YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED
WHAT IS KETO//OS?
KETO//OS is your “ketone operating system;” it is the First Therapeutic Ketone Supplement on the market. The proprietary blend is owned by Prüvit and is Doctor Approved, Lab Tested, University Backed; and the technology in KETO//OS is patent pending, developed by one of the most world-renowned doctors and experts on Ketosis.
Prüvit was the first company approved by University of South Florida to acquire the sublicense rights to use this patent pending technology. It is a powder that you mix with 8 - 10 oz. of water. Within 15-30 minutes, it puts your body into Ketosis. Prüvit owns the worldwide rights to KETO//OS. KETO//OS has a certificate of analysis for purity, consistency and efficacy.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF KETO//OS & KETONES?
The benefits of ketones, and ketone supplementation are vast; and as research continues to expand, the list keeps growing. Currently, research supports the use of ketones for the following benefits:
• Weight loss
• Blood sugar balance and enhanced insulin sensitivity
• Increased satiety, and decreased food cravings • Improved energy levels, oxygen capacity, motor performance & athletic performance
• Mostly due to the impact of ketones on enhanced blood flow, through vasodilation
• Migraine treatment
• Autism and improved behaviour and social impacts
• Mood stabilisation in bipolar disorder (type II)
• Inflammation management
• Endurance enhancement
DOES KETO//OS HAVE ANY SIDE EFFECTS?
Supplementing with KETO//OS or following a ketogenic diet can cause a slightly diuretic effect and can deplete magnesium, potassium and sodium stores. This can be rectified by supplementing with a good electrolyte or increasing the sodium in your diet. However, KETO//OS adds additional sodium to the formulation to counter-act this sodium depletion.
KETO//OS is blended with medium chain triglycerides, which can often cause digestive distress. This is due to the fact that your body has not yet adapted to the increased fats in your diet and is less efficient at utilizing ketones as its fuel source. Once the body has adapted to this increased fat in the diet, the digestive distress should resolve.
We recommend to start slowly and build up to a full serving twice a day, but it is totally up to the individual.
CAN CHILDREN TAKE KETO//OS?
Yes, children can also take KETO//OS; however, the dose would have to be adjusted for the age/weight of the child.
WHY WOULD I TAKE KETO//OS?
Supplementing with exogenous ketones allows you to experience ketosis - the benefits of elevated blood ketone levels, without having to follow such a restrictive ketogenic diet, or super low carb diet, which is often difficult for some people to adhere to. Optimize your human potential.
WHAT KIND OF DIET SHOULD I FOLLOW WHEN I’M TAKING KETO//OS?
The wonderful thing about taking exogenous ketones via KETO//OS is that you can experience the benefits of ketones without diet modification. Even those who don’t change a thing will still experience the benefits. However, it is encouraged that you slowly begin to follow a lower carbohydrate diet and enhance your body’s ability to utilize. Follow the 8 steps in the N8tive OS-Zone to get you on the right track. www.pruvitnow.com/n8tive-zone.
WHY IS THERE SODIUM IN KETO//OS?
KETO//OS was formulated with a higher salt concentration in order to counterbalance the sodium that is lost through ketone supplementation. It also acts as a slight buffer, since ketones can be a bit acidic. When taking exogenous ketones, it is often encouraged that you increase your salt intake; with KETO//OS, the additional sodium is provided for you.
WHAT IS THE SOURCE OF CAFFEINE?
Caffeine Hydrous.
IS KETO//OS VEGAN?
Version 2.1 - No Version 3.0 - Yes IS KETO//OS DAIRY FREE? Version 2.1 - No, we have a small amount of dairy, around 3 grams that we use to plate the MCT powder. Version 3.0 – Yes
IS KETO//OS GLUTEN FREE?
Yes.
WHAT IS THE SOURCE OF CARBS?
1.46g from the MCT and 1.38g from the orange flavour.
WHAT IS THE SOURCE OF SUGAR?
1.46g from MCT and 0.51g from the orange flavour.
WHAT ARE KETONES AND KETOSIS?
Ketones, B-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), acetoacetate (ACA) and acetone, are the by-products of fat breakdown. Ketones can be used by the tissues, including the brain, in the body in much the same way as glucose, and are thought to be a superior fuel source to glucose. Being in a state of ketosis refers to having elevated blood levels of ketones.
IS KETOSIS SAFE?
Being in a state of ketosis is a very safe process. This is a naturally occurring process in the body when you break down fat. Most people have been in ketosis at some point, due to exercise or dietary changes, although not usually long enough to experience the amazing benefits conferred through elevated ketones over an extended period of time.
HOW DO I INCREASE KETONES LEVELS IN MY BODY?
In the past, the process of increasing ketones in the blood was achieved through a strict, carbohydrate-restive diet called the ketogenic diet. This allowed the body to move from using glucose (sugar) as its primary source of fuel and to transition to using fats as its primary source of fuel. Today, we can achieve this state through exogenous ketone supplementation with KETO//OS.
WHAT IS THE KETOGENIC DIET?
The ketogenic diet is an extremely low carbohydrate, moderate protein and high fat diet. Every person responds differently, so the amount of carbohydrates consumed can vary from 20g-50g (sometimes less; sometimes more), depending on each individual, in order to maintain a state of ketosis. Due to the diets restrictive nature, it is quite difficult for many people to follow; and, therefore, they lack the discipline to stay in ketosis long term.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE “KETO-ADAPTED?”
Keto adaptation means that you have shifted your metabolism to relying on fat-based sources, instead of glucose (sugar) sources, as your primary source of fuel. Your body increases fat oxidation, and breaks down fats into ketones to be used as the primary energy source.
HOW DO I KNOW IF I’M IN KETOSIS?
A simple urine test, 30 minutes after taking your KETO//OS, will show the elevated ketone levels in the body. You can also take a blood test using a glucometer with ketone strips for the most accurate reading of ketones in your blood. Here is how you can do a simple test: www.pruvitnow.com/59-minute-test.
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TAKING KETO//OS AND TAKING RASPBERRY KETONES?
There is a significant difference between KETO//OS and raspberry ketones. The name for raspberry ketones is quite misleading, as this is not a ketone supplement and is not related in any way to ketones, the ketogenic diet or nutritional ketosis.
Raspberry ketones are natural substances that give raspberries their sweet scent and flavour and, to a lesser degree, blackberries, cranberries and kiwis. The current raspberry ketone supplements on the market are generally synthetically made, as natural raspberry ketones are extremely expensive. They have been promoted as the next best thing on the weight loss market; however, research does not support it for this use.
KETO//OS is a natural, nutritional ketone supplement that gives your body the ketones it needs in order to enter into ketosis and achieve the benefits of ketones via supplementation.
ARE KETONES AND KETO//OS SAFE?
KETO//OS is quite safe. Ketones naturally exist in the body and are created as a normal process of fat metabolism. KETO//OS simply provides these ketones from an exogenous source, but they have the same beneficial impact. However, if you suffer from any medical conditions, it is always safe to consult your healthcare provider prior to starting any new nutritional supplement.
CAN I TAKE TOO MANY KETONES?
It would be very difficult to overdose on ketones. They are water soluble, so excess ketones will be eliminated mainly via the urine.
HOW DOES KETO//OS AFFECT INSULIN UTILIZATION AND SENSITIVITY?
KETO//OS can enhance insulin sensitivity. In preclinical studies, exogenous ketones have been shown to do this. Richard Veech (scientist at the NIH) showed that feeding exogenous ketone supplements lowers blood glucose while simultaneously lowering blood insulin: “Research has demonstrated if more glucose is removed from the blood with less insulin, which suggests that insulin sensitivity has been enhanced.” We are experiencing this from testimonies of KETO//OS. As with any medical condition, we recommend you consult with your physician.
HOW DOES KETO//OS AFFECT KIDNEYS AND LIVER AND THE ROLE IN METABOLIZING KETONES?
As with all medium chain triglycerides, the MCT powder portion of the product will largely be converted to ketones by the liver within a few short hours of consumption. MCT create a readily supply of Ketone production for the liver to use for ketones. The BHB-salt portion should simply be absorbed into the blood as ketones. The BHB supplies another source, which doesn’t require the liver to produce ketones.
There is no reason that the ketones produced by the product will affect the kidneys or liver any differently than ketones produced from exogenous fats (such as when eating a ketogenic diet) or ketones produced from stored fats (such as when calorie restricting or losing weight). Exogenous ketone scientific literature does not suggest that either the kidney or liver functions are negatively affected by ketosis.
The major role of the kidneys, when it comes to ketones, is to excrete excess ketones into the urine. This excretion will likely be highest during the first few days of keto-adaptation (either in eating the keto diet or consuming KETO//OS), but the body will retain more and the tissues will begin to preferentially burn the ketones as consumption continues.
The liver is the major site of endogenous ketone production, so taking exogenous ketones with KETO//OS would provide another source besides the liver to make ketones. Remember, KETO//OS and exogenous ketones are a source of calories; so be sure to consider it in your daily goals. KETO//OS and exogenous ketone supplementation is not hard on the liver.
DOES KETO//OS POSITIVELY INFLUENCE ADRENAL STRESS AND THE HPA AXIS?
Seeing how ketosis induced by the ketogenic diet affects these things, it is likely the ketosis induced by KETO//OS would elicit similar effects, but not perhaps exactly the same. Cortisol is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands that is tightly correlated with metabolic syndrome. Patients with metabolic syndrome have elevated blood cortisol levels which appear to be due to dysregulated cortisol metabolism. (Cortisol can be produced, cleared, or regenerated enzymatically; and abnormalities in any of these steps can cause cortisol dysfunction.) In obese patients, cortisol clearance is increased and cortisol regeneration is reduced, causing an elevation in blood cortisol, which is linked to metabolic syndrome (obesity, hyperlipidemia, insulin resistance, hypertension, etc).
In a study in obese men (Link: http://press.endocrine.org/doi/ pdf/10.1210/jc.2007-0692), ketosis reversed the dysregulated cortisol metabolism, decreasing cortisol clearance and increasing cortisol regeneration. This, too, resulted in an overall increase in blood cortisol; however, importantly, it was due to the reversal of the dysregulated cortisol metabolism observed in patients with metabolic syndrome. (This is important because sometimes the increase in cortisol which occurs with ketosis is used as a weapon for attacking the diet, but those who argue this point are majorly oversimplifying the situation and must not be aware of the intricacies of cortisol metabolism which affect metabolic health.
In this study, the changes in cortisol metabolism induced by ketosis accompanied improvement in the symptoms of metabolic syndrome (improved weight loss, improved fasting glucose/insulin levels), suggesting that ketosis alters cortisol metabolism and adrenal function in a way which confers improvements in metabolic health. We are finding this to be true with the experiences KETO//OS customers are having as well.
DOES KETO//OS HAVE ANY DELETERIOUS EFFECTS ON THE BRAIN AND NERVOUS SYSTEM WITH LONG TERM USE?
KETO//OS is a source of ketones. Ketones are an efficient energy substrate for the brain. The scientific evidence does not suggest that therapeutic levels of ketosis are damaging to the brain or nervous system over a long period of time. In contrast, conditions such as the ketogenic diet and calorie restriction, which are characterized with an elevation in blood ketones, confer many neuroprotective effects. (See this article: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18845187.)
Many studies suggest the neuroprotective effects due to ketone metabolism. Thus, it is likely the exogenous ketones that KETO//OS delivers would have similar effects. It may even prevent neurodegeneration, as impaired glucose metabolism often accompanies the development of dementia such as in Alzheimer’s disease. Providing another energy source to the brain in these circumstances could be very protective. There is ongoing research on this topic.
Prüvit is aggressively funding University Research on this with their using KETO//OS.
TOO MANY KETONES CAN CAUSE KETOACIDOSIS, WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS. CAN THIS PRODUCT CREATE KETOACIDOSIS?
Ketosis is NOT diabetic ketoacidosis, which is a serious complication of uncontrolled diabetes that occurs when your body produces high levels of blood acids called ketones in conjunction with high levels of glucose. You can consider comparing therapeutic ketosis to ketoacidosis to be like comparing a fireplace to a house fire. Fire is a great and useful thing when controlled and in the proper situations, but it also has the potential to become very dangerous if not used properly. Ketones are therapeutic and beneficial when in a certain blood level, but are very dangerous at extremely high levels.
In therapeutic ketosis, total blood ketones are in the 0.5-5mM range; while in ketoacidosis, blood ketones are typically >20mM. This is a huge difference. There is no reason to be scared of elevating blood ketones to the levels seen in therapeutic ketosis, but rather this level of ketosis is associated with many health benefits (improvements in metabolic health, weight loss, neuroprotection, etc.). Until very recently, the only way you could receive the many benefits of ketones would be consuming a calorie-restricted or carbohydrate restricted ketogenic diet. The benefit of exogenous ketones with KETO// OS, the first of its kind that is exclusive worldwide with the Pruvit product, is that you are consuming (at least in the part of the BHB-salt) pure ketones, making it easier to elevate blood ketones to therapeutic levels.
This also means, though, theoretically, you can elevate your blood ketones to any level depending on how much of the product is consumed. So, is it possible to elevate your blood ketones to a dangerous level with this product? Yes, technically it could be done; however, it would require consuming much more than the recommended dose in one sitting. On average, one serving of KETO//OS raises blood ketones to approximately 0.7mM. Dangerous elevations in blood ketones are in the range of 15- 20mM; however, it is not recommended to exceed 5-6mM for therapeutic purposes. Consuming approximately 7+ servings in one sitting would reach this level in most individuals.
CAN A TYPE 1 OR TYPE 2 DIABETIC TAKE THIS PRODUCT?
In both T1 and T2 diabetes, patients have abnormal insulin signalling. In T1, the pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin, and in T2, the body’s tissues are resistant to insulin. Insulin helps transport glucose from the blood into the cells where it can be used for energy. In severely uncontrolled diabetes (typically someone not being treated for their condition), insulin signalling is wildly impaired; and an acute and life threatening condition called ketoacidosis can occur.
If a person is eating a standard diet wherein carbohydrate is a major portion of their macronutrient intake, their tissues are mostly burning glucose for fuel. Therefore, if insulin signalling is incredibly impaired, this will cause glucose to build up in the blood because it can’t get into the cells. Thus, the cells are basically starving even though there’s plenty of glucose in the blood. (This is sometimes referred to as “starvation in the land of plenty.”) This causes the liver to begin making ketones from stored fats, just as it would if you were starving from not eating anything. Insulin also plays a role in regulating ketone production, and normally it inhibits ketone production if it’s too high to keep ketones at a proper level in the blood. So, if the patient’s diabetes is too severely uncontrolled, it is possible that a situation called “runaway ketogenesis” occurs.
The liver makes lots and lots of ketones in a short amount of time. Ketones are acids, and when at extremely high levels (typically >20mM), they can cause blood pH to drop, which can be very dangerous and/or fatal. This is diabetic ketoacidosis. Is being in therapeutic ketosis itself dangerous for a diabetic? No. There is substantial scientific evidence to suggest that consuming a ketogenic diet could actually be a very good treatment for diabetes, perhaps also exogenous ketones. Many individuals are even able to go off insulin once they switch to a ketogenic diet because it takes away the real culprit (carbs).
Ketones don’t require insulin to enter the cells and be used as energy. Therefore, switching the body away from glucose metabolism and towards ketone metabolism is very helpful. Glucose doesn’t store up in the blood (because you’re not consuming carbs), and the impaired insulin signalling isn’t as important since ketones can get into the cells without it. Plus, as described before, ketones enhance insulin sensitivity, especially in someone trying to manage their diabetes with a low carb or keto diet.
Thus, KETO//OS providing therapeutic ketone levels to the blood also provides this benefit. A diabetic could potentially be harmed by taking this product if that person had uncontrolled diabetes and were already in an acute diabetic ketoacidosis crisis. In that situation, no, they would not want to take the product, as it would elevate ketones further. It would be an unlikely scenario, and someone would have to have their condition uncontrolled to the point of potentially entering diabetic ketoacidosis before purchasing or using ketone supplementation. Diabetic patients should only use this product under the care of a physician.
WILL KETO//OS CAUSE OR AGGRAVATE KIDNEY STONES?
Kidney stones are a known potential side effect of the ketogenic diet. Exogenous ketone supplements are a novel technology, so it is currently unknown if it could cause a similar problem; but it is possible. Clinically, potassium citrate is used to help decrease the risk of kidney stones (See here: http://www.webmd.com/kidney-stones/potassiumcitrate-for-kidney-stones), including those that occur with the ketogenic diet. Potassium citrate is available commercially; however, as always, consumers should consult with their physicians before taking any supplements.
WILL KETO//OS CAUSE A “FALSE POSITIVE” ON A DRUG TEST?
There are no scientific studies investigating this possibility. Thus, there is currently no objective evidence to suggest that being in ketosis, whether via the ketogenic diet nor exogenous ketone supplements, could cause a “false positive” on a drug test. This question has been posed often in online forums by users consuming a ketogenic diet and concerned by such a possibility. Collectively, the responses to these questions include anecdotal reports of users who were in ketosis when drug tested and experience no such problem. Thus, it does not appear to be a matter of concern.