Being on the ketogenic diet or a very low-carb diet can be hard. The diet is pretty restrictive on one hand while allowing you to eat a whole lot of yummy things banned on other diets.
But of course, you want to do it in a healthy way and experience all the benefits. But it’s rough going, especially in the beginning when your body still wants those carbs.
So perhaps you want to skip out on the keto diet completely and just take a supplement to get you into ketosis.
Instaketones and Keto OS are two popular brands. But which is the best and do they really do what they say.
I mean, you’re expecting a lot of energy, to stay in or get into ketosis, and if you’re doing it to burn fat, you want to look good too and be healthy.
All that with a balanced diet that includes those precious carbs.
Well, I’ve gone and done all the research for you so that you can just concentrate on your health goals and being awesome every day.
Instaketones vs Keto OS, let’s go.
What Are Ketones?
Ketones are compounds in the body that promote the use of fat as energy.
Ketones are released during starvation, illness, or when the body doesn’t respond appropriately to insulin in diabetics.
In severe cases with diabetics and alcoholics, this can result in a dangerous condition called ketoacidosis.
The ketogenic diet also causes the body to release ketones in a controlled way, so no need to worry that you will fall into ketoacidosis.
Do Exogenous Ketones Actually Work?
According to these two brands yes. Keto OS is especially confident about these effects.
There aren’t many studies on this, or at least not large studies, but what few studies there are prove that it may in fact help.
In a study of only 15 people, so very small, it was found that ketosis was induced after drinking ketone supplements, even when the people ate carb-rich foods.
Eating their meal at the same time as taking the supplement, however, blunted the effect, although it didn’t cancel it out completely.
But both Keto OS and Instaketones recommend not eating for 4 hours after taking their supplements which correlates with the findings of this study.
In another study, ketone supplements improved athletic performance and resulted in less lactate build-up. In other words, better performance with less pain afterward.
Ketone supplements may even be helpful for those struggling with psychiatric disorders. Studies are ongoing in this area.
However, in people who were already on a ketogenic diet and in a state of ketosis, ketone supplements made little difference. At least in body composition.
What is clear is that ketosis due to dietary changes is far more effective than ketosis for a few hours thanks to supplements.
But still, if you struggle with the restrictive ketogenic diet, ketone supplements appear to be a viable alternative.
What is Instaketones?
Instaketones is a supplement by Julian Bakery that consists of ketones extracted from raspberries. These ketones are in the form of R-Beta Hydroxybutyrate.
This is the supplemental form of the ketones that naturally occur in the body.
These ketones are meant to help your body burn fat and encourage your body to make its own ketones.
There aren’t many flavors to choose from. Their most basic range seems to consist of only orange burst which is also caffeine-free.
What is Keto OS?
Keto OS is also a ketogenic supplement. It contains ketones in the form of R-Beta Hydroxybutyrate (KetoNAT™). You can mix it with water or perhaps even another keto-friendly beverage.
Prüvit, the holding company, states that these are naturally fermented ketones free from any animal products.
It comes in a variety of flavors, most of which are available in either charged (caffeine) or caffeine-free:
- Hibiscus lemonade
- Berry blue
- Maui punch
- Blueberry acai
- Nat lite (caffeine-free)
- Strawberry peach
- Raspberry lemonade
- Lime time
- Splash
- Trü passion
- Swiss cacao
- Heart tart
How are Instaketones and Keto OS Different?
There are more nutrients in Keto OS such as the B-vitamins and magnesium.
They are also sweetened with different sweeteners. Instaketones uses monk fruit and Keto OS uses erythritol and stevia.
Keto OS doesn’t tell us exactly where they derive their ketone salts from, only that it’s not from animals. Instaketones derive their ketone salts from raspberries.
How are Instaketones and Keto OS similar?
Of course, the obvious is that they’re both ketone supplements.
But above that, they both use vegan-friendly ketone salts as opposed to ketone esters which are still not easily available.
The ketones salts in both products are bound to sodium and calcium.
What’s Better About Instaketones?
Instaketones also contains a few amino acids and monk fruit, which is used as a sweetener. Don’t worry, it doesn’t raise blood sugar levels.
While an overview of various studies done in 2019 concluded that safety hasn’t been established, it does state that in the short term there were no ill effects.
Many people use supplements that contain monk fruit as a sweetener and experience no negative effects. The exception is if you happen to have an allergy to it.
In fact, a 2011 study found that monk fruit has anti-inflammatory properties.
Instaketones also supplies some calcium and vitamin A. This is useful, although you should take a more comprehensive vitamin and mineral supplement.
Being on the ketogenic diet, or even just taking exogenous (sourced from outside the body) ketones makes you pee more which releases more vitamins and minerals from your body.
Calcium also allows the ketones to be absorbed in the body.
Instaketones Pros:
- Contains ketones derived from raspberries
- Dairy-free
- Gluten-free
- Contains calcium
- Has some vitamin A
- Contains a few amino acids (building blocks of protein)
- Sweetened with monk fruit
Instaketones Cons:
- The sodium content is very high
- The main complaint is the taste, particularly due to the sodium content
What’s Better About Keto OS?
Keto OS contains less sodium, albeit not by much.
While it’s important to get more sodium on a ketogenic diet, if you aren’t actually on a ketogenic diet, you may not need as much. This makes Keto OS a better option.
Keto OS supplies more nutrients although you will still likely need to take a vitamin and mineral supplement. You get some B-vitamins, namely B6 and B12 as well as calcium and magnesium.
In terms of the sweetener used here, you’ll get the alcohol sugar, erythritol, and stevia which may also have some antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Neither of these sweeteners raise your blood sugar levels. Plus they’re all-natural.
Keto OS also contains cat’s claw. This herb is high in antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.
Cat’s claw may also help with DNA repair for healthier cells.
It may also have anti-tumor, heart-protective, and anti-Alzheimer’s disease properties. However, most of the studies done on cat’s claw have been on animals, so more research is needed.
Just be aware that cat’s claw also has diuretic properties, so you need to make sure you stay hydrated and take a vitamin and mineral supplement.
Keto OS Pros:
- Dairy-free
- Gluten-free
- Contains vitamin B6 and B12
- Has calcium, magnesium, and sodium
- Contains amino acids
- Cat’s claw may be beneficial to your health
- Many different flavors to choose from
- Many people enjoy the taste
- Most of the flavors are available in charged (caffeine) or caffeine-free options
Keto Os Cons:
- Very high in sodium
- The most common complaint is that this supplement didn’t deliver, but we are all different
Who Should Get Instaketones?
If you don’t like stevia, Instaketones is for you.
Who Should Get Keto OS?
If you want more vitamins and minerals with your ketone supplement, Keto OS is for you. Also, if you prefer herbal supplements, you may find the cat’s claw helpful.
Verdict
I’m leaning more toward Keto OS. This is mainly because of the lower sodium content and the fact that it contains more vitamins and minerals.
Also, I like options. There are so many different flavors and you can get them either with or without caffeine. I appreciate that as I’m sure you may too.
However, if you find that you are going to the toilet a lot, you do need to increase your sodium content. So, I don’t believe that Instaketones is a bad option either.
Just remember to follow the recommendations of whichever supplement you choose. If you aren’t on a ketogenic diet or even a low-carb diet, it’s best to fast for 4 hours after taking the supplement.
This will ensure better results.
If you want to use the supplements to lose weight, just bear in mind that in the beginning, your weight loss is likely to be water weight.
Be diligent in taking the supplement and eat healthily as much as possible and exercise. This will give you the best results.
And if you’re using it to improve your energy levels and help you get into ketosis, just bear in mind that you may still experience the “keto flu” in the beginning.
Staying well-hydrated may help with the headaches, brain fog, nausea, and irritability. You may also need to take a vitamin and mineral supplement. Chat to your doctor if you aren’t sure.
