Let's get this out of the way: There is no magic pill when it comes to your health.
You cannot supplement your way out of bad habits. At Hunter & Gather, we believe in staying active while following a real food, ancestrally inspired lifestyle. With that being said, there are some supplements that can make your health goals more attainable.
If you're following the keto diet and have struggled getting into ketosis, you may be browsing the internet for keto diet pills. Ketosis is best achieved through a high-fat, low-carb lifestyle. If switching your diet doesn't work initially, you can try alternative methods, such as intermittent fasting a different exercise regimen or adding MCT your lifestyle. If you stumble across diet pills online promising to make you enter ketosis without any lifestyle changes, it's probably — to be extremely blunt — a total scam.
This post serves a dual purpose: One, to tell you which keto diet pills to avoid, and two, to let you know about certain supplements that can make a ketogenic lifestyle more sustainable. The latter are not magic diet pills — instead, they offer a nutrient-dense resource or make the metabolic transition to ketosis more manageable.
Keto Diet Pills UK: 5 Supplements to Avoid
Many supplements advertised as "keto diet pills" contain a combination of magnesium, zinc and MCT oil — which could, theoretically, benefit someone just starting out on the keto diet. With that being said, you need to take a closer look at nutrition labels when purchasing supplements, being aware of everything you're putting into your body.
Here are a few ingredients and products you should avoid.
1. MCT Powder
While MCT oil is an efficient fuel source and should absolutely be used as part of a healthy, ketogenic diet, MCT powders can have additives you should be aware of.
MCT power requires a "carrier" which the MCT oil is attached to — which is typically maltodextrin or tapioca. While tapioca is fine to consume on keto in small amounts, maltodextrin is not recommended.
2. Fillers and Bulking Agents
Many supplements, particularly diet pills, will contain bulkers, fillers and additives. These can contain gluten and/or grain (such as rice powders) which are not suitable for the keto diet.
3. Raspberry Ketones
Raspberry ketones claims to be a weight loss pill that aids in helping people transition to a ketogenic state — except there is little to no research proving they work. While raspberry ketones are found in trace amounts in red raspberries and other fruits, the products are found online and in stores and synthetically processed [1].
4. Ketone Salts and Esters
Ketone supplements, like ketone salts and ketone esters, claim to contain acetoacetate, beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) and acetone — the three ketones found in the human body. Again, there is very little scientific research behind these ketogenic supplements, and we believe that you should aim to opt for following a low-carb diet — not slimming pills — to get you into ketosis.
5. Appetite Suppressants
When you're following a nutrient-dense diet and partake in an active lifestyle, appetite is a good thing. Your appetite is your body’s way of telling you that you need to boost your energy levels through food. Be extremely wary of weight loss supplements promising to suppress your appetite, as they can cause liver and kidney damage, high blood pressure, stomach upset and increased heart rate [2]. In fact, many of these supplements have been banned by the FDA in America due to their serious side effects [3][4].
Remember: Do not purchase weight loss diet pills or supplements online just because they contain the word "keto weight loss" on the label. Instead, follow a nutrient-dense, low-carb diet to aid in fat loss. This is the best way to improve your health for the long term.
Keto Supplements: 4 Supplements to Make the Keto Diet More Manageable
There are several supplements that are 1) keto-friendly and can 2) make your transition to a fat-burning state more manageable. Here are several nutrient-dense dietary supplements to consider.
1. Collagen
Collagen is the most abundant protein found in the human body, forming the connective tissue in your hair, skin, nails, ligaments and cartilage. Collagen is filled with amino acids, the building blocks of protein, which can aid in muscle recovery [5].
If you maintain an active lifestyle, you can use collagen peptides in place of other protein powders for post-workout recovery. Unlike many protein powders, which contain unwanted fillers, additives and carbohydrates, collagen is a natural substance, contains one ingredient (collagen) and contains zero carbs. It’s the perfect addition to a keto lifestyle.
2. MCT Oil
MCT oil is made up entirely of MCTs, or medium-chain triglycerides. MCTs are a type of fat that are broken down rapidly in the liver. Because of this, MCTs can help you burn fat — rather than glucose — for energy and can support you entering ketosis.
Before you take ketone supplements (like raspberry ketones, ketone salts or ketone esters) we encourage you to take a hard look at your diet. Before resorting to supplements, consider increasing your intake of healthy fats (like MCT oil), decreasing your carb intake further or experimenting with fasting. There are some great keto coaches out there that can support you in providing your own unique set of macros for you personally, as we are all different.
3. Organ Meat Capsules
Organ meats — like liver, heart and kidney — are a nutrient-dense powerhouse, containing a number of micronutrients. When transitioning to a keto diet, you will be required to eliminate a number of fruits and some starchy vegetables, which could decrease your intake of certain vitamins and minerals.
Fortunately, organ meats are filled with these same nutrients and in an even more bioavailable format. Taking liver or heart capsules offers a number of health benefits, such as increasing your vitamin B12, iron, riboflavin, copper and vitamin A levels naturally.
4. Electrolytes
When you first begin a ketogenic diet, you may experience mild, flu-like symptoms known as keto flu. These symptoms include nausea, headaches, weakness, muscle cramps and brain fog.
Fortunately, you can decrease keto flu symptoms by supplementing with electrolytes. Electrolytes include certain minerals, which include potassium, calcium and magnesium. However, before purchasing a sports drink filled with sugar (i.e., carbs), try to increase your electrolyte intake from real food sources. For example, coconut water (without any additives) sprinkled with sea salt is an excellent form of electrolytes and relatively low carb. Or opt for some sparkling water, a dash of apple cider vinegar and pink Himalayan salt.
Be Wary of Products Advertised as Keto Diet Pills in the UK
Here's something many weight loss companies don't want you to know: If a product advertises itself as a keto diet pill, it's probably best left on the shelf.
Many keto diet pills contain unwanted carbs, fillers and bulking agents, which do not hold a place in a real food diet. Instead, focus on consuming plenty of micronutrients (through organ meats) and electrolytes (through food sources of calcium, sodium and potassium) to make your transition to ketosis easier. In addition, consider swapping out your post-workout protein shake for collagen, and using MCT oil instead of ketone esters or salts.
Hunter & Gather offers liver, kidney and liver & heart capsules, collagen peptides and MCT oil to help you become successful on the keto diet. In addition, we offer a library of resources to help you continue to do your own research. To see how these products can transform your health, check out the following articles:
- MCT Oil UK: The High-Quality Fat You've Never Heard Of
- Does Collagen Work? How to Find the Best Collagen Supplement
- Benefits of Eating Organ Meats for Us All
All information provided on our website and within our articles is simply information, opinion, anecdotal thoughts and experiences to provide you with the tools to thrive.
It is not intended to treat or diagnose symptoms, and is definitely not intended to be misconstrued for medical advice. We always advise you seek the advice of a trained professional when implementing any changes to your lifestyle and dietary habits.
We do, however, recommend seeking the services of a trained professional who questions the conventional wisdom to enable you to become the best version of yourself.
RESOURCES
[1] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17722151/
[2] https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/drugs/9463-appetite-suppressants
[4] https://www.fda.gov/drugs/medication-health-fraud/tainted-weight-loss-products
[5] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4594048/
