Alcohol And The Keto Diet: A Guide To What's Safe To Drink

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Many people are following the keto diet to lose weight. You should know that alcohol can be tricky to navigate if this is you. That's why we wrote this guide!

Here are some of the best keto drinks you can enjoy during your low-carb diet.

1. Vodka

Vodka is a flexible spirit that may be manufactured from various grains. Some vodkas are distilled at least three times, while some are distilled five times or more. The vodka gets purer and more exquisite as it is distilled more times, eliminating more contaminants along the process.

It's worth noting that the quantity of calories in a vodka shot varies depending on the glass size. A 1.5-ounce 80 proof shot of vodka has around 96 calories, whereas a 2-ounce shot contains approximately 154 calories. Don’t forget also to consider the brand of vodka.

Vodka is a more keto-friendly beverage than beer when it comes to the ketogenic diet. A distilled liquor like vodka has no carbs, which is already beneficial to the keto diet.

2. Scotch

Even if you're on a keto diet, scotch is one of the alcoholic drinks you may consume. Scotch has no added sugar and is brewed with yeast, water, and malted barley. As a result, it has no carbohydrates and is gluten-free.

Keep in mind, though, that since the keto diet lowers your alcohol tolerance, you're more likely to become intoxicated. In addition, being in this mood reduces your inhibition to consume carbohydrates than you actually plan to.

Until the body has ingested all of the alcohol, the ketosis process is likewise paused. As a result, consuming too much scotch may cause problems with your ketogenic diet.

3. Light Beer

Most beers are high in carbohydrates and are the worst alcoholic beverages to consume when on a keto diet. However, you may still enjoy an occasional drink by choosing the dietary variant. Light beers are the greatest option since they are often low-carb beers.

Some light beers with lower than 4 grams of carbs are Corona Premier, Miller 64 Extra Light Lager, Natural Light, and Budweiser Select 55 Premium Light. It has been shown that moderate to light beer consumption has certain health advantages. One of the most significant benefits is the reduced risk of heart disease.

4. Whiskey

Malted grains such as corn, barley, wheat, rye, and others are used to make whiskey . In addition, whiskey is often matured in barrels for a long time, ranging from a few years to decades.

Because there are so many different types, there is a lot of variability in flavor characteristics. However, for people keto dieting, it is best to enjoy it neat or on the rocks since one serving of pure whiskey contains 0-gram net carbs, no fats and proteins, and only 65 calories.

5. Dry Wine

It's understandable that alcoholic beverages containing high carb and high sugar ingredients, such as grapes, may potentially enhance your carb count, but this isn't true of all wines . Several varieties of wine have minimal carbohydrates and may be drunk in moderation on a keto diet.

When on a keto diet, some sweet wines to abstain from are sangria, dessert wine , and port wine, which its carb content is not less than 10 grams. The calorie count of these wines is 175, 164, and 70, respectively.

A keto-friendly wine should be low in alcohol with 13.5% alcohol by volume or below and have no residual sugar. In this case, a dry wine would be the ideal choice. Dry wine only contains 108 calories and 0 carbs in a 150 mL (5-ounce) glass.

6. Champagne

With only 2 grams of carbs per 5-ounce serving, champagne and other dry sparkling whites are extremely low in carbohydrates. Hence, it's a keto-friendly beverage as long as you stick to your daily carb limit.

Select the champagne type classified as brut or extra brut. Choose these variants rather than dry or sweet champagne because these contain a lower-carb count.

7. Keto Moscow Mule

The Keto Moscow Mule is a well-known beverage that consists primarily of vodka, ginger beer, and lime juice. Some enthusiasts like to top it with a lime slice and mint leaves for extra taste and zest. As refreshing as this sounds, this drink may not be a keto-friendly drink.

However, you can make this drink allowable for those in the keto diet. The secret to preparing a Keto Moscow mule is to limit your carb intake.

The vodka is already zero carbs, but the ginger beer must be replaced and eliminated all together. One of the best replacements could be ginger ale or diet ginger beer , which has less sugar. For the garnish, you can be creative but be mindful of the carb and calorie content.

8. Gin and Diet Tonic Cocktail

The standard gin and tonic cocktail is a no-go for people undergoing a keto diet. Nevertheless, many of these classic and favorite drinks can be transformed into healthier beverages.

In general, gin is a distilled beverage that contains no carbohydrates. Still, flavored gin is available that may also be an ingredient for this cocktail . For a keto-friendly drink, be sure to stick with the pure alcohol gin.

Contrastingly, tonic water , the other main ingredient of the cocktail, is heavy in sugar and not keto-friendly in its original form. To make this keto-friendly, have a diet tonic water instead, with natural or artificial sweeteners. Both kinds of sweeteners are fine, but of course, a natural sweetener is the best option.

9. Keto Tequila Sunrise

Are you wondering if the delicious tequila sunrise drink is keto-friendly? The answer is no, as two out of the three main components of the drink contain a lot of carbohydrates and sugar. However, you do not have to feel terrible because there is a way to have a tequila sunrise without worrying about gaining weight.

The three ingredients of this refreshing drink are tequila , orange juice , and grenadine syrup. Orange juice and grenadine syrup contain high amounts of carbs and sugar, suggesting that the three components may fulfill the majority of your daily carb allotment. To create a keto-friendly variant, just use a low-carb replacement for the orange juice and grenadine syrup.

Orange juice may be substituted in a variety of ways. Orange-flavored club soda , zero-carb orange water flavoring powder, orange water enhancer drops are excellent options. For the grenadine syrup, you'll have to prepare it yourself using simple low-carb syrup, red food coloring, and grenadine or pomegranate concentrate.

10. Keto Royal Fizz

Simple syrup is used in a typical Royal Fizz . Since sugar is one of the quickest ways to knock your body out of ketosis, simple syrup isn't usually allowed on a keto diet. Fortunately, with your low-carb dieting simple syrup, you can prepare a healthier version of the delightful Royal Fizz beverage!

Simply mix water with a keto-friendly sweetener to produce a simple low-carb syrup. Sucralose, allulose, Stevia, and other diet-friendly sweeteners are acceptable options.

There are other keto variations of the royal fizz drink. There is strawberry and blueberry keto royal fizz which both utilize the natural sugar content of the fruits.

11. Keto Skinny Margarita

One of the most incredible low-carb drinks for your keto diet is the keto skinny margarita . You may enjoy this pleasant beverage at any time with only three ingredients and a few minutes of preparation!

You only need tequila, lime juice, warm water, keto-friendly sweetener, ice , and salt for rimming to prepare this cocktail. Make a syrup by combining two tablespoons of the diet sweetener and one tablespoon of warm water.

Assemble the drink by mixing the lime juice, sweetener syrup, and tequila in a shaker . Finish up by rimming your margarita glass with salt and pouring the mixture. You may add lime for garnish.

12. Bourbon and Water

Most clear liquors with a 40% alcohol content have no carbohydrates or sugar content on their own, making them keto-friendly when consumed responsibly. A 1.5-ounce shot of bourbon has 97 calories and 0 grams of carbohydrates.

Of course, combining the bourbon with drinks and other mixers makes it less beneficial. That is why the best way to partner your bourbon is with ice or water.

13. Lemon Raspberry Mojito

This chilly raspberry mojito is made with ice and frozen raspberries . It is naturally sweet, so you won’t have to worry about the added artificial sweeteners that may ruin your diet. This keto cocktail is light and refreshing without being too sweet, making it ideal for a low-carb diet.

You may enjoy this drink at the comfort of your home by just blending white rum, ice, water, fresh mint, and frozen raspberries. Pour the mixture into a glass with an organic sweetener, then top it with blueberries for just the right amount of acidity.

14. Low-Carb Strawberry Daiquiri

Not only is this delectable low-carb strawberry daiquiri sugar-free, but it's also keto-friendly. This cocktail's tropical characteristics make it a fantastic drink for anybody searching for a fruity refreshment on the road or at home.

This drink comprises fresh hulled strawberries, light rum, lime juice, keto-friendly simple syrup, orange extract, and ice. All of these ingredients are low on carbohydrates and sugar.

Simply blend all the ingredients and adjust the sweetness by adding low-carb syrup. You may dilute the drink with water if it gets too sweet. Top it off with strawberries and lime, depending on your preference.

15. Tequila Lemonade

Summer is all about enjoying the fresh air with friends, food, and beverages! Sure, serving ice-cold beer is easy and simple, but serving a special diet-friendly drink would be much appreciated by your loved ones.

Tequila on its own is already keto-friendly. You can add lemon juice, sugar-free sweetener, and sparkling water to make it more interesting. Mix the ingredients completely in a cocktail shaker and pour it into a glass filled with ice and rimmed with salt.

16. Spiced Rum

Spiced rum is fermented for the same amount of time as black rum, but it has a unique sweet spice flavor thanks to spices and caramel colorings. It has lesser alcohol concentration than other rums, yet many people still appreciate it.

This distinctly flavored rum contains zero carbs, no cholesterol and protein, and only 97 calories every 1.5-ounce serving. These make this distilled spirit keto-friendly.

However, certain spiced rum products contain trace levels of carbohydrates, such as Captain Morgan's Original Spiced Rum, which contains 0.4 grams of carbs per 1.5 ounces. Be sure to always read the brand’s nutritional content before having a go at the alcohol.

17. Espresso Martini

Dieting can sometimes be stressful because of food intake restrictions like coffee and alcohol. The good news is, you may now enjoy both of these things in one drink guilt-free!

One serving of espresso martini comprises 3-ounce vodka, 1 ounce of Kahlua , 1 ounce of keto-friendly simple syrup, 1.5-ounce espresso, and ice. This delightful beverage can be your go-to cocktail for those on a keto diet. It is perfect for a lousy morning or a tiring evening.

18. Keto Frozen Mudslide Cocktail

Are you craving something sweet and chocolatey? Worry no more! We got the delicious recipe of a delectable combined treat and drink for you!

The Keto Frozen Mudslide Cocktail is a low-carb keto version of the traditional mudslide drink but minus the ice cream . There is no extra sugar, but it still has a rich chocolate flavor!

Just simply combine and blend vodka, almond milk, heavy whipping cream, chocolate powder, monk fruit sweetener, and ice together. Then serve it in a fancy glass drizzled with sugar-free chocolate syrup.

19. Sugar-Free Eggnog Cocktail

There is no doubt that eggnog is the ultimate winter drink! This sweet and tasteful drink has a sugar-free version for dieting fellas. This dry variant holiday staple tastes precisely like regular eggnogs but without the added carbohydrates.

This beverage can be made by following the same regular eggnog recipe but replacing the almond milk, whipped cream, and sweetener with keto-friendly variants. By adding bourbon to your healthy low-carb cocktail, you can turn it into an alcoholic pleasure for any occasion.

20. Keto Sparkling Water

Drinking alcohol can sometimes be not pleasing and delicious for some consumers. Some individuals love casual drinking but enjoy alcoholic beverages with mixers to reduce the bitterness and improve the flavor. But then, most of the sugary mixers present in the market are too sweet and not diet-friendly.

However, there are also keto-friendly sparkling waters available now. These sparkling water can be consumed as they are, or they can be readily mixed with your favorite liquor to enhance its taste. Some of the best keto sparkling water brands are La Croix Pure Sparkling Water, Yerbae Sparkling Water, and Aura Bora Herbal Sparkling Water.

Keto-Friendly Alcohol FAQ

1. Can drinking alcohol kick you out of ketosis?

While a single glass of something hard won't throw you out of ketosis, drinking alcohol when on a keto diet will decrease your rate of ketosis. Alcohol can be converted into ketones by the liver. So, in theory, if you drink, you'll keep producing ketones and remain in ketosis.

On the other hand, your body recognizes alcohol as a poison. It will seek to eliminate it as quickly as possible. Alcohol is swiftly processed by the liver, which means the system utilizes it before all other healthful elements, including fat, slowing the conversion of fatty acids to ketones.

2. How much can you drink in keto?

Although there are several low-carb, keto-friendly alcoholic beverages on the market, it doesn't imply you should drink them daily. Even low-carb alcohol has a lot of empty calories. This means it provides a lot of calories but little to no vital and beneficial nutrients like protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

Overindulging in alcohol might not only raise your risk of nutritional deficiencies over time, but it can also lead to weight gain. Due to this, moderate alcohol consumption is recommended, one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for males.

3. Is keto bad for your liver?

Individuals with a normal, healthy, functioning liver will not be harmed by modest nutritional ketosis. However, the keto diet still raises a threat of having hyperlipidemia which is the condition where fat or lipids in the blood elevate and the liver enzymes. The keto diet is low in carbohydrates but high in fat.

Conclusion

The ketogenic lifestyle doesn't prohibit drinking completely. You just have to know what drinks will work best with your eating plan and how often you can drink them. We hope that this blog helped you enjoy yourself while still following the guidelines of your chosen dietary program!

Do you have any questions? Let us know!