Following a Ketogenic diet still gives you plenty of latitude to indulge in a beverage or two. Here are some of Keyto’s top recommendations on drinks:
- Spirits like whiskey, vodka, tequila, and gin (just no mixing with anything other than soda water!)
- Dry wines like Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, and dry Champagne
Can You Drink Alcohol On the Ketogenic Diet?
Yes, in fact, you can. You just have to be careful.
The Best And Worst Alcohols on Keto
The first thing to remember is that just because you CAN drink alcohol on Keto, it doesn’t mean you SHOULD or that it’s a weight-loss aid. In fact, the more you drink, the more likely it is that your weight loss progress will slow down. This doesn’t even have to do with calories, it’s because your body burns alcohol before burning anything else. So drinking alcohol will put the fat-burning process on the back burner.
Beer
Avoid. There are some low carb beers that could be ok, but easier to just avoid except for special occasions.
Wine
Dry white wine contains between 3-5g carbs per serving. So, you can have a glass or two and stay in ketosis. As their name suggest, sweet wines and dessert wines contain more sugar and therefore more carbs. So if you’re going to drink wine on a Keto diet, go for drier varietals, such as Pinot noir, Merlot, and Chardonnay.
Spirits
Believe it or not pure spirits on a Keto diet are fine. Whiskey, vodka, tequila, gin, plus a few others don’t contain any carbs. What makes drinking spirits on Keto so problematic are the sugary mixers that are often combined with them. The worst thing you can do is to mix your alcohol with regular sodas, fruit juice, and energy drinks – they’re total sugar bombs. Go for soda water instead.
Champagne and Prosecco
Special occasions on a Keto diet can still be celebrated with the world’s favorite bubbly. It’s still possible to toast special occasions on a Keto diet with Champagne, Prosecco, or Cava. Some dry sparkling wines (often labelled “brut”) contain only 3 grams of net carbs per glass, which will allow you to enjoy the celebrations without the guilt.
Dry Martini
Whether you like your martini shaken or stirred, it doesn’t matter. This powerful drink made out of gin, vodka or both and garnished with a twist of lemon or an olive will always remain popular. And better still it doesn’t contain any carbs!
Drinking Alcohol On A Keto Diet – Final Thoughts
When drinking, whether you’re on a diet or not, it should always be done in moderation. However, it’s important to note that people who follow a Ketogenic diet usually have a lower alcohol tolerance than people who don’t follow it, so caution must always be taken. You can drink alcohol, but if your drinks do contain even just a few carbs, they can add up, so it doesn’t mean you can drink whatever you want.