If you want to enhance weight loss and increase your energy levels while maintaining a state of ketosis on a ketogenic diet, there are supplements that can help.
The best keto supplements can maximize your results.
But before you splurge on vitamins and supplements to take on keto, it pays to do some research to see which ones are right for you.
It’s also important to remember that while taking supplements can improve your health, none can replace the pillars of a proper diet, exercise routine, and healthy lifestyle.
In this article, you’ll learn the best keto supplements for weight loss and to boost your physical performance on a low-carb, high-fat eating plan.
#1: Exogenous Ketones
Exogenous ketone supplements speed up ketosis.
When you follow a ketogenic diet, your liver makes ketone bodies from fat breakdown — beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), acetoacetate, and acetone. These are called endogenous ketones since they’re produced by your body.
Ketones have anti-inflammatory health benefits and supply an alternative, non-carbohydrate fuel for your brain.
On the other hand, exogenous ketones are externally-made ketones you consume through supplements such as ketone salts and ketone esters . Supplementing your keto diet with exogenous ketones can provide the following added benefits:
- Temporarily raises your blood ketone levels: This means you get more of the beneficial side effects of ketosis — even if you’re still in fat-adaptation mode or ate a few too many carbs (*).
- Lessen side effects, such as the keto flu: They can also help you avoid some of the initial side effects of transitioning from a high-carb diet to using fat for fuel, to help you better adjust, especially within the first week of starting keto.
- May suppress appetite hormones and decrease food cravings: Exogenous ketones can suppress the appetite by lowering levels of the hunger hormone ghrelin. One recent study showed that appetite was decreased between 2 and 4 hours after drinking a ketone ester (*).
However, be aware that some exogenous ketone products include artificial flavors, fillers, gums or binders. Others even contain carbs, hindering your ability to enter ketosis.
Perfect Keto Exogenous Ketone Base has absolutely no fillers, gums, sugars, or carbs. It’s sweetened with natural keto sweeteners stevia and monk fruit, and comes in four delicious flavors — Strawberry Lemonade, Chocolate, Vanilla, and Salted Caramel.
#2: MCT Oil and Powder Supplements
Medium-chain triglycerides or MCTs for short, are one of the most popular keto diet supplements. Your body breaks down medium-chain triglycerides more efficiently than other fats, which means you get quick energy to fuel your brain and muscles.
MCTs can help boost energy and suppress appetite, helping you to lose unwanted fat and preventing overeating (* , *, *, *).
MCTs occur naturally in whole foods like coconut oil, cheese, butter, and yogurt, but the best way to consume medium-chain triglycerides is by supplementing with MCT oil or powder. And if you’re trying to optimize your fat intake, you’ll know how much MCTs you’re getting by taking these dietary supplements.
Note that MCT powder may be better than MCT oil because it’s easier to digest, mixes easily with food and drinks (hot or cold), and is convenient to take on the go.
Perfect Keto MCT Oil Powder is made with MCTs from real coconuts, includes keto-friendly fiber, and is free of artificial ingredients and sweeteners.
If you’re looking for convenient and effective way to speed fat loss while supporting your health, these MCTs are a bang for your buck.
#3: Krill Oil for Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Krill oil is an omega-3 fatty acid supplement that is gaining popularity as a fish oil alternative.
Studies show that taking omega-3 supplements containing EPA and DHA found in fish can improve your health and may prevent disease, especially if you don’t eat enough seafood (*, *, *).
Because of the higher fat content of the keto diet, it’s important to have a healthy ratio of omega-3 fats, which are anti-inflammatory to omega-6 fats, which are pro-inflammatory (* , *). Taking a krill oil supplement can help tip your fats into better balance and provide better health results.
For example, one study showed that people following a ketogenic diet who supplemented with omega-3 fats from krill oil experienced greater decreases in triglycerides, insulin, and inflammatory markers than those who did not (*).
Krill oil is a good addition to your low-carb diet if you don’t eat enough fatty fish, or you just want to cover all your bases.
#4: High-Quality Grass-Fed Whey Protein
If you want to build muscle and improve body composition while on keto, regular resistance training is important. But optimal protein intake is crucial to ensure performance and recovery.
For example, nutrition experts recommend that you eat a large meal with plenty of protein within one to two hours of finishing your exercise session, especially if you’re lifting weights. Timing your protein intake in this way enhances your muscle protein synthesis and speeds your recovery (* , *, *).
But it’s not always easy to get in enough high quality protein at the right times to maximize your results.
This is where a convenient whey protein supplement like Perfect Keto Whey Protein can help. Simply mix the powder with water to increase your protein intake after exercise when you’re on the go.
Our whey powder is made with grass-fed protein isolate to reduce the lactose content, plus it has added MCTs for an energy boost.
#5: Electrolytes
Electrolytes are another one of the best keto diet supplements to make the transition to keto easier.
Your body’s electrolyte balance is one of the most critical components of a safe, successful, and enjoyable ketogenic diet experience.
Electrolytes are used in your body for the following critical functions:
- Muscle contractions
- Heartbeat regulation
- Body temperature control
- Bladder control
- Energy production
- Neurological functions
Excretion of excess fluids when beginning keto is normal, but not entirely harmless, as it also removes many of the electrolytes present in our bodies.
A sudden initial shortage in electrolytes is often the culprit behind the muscle cramps, brain fog, headaches, low energy, and digestive and sleep issues that are commonly known as the “keto flu.”
Getting enough electrolytes through diet alone (by eating fatty fish and avocados, for example) may be challenging for some people, especially if you exercise vigorously or sweat a lot. In these cases, taking an electrolyte supplement to replenish your levels can help bridge the gap (*).
Perfect Keto Electrolytes are formulated for the keto diet and other low-carb lifestyles to help you rebalance, rehydrate, and feel better.
#6: Branched-Chain Amino Acids
Protein is made up of small building blocks called amino acids. The amino acids leucine, isoleucine, and valine are called branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs).
Compared to complete dietary protein, these individual amino acids have their own unique effects on your exercise performance and body composition when taken in isolation, helping to repair and rebuild muscle.
If your diet is deficient in BCAAs, you’re likely to experience excessive soreness and reduced performance after training (* , *, *, *)
Taking BCAAs before workouts can improve your recovery and reduce your muscle soreness (* , *).
Perfect Keto Perform Pre-Workout Formula has carefully selected ingredients, including BCAAs, BHB, MCT powder, creatine, L-citrulline, beta alanine, and caffeine that are formulated to enhance your training performance and recovery while supporting ketosis.
#7: Nootropic Supplements
Studies show the ketogenic diet increasesoverall brain power and productivity(* , *, *, *). It also lowers inflammation and oxidative stress, which have been associated with decreased overall brain function (*).
But if you want an extra edge, nootropics –“smart drugs”– can help maximize cognitive function and concentration when paired with a keto diet.
Also known as “brain boosters” or “cognitive enhancers,” nootropics are made to optimize mental functions like mood, focus, memory, motivation, and attention span (*).
Here are a few of the benefits of taking nootropics:
- Regulates nerve signaling throughout the body
- Improved blood flow to your brain
- Reduces inflammation
- Preserves brain cells and keeps them sharp
Perfect Keto’s Nootropic blend includes exogenous ketones to fuel cognitive activities along with MCTs and grass-fed collagen peptides for lasting fuel. It also contains other hand-picked ingredients to enhance brain power and mental clarity such as ginkgo biloba, L-theanine, and DHA (* , *, *).
Take our Keto Nootropic if you need a boost before diving into a big project, prior to a big workout, or on the way to school or work.
#8: Blood Sugar Support
If you follow the keto diet, you probably already know that many of its health benefits come from reducing your blood sugar levels and improving your insulin sensitivity.
Better insulin sensitivity lowers inflammation in your body, helps you maintain a healthy weight, and reduces your risk of type 2 diabetes (* , *, *).
By committing to the keto lifestyle, you can reverse the damage that may come from high blood sugar levels.
If you want to speed up the process of getting healthy and improving your insulin sensitivity, you can use supplements to support healthy blood sugar levels.
Studies show that chromium, Gymnema Sylvestre, bitter melon extract, cinnamon, and other supplements can instantly lower your blood sugar levels, cut carb cravings, and even block the absorption of carbs (* , *). It’s important to discuss these options with your doctor before adding them to your diet, especially if you’re already taking medications for lowering blood sugar.
Perfect Keto Blood Sugar Support capsules contain a carefully-chosen blend of seven ingredients that work together to enhance your insulin sensitivity, stabilize your blood glucose levels, and help you get the most out of your keto diet.
#9: Greens Powder Supplements
When starting keto, some people express concern about the need to cut back on fruits and high-carb vegetables.
While limiting these higher carb foods can help you lose weight and body fat, cutting them out entirely may lead to vitamin and mineral imbalances. Fortunately, there are plenty of healthy fruits and vegetables that are keto-friendly and high in fiber to fill you up.
But if you still struggle to get in enough, especially if you’re traveling frequently or live a hective lifestyle, there’s an easy fix.
Adding in a greens powder supplement is a convenient way to meet your daily fruit and vegetable requirements on keto without all the carbs. These supplements provide essential vitamins to take on keto to ensure you give your body what it needs to feel its best.
Keto Micro Greens Powder with MCTs contains 26 organic fruits and vegetables and can be easily blended into a low carb beverage to take on the go. These greens provide the health benefits of vitamins, minerals, and enzymes without spikes in blood sugar or insulin levels.
#10: Collagen
Collagen is the most abundant protein in your body, comprising 30% of overall protein (*).
Collagen is a big reason behind the bone broth craze and promotes health in several ways.
First, collagen can repair the intestinal lining, especially in those who suffer from digestive issues like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This makes it easier for your body to absorb important nutrients, water, and electrolytes (*).
Second, collagen is rich in essential amino acids, and consuming it helps repair your muscles and bones and keep your hair, skin, and nails healthy (*).
Supplementing with collagen is a phenomenal choice to enhance your health, wellness, and recovery, whether or not you choose to follow the keto diet.
The Bottom Line: Supplements on the Keto Diet
Taking the best supplements to get into a state of ketosis faster, burn more fat, or lose weight is a winning strategy. Keto supplements can even enhance your work performance, boost your mood, and improve your recovery.
But it’s vital to remember that you can’t supplement or exercise your way out of a faulty diet. A proper diet paired with regular exercise will take you further than supplements alone. Make sure you also keep your keto diet as clean as possible, consume enough healthy fats, watch your net carbs, and track your ketones.
If you’ve pretty much nailed your diet and exercise, adding supplements is the perfect way to increase your results, simplify your keto lifestyle, or fill in some nutrient gaps.
When pursuing weight loss, seek the advice of a professional Registered Dietitian who can create a personalized plan for you, track your progress and provide support along the way.