If you’re on the ketogenic diet, or you’re thinking of getting started, then most likely you already know that people on keto get their energy from fats instead of glucose. When you complete the shift from running on carbs to fats, you’re considered to be in the state of ketosis.
But what are ketones, and what do they have to do with ketosis?
When you’re fat-adapted in the state of ketosis, your liver turns fats into ketones, a type of acid. These ketone bodies are then used by your tissues as fuel to keep you functioning [1]. Ketones are thought to play a role in many of the potential benefits of the ketogenic diet, such as reduced inflammation [2], fat loss [3], antioxidant effects [4], enhanced cognitive function [5], and others.
There are three main types of ketones produced by the human body, namely beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), acetoacetate (AcAc), and acetone. BHB accounts for around 78 percent of the ketones found in the blood [6], making it the most abundantly available of the three ketone types.
Endogenous vs. exogenous ketones
As the name suggests, endogenous ketones are the ones that are naturally produced by the human body. These are the ketone bodies that are created by the liver when you’re fat-adapted.
Exogenous ketones are the ones that are available for consumption in a dietary supplement form. You can take them to increase ketone levels in your system.
Here, we’ll discuss why people take exogenous ketones and look at some of the most highly rated ketone products available on the market. We’ll also provide a brief guide on how to pick the exogenous ketones that are right for you.
Why do people take exogenous ketones supplements?
There are a few different reasons why someone might benefit from taking an exogenous ketones supplement.
Helps fight keto flu – When transitioning from glucose to fats as the primary fuel source, many people experience uncomfortable symptoms like brain fog, nausea, headaches, and more. Exogenous ketones can help fight these “keto flu” symptoms by facilitating a quicker switch to ketosis.
Suppresses appetite – Fat loss is one of the main reasons why people follow the keto diet. Ketones suppress appetite by preventing insulin swings that are responsible for hunger and cravings [7]. Dom D’Agostino, renowned scientist and one of the leading proponents of the keto diet, relies on exogenous ketones for sustained energy levels on days when he doesn’t have access to keto-friendly foods.
Promotes cognitive function – Many people report feeling an enhanced sense of mental clarity when they take ketone supplements [8], helping them get things done more effectively throughout the day.
What is the best exogenous ketone supplement available on the market?
As with most things health-related, there isn’t one brand that is the best fit for everybody, since people have unique needs and tastes. Thankfully, there are a few exogenous ketone products available that come with high-quality ingredients in various flavors.
Here are some of our favorites.
1. Onnit Total Keto Daily (Powder)
Onnit is a premium supplement brand brought to the forefront by world-famous comedian, podcaster, TV host, and MMA announcer Joe Rogan. Joe is an investor in the company, and he uses many of their supplements himself. With Onnit, you can rest assured you’re getting the highest quality ingredients that are backed by research.
Total Keto Daily provides you with a direct boost of ketones so you can attain ketosis quicker, enjoy mental clarity, and sustained energy levels.
Each serving contains 10g of BHB, 3g of fat, 1g net carbs, and 45 calories. You also get 250mg potassium and 85mg magnesium, both critical minerals to keep you well hydrated when you’re on the keto diet.
Onnit Total Keto Daily Ingredients
BHB salts, avocado oil powder for beneficial fats and clean fuel, and Logifiber (a prebiotic to support gut health)
Onnit Total Keto Daily Flavors
What others are saying about Onnit Total Keto Daily
Customers love the taste, especially compared to many other ketone supplements on the market. They say it has a watermelon flavor, with a hint of salt, and it feels like a fruity drink on a beach.
They’re also saying that it does a great job of keeping their appetite under control and helping with focus and clarity.
Onnit Total Keto Daily Price
Price not available for 30 servings.
2. Perfect Keto Exogenous Ketone Base (Powder)
Perfect Keto is another premium brand that has been featured in prominent publications like Healthline, New York magazine, and Women’s Health. Like Onnit, the products are research-backed, and they focus on healthy natural ingredients like coconut, coffee, cacao, almonds, macadamia, etc. Perfect Keto products are free of added sugars, gluten, soy, peanuts, and corn.
You can take Perfect Keto to get you through an afternoon slump, to fuel your body through a workout, or to fight keto flu symptoms if you’re just getting started.
Perfect Keto Exogenous Ketone Ingredients
Along with Beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) ketones, Perfect Keto products contain a whole host of natural and healthy ingredients.
They contain natural ingredients like oils and extracts, and flavors derived from fruits, herbs, and spices.
There’s also monk fruit, a natural sweetener high in antioxidants that don’t have a fluctuating effect on blood sugar.
Perfect Keto Exogenous Ketone Flavors
This is where Perfect Keto really shines. Their exogenous ketones come in various mouth-watering flavors like chocolate, No products found., No products found., vanilla, and salted caramel. You can also get it in No products found. form if you prefer. Perfect Keto recently announced a No products found., too. And to think, all of this without any added sugar or artificial flavors!
What others are saying about Perfect Keto Exogenous Ketone Base
As you can imagine, customers are loving the taste. Interestingly enough, even Joe Rogan is lavish in his praise for Perfect Keto although he is involved with a direct competitor.
“They have excellent supplements that really help boost energy and get you over the hump when you first get into keto. Their chocolate one, in particular, is my favorite!” – Joe Rogan
Perfect Keto Exogenous Ketones Price
$44.99 for 15 servings.
3. Real Ketones Prime D+ (Powder)
No products found.
Real Ketones claim that their products have a multi-patented proprietary formula that combines BHB ketones and MCT (medium-chain triglycerides) to give you a jump start into sustained ketosis. MCTs can be converted to ketones when you’re on a low-carb diet, and Real Ketones claim that combining these two ingredients provide a unique effect that neither one can deliver on their own.
Real Ketones also provides food planning and keto guidance, which can be critical. Keto is a restrictive diet, and people are often confused about what is or isn’t included in the list of keto-friendly foods.
The company also prides its investment in research. They claim to have invested almost one million dollars in 4 clinical studies with over 300 participants, to develop their products.
All the products are free of dairy, soy, and gluten, and they are compatible with vegan, keto, and paleo lifestyles.
Real Ketones Prime D+ Ingredients
Besides the proprietary blend of BHB salts and MCT, Real Ketones Prime D+ contains a few vital vitamins and minerals that are critical for the keto diet.
Each serving contains a healthy dose of sodium, potassium, and magnesium, all essential minerals to prevent your kidneys flushing out too much water because there’s no insulin your system on keto.
Prime D+ also has vitamins D3 and K2, a combination that has shown to promote better mood, bone health, and cardiovascular health [9][10]. There are also vitamins B6 and B12 for elevated energy levels.
Real Ketones Prime D+ Flavors
Prime D+ comes in No products found., No products found., and No products found. flavors. They use keto-friendly stevia leaf extract to sweeten their products.
What others are saying about Real Ketones Prime D+
Real Ketones has delighted customers. Some credit their products for changing their entire experience on keto, finally giving them adequate energy to get through the day and avoid cravings.
Dom D’Agostino endorses Real Ketones and lists them as one of his preferred products on his website Ketonutrition.
Real Ketones Prime D+ Price
No products found. for 28 servings.
4. Real Ketones Keto Energy Shot (Liquid)
Another product from Real Ketones which is highly rated by the customers. Created by biochemists to deliver high performance, the keto energy shots are ideal for those looking for a fast-acting boost. They claim that the carefully added dose of caffeine enhances how your body absorbs ketones. A shot also contains vaso-dilators to open up circulation, making sure you feel the effects right away.
Real Ketones Keto Energy Shot Ingredients
Keto Energy Shots contain goBHB, which are BHB salts that combine sodium and potassium. They also have some caffeine and green tea extract. Just like Prime D+, the energy shots are keto, paleo, and vegan-friendly.
Real Ketones Keto Energy Shot Flavors
The available flavors are Keto Aide - Strawberry Lemonade, Keto Tart - Cherry Limeade, and 12 gauge.
What others are saying about Real Ketones Keto Energy Shots
While this product doesn’t yet have as many reviews as the other ones, they are overwhelmingly positive. People love the convenience factor of carrying the little bottles with them and taking a shot whenever they need a quick boost to overcome a slump or to power through a workout.
Real Ketones Keto Energy Shots Price
Price not available for a 12-pack.
5. Pruvit KETO//OS PRO + MCT Orange Dream (Powder)
Pruvit is another brand that is endorsed by Dom D’Agostino. He lists the brand on his website and mentioned them on an episode of the Joe Rogan Podcast (JRE #994) as one of the best options available in the market.
They claim to produce the most bioavailable ketone salts through the first-ever naturally fermented process.
Pruvit KETO//OS PRO Ingredients
The Orange Dream flavor comes packed with MCTs to boost energy and support digestion. Each serving contains 6g of protein and 80 calories. It also comes with sodium, potassium, and vitamins B6 and B12.
Pruvit KETO//OS PRO Flavors
Besides Orange Dream, Pruvit has various different flavors like Blue Ocean, Mint Chip Cream, and others. For a full list of products that are currently in stock, check out Amazon.
What others are saying about Pruvit KETO//OS PRO
While Pruvit enjoys the stamp of approval from Dom, which certainly holds weight, the reviews on Amazon are mixed. Many people say they didn’t get the results they expected. However, many others are happy with the product, so it could be a matter of people having unrealistic expectations.
Pruvit KETO//OS PRO Price
$160 RRP for 30 servings.
6. No products found.
No products found.
KetoForce is a brand that has been used by the likes of Tim Ferris, the self-help guru always looking for new ways to optimize his health and productivity. Dom D’Agostino also lists KetoForce on his website as a resource for those looking for keto foods. Needless to say, KetoForce passes the test when it comes to expert endorsements.
No products found. acts fast and provides you with pure ketones without any stimulants like caffeine. It also contains no fats, carbohydrates, or sweeteners. It claims to improve focus, brain function, and energy levels for 2-3 hours after you take it.
KetoSports KetoForce Ingredients
BHB, potassium, water, and citric acid.
KetoSports KetoForce Flavors
No flavors, just energy!
What others are saying about KetoSports KetoForce
Most reviews are positive. Many people are saying that while it is kind of an acquired taste, the product works great as far as suppressing appetite, sustaining energy, and supporting mental clarity.
KetoSports KetoForce Price
No products found. for 16 servings.
Note: At the time of writing, the Keto Sports website seems to be down, but the No products found.. If they become unavailable in the future for some reason, No products found. is another excellent option for exogenous ketones.
Which exogenous ketones supplement is right for me?
All of the products listed above are highly rated, or they’ve been endorsed by experts. So, you really cannot go wrong with either one of them when it comes to the quality of the products. However, there are a few things to consider when picking the ketone supplement that is right for you.
Do you need a quick burst, or are you looking for long-lasting effects?
If you need fast-acting results, then your best bet is a liquid ketone supplement. Ideal for getting you over an afternoon slump or for a quick shot of energy before a workout.
If you’d instead have elevated energy levels all day and you also want to suppress appetite, you should go with a powdered supplement or one that contains MCTs or other fat sources. However, these might take a little longer to kick in compared to the liquid ones.
Does it fit your budget?
Depending on how long you plan on being on the keto lifestyle, you should account for the price of your ketone supplement. If you plan on following the keto diet for many months, then you should go with the supplement which you can afford on a recurring monthly basis.
Can you stomach the taste of Exogenous Ketones?
Some people are more sensitive to taste than others. Supplements are most effective when you take them regularly. If you can’t handle the taste of ketone salts, then you’ll be more likely to skip, potentially jeopardizing your keto diet. If you’re extremely sensitive to taste, it might be best to start with Perfect Keto or Onnit, since those have the best ratings when it comes to flavor.
Products mentioned in this article
- ONNIT Total Keto - Exogenous Ketones Supplement for Low Carb Diet - 300g Ketone per Tub
- Perfect Keto Exogenous Ketones Powder, BHB Salts for Ketosis & Fasting Support, Electrolytes for Hydration, Caffeine Free Energy, Chocolate, 8.57 oz
- No products found.
- Keto Energy Shot - Exogenous Ketones Preworkout Drink- 12-Pack with D-BHB, Natural Caffeine, and Nootropic Blend - Cherry Limeade by Real Ketones
- Pruvit Pro Orange Dream
- No products found.
- No products found.
Reference List:
- ^ https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/qa/what-are-ketones
- ^ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16242042/
- ^ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15148063
- ^ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18339375
- ^ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19664276/
- ^ https://www.ekfdiagnostics.com/res/Beta-Hydroxybutyrate%20-%20New%20Test%20for%20Ketoacidosis%20(Danbury%20Hospital%20article).pdf
- ^ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29105987
- ^ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6286979/
- ^ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5613455/
- ^ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9539254
