Introduction
The ketogenic diet, characterized by its low-carbohydrate and high-fat composition, aims to induce a metabolic state known as ketosis, where the body primarily burns fat for energy instead of carbohydrates. Keto gummies have emerged as a popular supplement marketed to support this ketogenic diet, with claims ranging from weight loss and increased energy to improved metabolism. Summer Keto ACV Gummies are one such product, designed to support a ketogenic diet, which is known for its ability to promote weight loss. These gummies contain ingredients that can help your body enter a state of ketosis, where it burns fat for fuel instead of carbohydrates. This review aims to provide a comprehensive evaluation of keto gummies, with a focus on products like Summer Keto ACV Gummies, by examining their ingredients, purported benefits, potential risks, and scientific evidence.
What are Keto Gummies?
Keto gummies are supplements that resemble ordinary chewable vitamins but offer a different purported health benefit. “They’re marketed as a way to help boost ketone levels in the blood,” says Schwartz. Keto gummies are made with exogenous ketones, which is a fancy term for ketones you get from an outside source. “Your body makes ketones on its own through the foods you eat,” explains registered dietitian Beth Czerwony, RD, LD. “Keto gummies are a supplement that adds exogenous ketones into your body, which may help continue ketosis.”
In general, the body uses carbohydrates for fuel, but when there aren’t sufficient amounts of carbohydrates, the body enters what’s known as “nutritional ketosis” and starts to break down fat for energy instead. “It typically takes a few days of strict carbohydrate restriction to enter this state,” explains Katie Schwartz, a registered dietitian based in Asheville, North Carolina. But once the body enters a state of ketosis, it begins producing ketones, which are then used for fuel.
Ingredients Found in Keto Gummies
Most keto gummies typically contain medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), a type of saturated fat that help give your body energy, in addition to exogenous ketones. Medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil may provide a quick source of energy, explains Rancourt. Exogenous ketones are produced outside of the body and consumed orally (as opposed to endogenous ketones that are produced inside the body). Exogenous ketones include ketone salts and ketone esters, which have different chemical structures and potencies, with esters considered more potent.
“Sometimes, keto gummies may contain gelatin or natural sweeteners like Stevia,” notes Czerwony. “It’s not like eating a traditional gummy. It’s not going to have any additional sugars because if it did, then it would throw you out of ketosis.”
Read also: Are Active Keto Gummies Right for You?
So, what should you look for in a keto gummy? “There are a lot of options available and they all seem comparable,” says Czerwony. “I would suggest opting for something that fits in your budget and buy a small batch at first to make sure you like it.”
Purported Benefits of Keto Gummies
Keto gummies are marketed with several potential benefits, including:
- Weight Loss Support: It is designed to support a ketogenic diet, which is known for its ability to promote weight loss. These gummies contain ingredients that can help your body enter a state of ketosis, where it burns fat for fuel instead of carbohydrates.
- Increase weight loss.
- Improve athletic performance.
- Decrease your appetite.
Many customers have praised Summer Keto ACV Gummies for their ability to support weight loss goals. They have reported experiencing a decrease in appetite and cravings, which has helped them maintain a calorie deficit. Customers have also highlighted the convenience and taste of Summer Keto ACV Gummies. They appreciate that the gummies are easy to incorporate into their daily routine, making it simpler to stay on track with their ketogenic diet.
Scientific Evidence: Do Keto Gummies Work?
Research is sparse when it comes to determining whether keto gummies and supplements support losing weight. “There’s no credible evidence that keto gummies can reliably initiate or maintain ketosis,” says Schwartz. Noom's 5-minute quiz unlocks a weight loss program customized for you so you can manage your health and form habits that last. “These products are not evidence-based and often rely on misleading marketing,” says Schwartz.
It’s important to note that keto gummies (or any keto supplement, for that matter) don’t put you in ketosis.“Keto gummies may help the process of ketosis continue, but you need to be in ketosis first,” clarifies Czerwony. But, again, whether keto gummies or other keto supplements can actually keep you in ketosis has been inconclusive, according to research. In fact, one study explains that supplements may increase the amount of ketones too much. Ideally, your body wants to maintain an even level of ketones. And when this happens, your liver may not produce as many ketones naturally, making it harder to stay in ketosis.
Read also: Do Destiny Keto ACV Gummies Work?
Potential Risks and Side Effects
Before considering keto gummies, it’s crucial to be aware of potential risks and side effects:
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Gastrointestinal issues, like diarrhea.
- Low blood sugar.
“You run the risk of GI issues if your keto gummies use sorbitol, which is known as a laxative,” warns Czerwony. “You should be cautious if you’re going try it. Slowly introduce keto gummies to see how you do because you don’t want to all sudden just kind of overdo it and have those side effects and not be very happy.”
And while some people with Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and kidney issues may opt to go on the keto diet, Czerwony cautions against adding keto gummies to the mix. “The keto diet - and the addition of a keto supplement like gummies - can potentially lower your blood sugar, leading to hypoglycemic responses,” she says. “And it can dehydrate you as well.”
People with underlying health conditions like kidney disease or diabetes, people who are pregnant or nursing, children, or anyone on medications affecting blood sugar shouldn’t use keto gummies, notes Rancourt.
Dosage and Usage
It is advised to take one gummy in the morning and another gummy in the evening. This allows for consistent and sustained support throughout the day. It is important to note that exceeding the recommended dose of these Gummies does not provide any additional benefits.
Read also: Ace Keto ACV Gummies: A Deep Dive
Regulation and Quality Control
Dietary supplements are not approved for safety or efficacy by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and ingredients and their amounts may vary.
Alternatives to Keto Gummies
Before you hop on the keto gummy bandwagon, Czerwony suggests looking at your diet first if you’re struggling to stay in ketosis. “What is the reason that your body isn’t staying in ketosis? Are you overdoing it on carbohydrates? Is it because you’re getting bored? Is it because you’re still hungry?”
Consider making the necessary tweaks to your keto diet so you’re getting enough calories or fiber. Doing so can be a healthier option instead of turning to keto gummies.
The keto diet - a high-fat diet that keeps your body in a state of ketosis - has its perks. It can help your metabolism speed up, increase your muscle mass and improve your blood pressure - all while helping you lose fat. And it’s all thanks to ketosis, which is when your body uses ketones, a fatty acid, for energy instead of glucose. Keeping your body in ketosis can be hard - doing so includes eating a restricted list of foods like meat, eggs, nuts and fish and avoiding foods like fruit, sugar, beans and high-carb veggies.