I Tried KEYTO — the Keto Diet Breathalyzer

A device for tracking the ketogenic diet progress

The Ketogenic diet has taken the Internet by storm. If you have never heard of it before, you may want to read about the basics of this nutrition strategy. Nutritionists recommended it, coaches consider it, and people are investing their time and money trying out this diet. While keto is getting mixed reviews from health specialists, and a recent study suggests questionable results about the ketogenic diet being good for you, this industry is projected to grow $15.64 billion by 2027.

You can find a variety of products and services catered to keto fans: meal plans, subscription boxes, meal kits, nutritionist programs, and other paid memberships. But there is a service which drastically differs from others: KEYTO — a breath censoring device, that measures the level of ketosis. This technological marvel has raised $2.5 million through a crowdfunding campaign, which allowed it to enter the market.

I participated in the crowdfunding campaign and became a supporter of this invention. It costs me around $110 in funding, and I received my KEYTO device in return after the campaign ended. It came in the mail and looked exactly like the one on their website:

It appears I snuck a sweet deal because I own a KEYTO, and it does not cost me anything extra. However, if you were to sign up right now, you would have to pay $96 yearly for their service on top of the $99 gadget price. It does not seem like an exorbitant cost, as it equals only $8 her month. Having that said, those costs accumulate, and if you choose to utilize KEYTO for many years, you can end up with a hefty price tag.

How does it work? The gadget analyzes your breath and determines your level of ketosis, from level 1 to 10. If you blow into KEYTO and get level 1, it means your body is currently not in ketosis, while 10 represents the highest keto level. Along with the device, you are paying to access the KEYTO application:

Once you open the app and calibrate the device, it will record your keto measurement and save it to the calendar. Over time, you can track the progress of your keto diet. The app also features a premium service called Key Eats Food, which allows you to purchase keto friendly-products to supplement your diet. In addition to that, the application offers meal plan ideas, useful resources, and a community of keto supporters:

KEYTO has solved a problem for customers who are conscious about their health, and wish to follow the ketosis diet. Before this gadget was invented, people were using keto strips, which were not always accurate, and cost on average, $10 for 100 strips. The benefits of the KEYTO device are convenience since you can carry it around at any time, plus it’s more environmentally friendly and doesn’t create any waste, unlike the strips.

Making KEYTO work and registering for the app took me a total of 5 minutes — it is straightforward to use. The downside I noticed is it takes a little bit of time for the device to calibrate before it can analyze my breath — between 2 to 3 minutes. It’s only a minor inconvenience, but if you are in a rush, you may not be able to record the measurements right away. Otherwise, KEYTO seems easy to use end very user-friendly.

I only ended up using it a handful of times, because I switched my diet from the moment I participated in the funding campaign until it arrived on my doorstep. I am currently considering going back on the keto diet so that this gadget will be handy. The trick is to remember measuring your breath every single day — setting up a reminder on your phone might be helpful.

I cannot judge KEYTO on the accuracy, as it would require a comprehensive study. Based on my own experience, it did a decent job pointing out a higher level of ketosis after I followed the diet and consumed a lot of high-fat, low-carb foods. The moment I started cheating on my diet, KEYTO would show a lower keto level. I would recommend you try this technology if you are determined to follow the keto diet and willing to commit to it long term. Otherwise, if you are just trying it out, you might be better off with keto strips — they are much cheaper, and once you concluded your journey, the damage would only equal to $10 or so. Consider pros and cons before committing to the KEYTO subscription; there is a have a somewhat high price tag that comes with it.

Ensure to consult your doctor before going on the keto diet, as it’s not a healthy choice for everyone, your underlying medical conditions may make you unfit for this nutrition plan. Always speak to a specialist before making such a decision.