IMO...I have decided to use them sparingly and opt for more natural ingredients/recipes, just as an overall effort to be healthier. However with that said, lifestyle changes come in baby steps and any change is significant. Look at added sugar, carbs, fiber, etc. Careful with the sugar alcohols though..they can wreak havoc on your GI system (personal experience) 😜

They’re candy bars. Treat them as such.

I am not a big breakfast eater. When I do, it's usually savory stuff like leftover steak and cheese.

I think safety in those bars us mainly an issue for those who are having BG issues. If T2D is an issue for you, I would test before and after eating those bars to see how it affects you.

I've always skipped the bars and kept a few nuts or pepperonis in my bag if I suspected I would need a snack. The longer I ate Keto, the less likely a food emergency would happen. Now if I am without food for 6 to 12 hours, it's not a big deal.

For breakfast, I usually have coffee with cream and a bit of protein powder. I eat lunch between noon and three.

I used to test for ketones - it was fun. I don't bother with urine strips anymor. Now that I am Keto adapted and well hydrated, my ketostix usually show trace or no ketones, even when my carb intake for the day was less than 5g. Lol

They effect me the same way as other candy bars. If I have one, I want more so I stay away from them.

gwendyprism wrote: »

kristafb wrote: »

I've tried a few "low carb" or sugar free treats over the years & they all effected my blood sugars & threw me right out of ketosis. I recently found ones called Built Bars that don't effect either and are so good! they are soft & sort of like a marshmellowy nougat type bar,similar to a Mars bar.

I agree Built bars are tasty. I'd say more like a chocolate covered marshmallow Easter egg than a Mars. They don't seem to fill me up so maybe more if a snack than meal replacement. I've only seen them online.

I had never heard of these but just ordered the 6-bar sample pack. Thanks for the rec!

juststartedrunningagain wrote: »

nvmomketo wrote: »

I think safety in those bars us mainly an issue for those who are having BG issues. If T2D is an issue for you, I would test before and after eating those bars to see how it affects you.

I've always skipped the bars and kept a few nuts or pepperonis in my bag if I suspected I would need a snack. The longer I ate Keto, the less likely a food emergency would happen. Now if I am without food for 6 to 12 hours, it's not a big deal.

For breakfast, I usually have coffee with cream and a bit of protein powder. I eat lunch between noon and three.

I used to test for ketones - it was fun. I don't bother with urine strips anymor. Now that I am Keto adapted and well hydrated, my ketostix usually show trace or no ketones, even when my carb intake for the day was less than 5g. Lol

Thanks for the comprehensive answer. Have you really ever kept carbs below 5g (!!) I think I can relate to seeing ketosticks as good fun 😀

I do now and then just fancy chocolate or some kind do sweet treat that nuts just don’t crack (sorry had to use that). It sounds like you reallly have it sussed! I’m in awe.

Can I ask what other benefits you have seen since being in ketosis? Another random q!

I'm following a mostly carnivorous diet, although over the holidays I let that slide. there are trace carbs in animal products, like meat, eggs and whipping cream. Those are often my only carbs. Most ketoers prefer to include plants in their diet, and do very well with them. I don't feel as well eating more than trace carbs so I try to stick with animal products. I'd eat more if I did because carbs are tasty, and I think fruit and veggies can be healthful.

I'm one of those for whom ketosis seems ideally suited. I don't think many experience as many benefits as me, but I've had autoimmune problems since childhood and was developing insulin resistance by my 20s (in hindsight) so I think that affected my experiences.

My benefits included:

• Easier weight loss - my appetite is driven by carbs, and so is my cravings. When I eat Keto, I seem to naturally end up in a small calorie deficit. I also seem to start losing at a higher calorie intake. I can slowly lose weight at 1800-2000 kcal when Keto whereas if that was higher carb I would maintain or even gain a bit.
• Less arthritis pain - the lower carb I go the less my joints hurt. At almost zero carb I can play some basketball and maybe get a minor hip ache. At higher carb, like right now after holiday foods, I wake up with sore hips, limp, and my knees almost feel like there is a mild burning in them.
• Better BG control - I was prediabetic, but now my numbers are usually great, perhaps a bit higher in the morning than I'd like but that's not from food. I has reactive hypoglycaemia by my late 20s so an hour or two after eating I got a headache, felt tired and cranky, my low BP would bother me more and I would visibly shake. I had to eat every two hours. Now? That never happens. And I can skip eating for hours and hours - freedom!
• I had postural hypotension so my BP drops when I got up. I would get tunnel vision and close to fainting a few times a day. No more.
• Better hair and skin - very few pimples anymore, and I was getting them like a teenager. My hair was thinning due to AI issues and it thickened up a bit going Keto and carnivore. It isn't thick, but it's better.
• Better AI control - I get fewer AI flare ups: fewer mouth sores, arthritis, inflammation, fatigue, etc.
• Better energy, but I think that is from steadier BG.
• Cognitive improvements - I knew I was not quite as sharp as I was in my 20s, but I noticed a fairly good cognitive improvement within about two months of going Keto. Enough that even my husband noticed. It's a bit scary to realize that I was starting down the path to cognitive decline, especially since I was only in my very early 40s.
• BM improvements - I tended to have problems with C (possibly due in part to being an undiagnosed celiac for a log time) but when I went Keto it normalized. I actually looked up what normal was because I was worried it was D and was not used to having no bathroom issues.

I'm a Keto poster girl. it makes it pretty easy and reasonable for me to stay Keto. Going high carb is not worth it for me. YMMV