Breath meters are an awesome way to measure ketones while on the ketogenic diet, but there are several problems to be aware of.
The main breath acetone meter drawbacks are the need for regular calibration and the high learning curve by the user. Here’s what you need to know.
- Accuracy Problems
- Regular Calibration
- Upfront Cost
- Learning Curve
- Substance Interference
- Weak Scientific Recognition
1. Accuracy Problems
One downside of using a Ketone Breath Meter is the potential for accuracy problems. This is not because the device is faulty but rather due to device variability from brand to brand and the fact that results can be heavily influenced by outside elements.
For example, the user’s proficiency plays a significant role in the accuracy of the results. And even outside factors like temperature and humidity can affect the readings of the meter.
To get accurate results consistently, you need a well-calibrated breath meter, correct breath technique, and avoid certain things like food, drinks, and exercise before taking a measurement.
It’s also crucial to take readings at the same time every day, ideally several times a day.
But let’s be real, all of this requires a serious commitment and a systematic approach. For beginners on the ketogenic diet, this can be overwhelming.
As a result, they may end up with inaccurate results due to doing the wrong things in the wrong way. They then conclude that breath meters don’t work when, in reality, these devices do work but require a more systematic approach.
2. Regular Calibration
One disadvantage of using a ketone breath meter is the need for regular calibration. This is a problem because it requires money, effort, and you need to do it regularly.
For example, Biosense needs to be recalibrated once every 6 months, and Ketoscan once every 320 test cycles.
Skipping breath ketone meter calibration will result in incorrect measurements and can negatively affect your ketone levels and weight loss.
Sadly, most cheap breath meters don’t offer any calibration services and don’t educate users about the need for this regular upkeep. This can lead to incorrect results after some time of use.
Regular calibration may feel tiresome and cumbersome, but it’s the most important part of breath ketone meter maintenance.
3. Upfront Cost
One weakness of a ketone breath meter is its high upfront cost. High-quality breath meters tend to be expensive, which might deter some people from purchasing them.
There are many cheaper breath meters on the market, but they don’t offer calibration services, making their lifespan very short.
A hidden cost that isn’t often considered is calibration. It needs to be done regularly to ensure the device is working correctly, which can add up over time.
Despite these costs, in the long run, the breath meter can actually be more cost-effective compared to constantly buying urine strips or blood meter test strips.
This is particularly true if you’re checking your ketone levels several times a day.
4. Learning Curve
One shortcoming of the ketone breath meter is its deep learning curve.
The learning curve includes the specific steps a person must constantly follow to get accurate results, no matter the breath meter brand.
This means you need to master the right breathing technique, take measurements at the same time each day, and avoid certain foods and exercise before using it.
If you skip these best practices, you may start getting inaccurate results, which can interfere with your ketogenic diet through your food choices.
These best practices are not difficult, but they require commitment and effort and a more systematic approach. This might not be realistic for all users.
5. Substance Interference
One ketone breath meter flaw is that it’s highly sensitive to various substances in your breath. These can interfere with measurements and cause false readings.
Examples of substances affecting breath acetone measurements include all foods, drinks, anything minty, alcohol, smoking, and even dehydration.
This means that a user has to be extremely careful about what they consume before each measurement.
And it’s not just what you eat or drink that matters. Environmental factors like temperature and humidity can also impact the device’s readings.
6. Weak Scientific Recognition
One ketone breath meter limitation is its weak scientific recognition. As the breath meter is a new way of testing for ketones, it has certain limitations in terms of acceptance and understanding.
Unlike blood and urine tests, which have been around for a while, breath ketone testing is a relatively new player on the field.
This means there aren’t many products of this kind on the market and not many scientific tests have been done to validate their accuracy.
This doesn’t mean that these meters don’t work or aren’t accurate, it’s just that wider adoption and acceptance will take more time.
As more people start using them, more brands will start making them, leading to more innovation.
This will result in more tests and more scientific research being done, which will eventually make the readings more precise and offer better results for users.
