Which alcoholic beverages can be consumed on a keto diet, and which are not? Once again, let me remind you the following truth: alcohol does not help to lose weight. The more alcohol you drink, the more delayed your metabolism will be, because the body will burn alcohol first.
In addition, alcoholic drinks can cause a strong sense of hunger.
Of course, all drinks are different in their texture. The choice of a drink on a ketogenic diet primarily depends on the amount of carbohydrates it contains.
For example, wine contains much less carbohydrates than beer, so it is better for people on a keto diet to choose wine. Pure alcohol (whiskey and vodka) does not contain carbohydrates at all, while sweet cocktails can contain a huge amount of sugar = carbohydrates.
Wine and beer on a keto diet
Figures show how many carbohydrates are contained in a typical serving (in one glass of wine or beer).
Wine
Even on a strict keto diet from time to time you can drink some wine. And if you have chosen a medium low carbohydrate diet, wine is no problem.
Dry wines contain up to 2 grams of carbohydrates per glass. All dry wines fit well with keto diet. Keep in mind that sweet and sparkling wines contain many carbohydrates.
Beer
The figures show how many grams of carbohydrates are contained in one beer bottle (355 ml).
Beer is a product that is quite challenging to consume on a keto diet. It is not for no reason that people talk about “beer bellies”: beer has a lot of fast digestible carbohydrates, so it is often called liquid bread. For this reason, beer can stop the metabolism, which makes it difficult to lose extra weight. Beer on a keto diet should be avoided. Of course, different beers contain different types of carbohydrates . The exception may be very light beers, many of which contain few carbohydrates. In the picture above you can see a list of different brands of beer.
Strong alcoholic drinks on a keto – diet
Figures show how many grams of carbohydrates are contained in a single beverage
When it comes to strong alcoholic drinks, everything is simple and clear. Pure drinks such as whiskey, brandy, cognac, vodka, gin and tequila do not contain any carbohydrates at all, so drink them on a keto diet. It is allowed. However, you should avoid sweetened drinks. Do not add juice, soft drinks or other sweeteners such as fresh cream to alcoholic beverages. If in gin with zero percent of carbohydrates add tonic, then the content of carbohydrates will increase to 16 grams per serving! You can drink vodka, carbonated water and a piece of lime. This drink is perfect for those who are on a keto diet.
The worst scenario is to mix alcohol with sweet carbonated water or juice. In this case, you will have a real sugar bomb.
Carbonated beverages containing alcohol
The figures show how many grams of carbohydrates (sugar) are contained in one bottle. What can we say about carbonated drinks containing alcohol? They are similar in composition to ordinary carbonated drinks, so they should be avoided for those who are on a keto-food diet.
Top 5 alcoholic drinks for keto – diets
Even on a strict keto diet from time to time you can enjoy alcoholic drinks. Most alcoholic beverages contain a lot of sugar, but there are also those that are ideal for a ketogenic diet. Such drinks contain a small amount of sugar (carbohydrates). Here is our list of the five best alcoholic beverages that can be enjoyed on a keto- diet:
Cava – Spanish “champagne”: sparkling wine produced in Spain. Produced mainly in Catalonia and Valencia.
Prosecco – Italian wine, dry and sparkling.
Champagne or sparkling wine (very dry or brute) – one glass contains about 2 grams of pure carbohydrates.
Raise a glass of sparkling champagne to your health! Whether it’s expensive champagne from France or other more affordable sparkling wines like Cava or Prosecco, it’s important to choose options that are drier.
They can be consumed as an aperitif, or as a bonus to a delicious dinner.
Dry wine – red or white – one glass contains about 2 grams of pure carbohydrates.
“Beer was created by man, and wine by God”, – Martin Luther. People started drinking wine 8000 years ago, and it is not surprising, because it is ideal for dinner and parties with friends. Fortunately, you can sometimes drink dry wine on a ketogenic diet.
“Skinny Bitch” – one tall glass of drink contains 0 grams of carbohydrates.
The favorite drink of “Real Housewives” is skinny bitch, which differs in its taste and does not contain any carbohydrates, unlike other cocktails. This sparkling and refreshing drink consists only of vodka,
carbonated water and lime. Perfect for a small group of people.
Whisky – one drink contains 0 grams of carbohydrates.
No matter whether you prefer whisky with ice or diluted with water, this drink is entirely free of carbohydrate. Scotch, Irish, Canadian, Bourbon, rye whiskey – choose any one for a single drink.
Dry Martini – one cocktail contains 0 grams of carbohydrates.
In the movies James Bond always chose vodka with martinis and a bit of vermouth seasoned with lemon peel, this drink is strong enough even for a secret agent. Martini, served with gin or vodka and olive, lemon peel or pearl onion, remains one of the most popular aperitifs.
Warning
Be careful with the consumption of alcohol on a ketogenic diet, because in order to get intoxicated on a keto diet, it is enough to drink just a little alcohol. It is not fully known why this is the case.
It is possible that the liver in ketosis is busy producing ketones and thus has less ability to burn alcohol. This is even better for you, because you can save quite a bit on drinks.
Also be prepared that the hangover will be worse than usual.
If you use keto diets to treat metabolic syndrome and fatty liver infiltration, keep in mind that alcohol can have a negative effect on the system, as it makes it difficult for the liver to work.
Finally, you should know that any alcohol reduces the release of ketones, even if it is sugar free.