Keto-Friendly Beer: What To Drink And What To Avoid

The ketogenic diet is a low-carb, high-fat diet that offers many health benefits. While on the keto diet, your body goes into a state of ketosis, where it burns fat for energy instead of glucose. This can result in weight loss. Most beers have a high carb content, which can kick your body out of ketosis. However, there are some low-carb beers that you can drink in moderation while on the keto diet. These include Corona Premier, Miller Lite, and Budweiser Select 55.

Beers You Can Drink on Keto

Pure spirits like gin, vodka, and tequila are keto-friendly

When drinking alcohol on a keto diet, it is important to remember that alcohol contains calories that the body has to use before it burns body fat. Additionally, the body may use energy from alcohol before using ketones from body fat, potentially limiting the effects of the diet. Therefore, it is recommended to drink in moderation and monitor carb intake to stay within the daily limits of the keto diet.

While pure spirits are a good option, beer is a controversial topic on the keto diet. Most beers have a higher carb content, but there are some light and low-carb options available. For example, Corona Premier and Miller Lite are low-carb beers that can be enjoyed in moderation without derailing your progress. However, regular beer is produced from starch and can contain over 12 grams of carbs in just one can, so it is generally best to avoid it on a keto diet.

In addition to pure spirits and light beers, dry wine varieties, including red, white, and sparkling wine, are also keto-friendly options. These wines contain more carbs and sugar than dessert wines, but they should still be consumed in limited quantities to ensure daily sugar and carb intake remains within recommended levels.

When choosing mixers for cocktails, it is important to select low-carb options. Mixers like regular soda, juice, sweeteners, and energy drinks can quickly turn a carb-free drink into a high-calorie, carb-laden drink. Instead, opt for diet soda, seltzer, diet tonic water, or powdered flavor packets to keep your carb intake in check.

Dry wines are better than sweet wines

The keto diet is a low-carb, high-fat diet that offers many health benefits, including weight loss and increased energy. When following a keto diet, it is important to choose alcoholic drinks with fewer carbs to stay within the daily limits of the diet. While most beers have a high carb content, there are some lighter options with less than 5 grams of carbs per beer. For example, Corona Premier is a low-carb, light beer with only 2 grams of carbs.

If you're looking for a drink with absolutely no carbs, spirits like gin, whiskey, rum, and vodka are a good choice. These can be enjoyed plain or mixed with low-carb mixers like club soda, sparkling water, or diet soda.

Now, onto the topic of wine. Dry wines are better than sweet wines when it comes to the keto diet. Dry wines have little to no residual sugars left after fermentation, resulting in lower sugar and carb content. Sweet wines, such as Zinfandel, Moscato, Port, and late-harvest Rieslings, have a much higher sugar content. When choosing a dry wine, look for bottles labelled as "brut", "extra brut", "brut nature", or "zero brut". These dry sparkling wines or Champagnes are perfect for celebrations without knocking you out of ketosis.

Some examples of dry, low-carb red wines include Pinot Noir, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon, which typically contain around 3-4 grams of sugar per glass. For white wine lovers, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Blanc, and Sauvignon Blanc are excellent choices, ranging from 2.5 to 3.5 grams of sugar per serving.

Remember, even with these keto-friendly options, moderation is key. Alcohol can affect your judgment and willpower, making it easier to stray from your diet. Additionally, your body may prioritize breaking down alcohol over burning fat, potentially reducing the effectiveness of the keto diet.

Light beers are lower in carbs

When choosing a light beer, it is important to remember that not all light beers are created equal. Some may have fewer carbs but also less alcohol, as measured by the percentage of alcohol by volume (ABV). For instance, Budweiser Select 55 has a low ABV of 2.4% and Beck's Premier Light has an ABV of 2.3%. However, the slightly higher ABV of Miller Lite at 4.2% means you get a bolder flavor that puts it above most of the competition.

In addition to the number of carbs and the ABV, the flavor profile of light beers can vary. For example, Coors Light has a sweet and light flavor, while Michelob Ultra has a malty and sweet flavor with a light citrus aroma. If you are looking for a light beer with a subtle and watery taste, Busch Ice might be a good option. On the other hand, if you want a light beer with a full-bodied flavor and a bitter aftertaste, Miller Lite could be the better choice.

Light beers are a good option for those on the keto diet because they are lower in carbs and can help individuals stay within their daily carb limits. However, it is important to remember that even light beers can contain some carbs, so drinking in moderation and monitoring your carb intake is crucial to staying on track with your diet.

Cocktails with low-carb mixers are a good option

While beer and cocktails can be high in carbs and may take the body out of ketosis, there are ways to enjoy alcoholic drinks while on a keto diet. One way is to opt for low-carb mixers in cocktails.

Low-carb mixers include soda water, diet soda, sugar-free tonic water, and sugar-free ginger beer or ginger ale. Diet cola is also a good option, with 360ml containing only 1.04g of carbs. For a zero-carb option, opt for plain soda water or a sugar-free tonic.

When making cocktails, it is important to choose mixers wisely and watch out for sugary options. It is also crucial to limit consumption and practice moderation to stay within the daily carb allowance of a keto diet.

Some examples of cocktails that can be made with low-carb mixers include:

• Vodka soda
• Gin and tonic (with diet tonic)
• Vodka tonic
• Martini (vodka or gin)
• Mojito
• Margarita
• Dark 'N' Stormy
• Bloody Mary
• Paloma
• Moscow Mule
• French 75
• Cosmopolitan

In addition to cocktails, there are also low-carb beers available that can fit within the daily carb allowance of a keto diet. These include:

• Corona Premier
• Miller Lite
• Busch Light
• Beck's Premier Light
• Mexico Light Lager

Fermented alcoholic drinks are another safe choice

When choosing alcoholic drinks, it is important to remember that the keto diet is a low-carb, high-fat diet. Most alcoholic beverages contain carbohydrates, so choosing ones with fewer carbs is essential to staying within the keto diet's daily limits. Spirits such as gin, whiskey, rum, and vodka are good options as they contain no carbs or added sugar. These can be consumed plain or mixed with low-carb mixers like soda water, diet soda, or sugar-free tonic water.

Wine is another option, with dry varieties of red, white, and sparkling wine being the best choices as they contain fewer carbs and sugar than dessert wines. Beer, on the other hand, is a controversial topic on the keto diet due to its grain base. However, there are some light beers, such as Corona Premier, Miller Lite, and Beck's Premier Light, that are very low in carbs.

Frequently asked questions