of ketone production is a very helpful part of the ketogenic diet, and many keto dieters enjoy this in their morning coffee.

Keto Weight Loss Pills

Verdict: waste of money

The “Shark Tank” pills aren’t the only keto “fat burners” out there. Any keto product that claims to be a fat burner or weight loss pill? Don’t waste your money. There is no magic pill. On keto or any other nutritional approach, you have to do the hard work of changing your habits and making a lifestyle change. Any company that tells you otherwise is just after your money.

In summary, you don’t need any supplements to successfully do a ketogenic diet. You don’t need any convenience food items. And in fact, the fewer you eat, the more successful your fat loss will be.

If you'd like to see the keto supplements I use and recommend, you can find them along with discount codes HERE.

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