If you’re starting a ketogenic diet or a keto diet, in short, you need to rethink your entire food and drink consumption to meet the requirements of the dirt. The Keto diet is basically a high-fat low-carb way of eating that requires a complete lifestyle change.
While water might be the best choice while on a keto diet since it is free from all carbs, calories, and sugar, it is totally natural that you need a boost of energy here and there. And it’s here that energy drinks come in handy.
If you’re wondering if you can drink energy drinks while you’re on a keto diet, the answer is yes. You can have certain energy drinks that work well with the keto diet.
But you can not count on just any energy drink to give you that boost without messing up your diet. Energy drinks are generally packed with large amounts of sugar, calories, and artificial sweeteners. You have to find the right energy drink that matches all your diet goals.
Keep reading to find out which energy drinks are perfect for your body and fitness while on a keto diet and which ones to avoid.
What is The Keto Diet?
The ketogenic diet is a low-fat high-carb diet that drastically reduces your carbohydrate intake and replaces it with fat. This reduction in carbs puts your body in a metabolic state called ketosis.
Ketosis is a state where your body uses fat for fuel instead of carbs. Ketosis is generally achieved by limiting carb consumption to 20 to 50 grams per day.
When you’re body is in the ketosis state, it burns fat rapidly to supply energy to the body. It also turns the fat stored in your liver into ketones, which supply energy to the brain. A ketogenic diet can cause your blood sugar and insulin levels to drop since the body doesn’t receive any added sugar and this along with the ketones has some health benefits.
Are Energy Drinks Good For A Keto Diet?
Energy drinks contain certain ingredients that might be good for you. However, it is important to look for low-carb sugar-free versions to maintain the production of ketones.
Caffeine is used in energy drinks to provide energy. Caffeine may aid fat adaption in the body by promoting ketosis. Energy drinks also contain essential elements such as B-vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and herbal supplements, which provide a boost of energy while also enhancing your general health and fitness.
While energy drinks can be beneficial to your keto diet, it is critical to read the label to ensure that the nutritional values of the drink are compatible with your diet. It’s also important to drink energy drinks in moderation to keep the body’s ketone level in check.
Can You Drink Alcohol On a Keto Diet?
Yes, you can consume alcohol while on the ketogenic diet. It is best to switch to hard liquor as they tend to have less sugar and calories and won’t affect your insulin and blood sugar levels.
Alcohol should be consumed with caution at all times. However, if you’re on a keto diet, you should exercise extra caution when drinking alcohol. Hard liquors like pure rum, gin, vodka, and tequila are keto-friendly since they have less sugar and calories.
You might also find some light beers but be sure to check the nutrition label to make sure they don’t have excessive carbs. Other than that, dried red wine, dry white wine, and unsweetened/unflavored champagne also contain a minimal calorie content.
Always consult your medical professional before taking on diets like keto and the food and drinks that are best according to your needs.
Is Red Bull Carb-Free?
One of the world’s most recognizable energy drinks, the original Red Bull is unfortunately not carb-free due to its moderate sugar content and is therefore not a viable energy drink for ketosis.
Given that your usual 8.4 fl. oz of Red Bull has 110 calories and 27g of sugar, it’s probably not the ideal energy drink to be having if you’re going for a ketogenic diet.
That being said, the sugar-free and Zero versions of Red Bull are fair game, although the lack of sugar may affect the taste if you’re discerning enough.
Things To Consider While Buying Energy Drinks For Keto
Energy drinks contain a lot of ingredients that might not go with your keto diet. The most important things to consider while choosing your energy drink for keto are sugar and calories as these are the things that influence your keto diet. Caffeine also plays a part in your overall fitness but it has been found that caffeine actually helps with your keto diet and not the other way around.
Here are some of the things that you need to consider while buying energy drinks for your keto diet.
Calories
Calories play a big role in your keto diet. All the food and drinks that we consume contain some amount of calories. These calories add up over time and determine how healthy and fit a person really is.
The FDA recommends not taking more than 2500 calories for men and 2000 calories for women in a single day. This amount gets significantly lower when you’re on a keto diet as you’re consuming food with low carbs and there’s usually some kind of fitness and workout regime to go with the diety to make sure that it works perfectly.
When selecting energy drinks to go along with the keto diet, it is important to seek products that have no calories. You might also choose to consume energy drinks that have between 10 and 15 calories in each serving. Anything in excess of that may reduce the number of calories you consume in a day.
Sugar
You’re on a no-sugar diet if you eat 20 to 50 carbs per day for your keto diet. Sugar, as well as processed foods and beverages that have added sugar, are strictly forbidden on the keto diet.
The AHA recommends a daily sugar intake of 36 gm for males and 25 gm for women. To stay in ketosis, however, you must reduce your daily sugar intake to a minimum. Look for energy drinks with zero to low sugar content that will provide you with a rush of energy without jeopardizing your diet.
Sugar overconsumption has a slew of negative consequences, including dental decay, diabetes, and obesity, all of which are the polar opposites of what you’re attempting to accomplish with your diet.
Price
You might believe that eating less will save you money. However, living a healthy lifestyle is costly, and selecting an energy drink that checks all the boxes will add to that expense.
If you’re on the keto diet, you’ve already made a lot of dietary changes. Additionally, purchasing the appropriate fruits and vegetables, as well as ensuring that all of your produce is gluten-free and keto-friendly, can be time-consuming.
However, your energy drink does not have to be pricey. There are numerous energy drink brands that provide a sugar-free, low-calorie option with a moderate level of caffeine.
Best Energy Drinks For a Keto Diet
Now for the good part, here is a list of keto-friendly energy drinks that will give you the desired boost of energy without having a negative impact on your diet.
And f you’re looking for more recommendations of energy drinks that are sugar and calorie-free and help with the keto diet, check this article on the best energy drinks to lose weight.
| Energy Drinks | Caffeine Content | Sugar | Calories |
| Monster Ultra Zero | 140mg | 0g | 0 calories |
| Celsius | 200mg | 0g | 10 calories |
| Reign | 300mg | 0g | 10 calories |
| Red Bull Zero | 80mg | 0g | 5 calories |
| REIZE | 50mg | 0g | 11 calories |
Red Bull Zero
Red Bull Zero energy drink has 80mg caffeine and contains zero sugar while, it also has 5 calories, 3 grams of total carbs, and 3 grams of net carbs per serving size.
Red Bull has millions of fans worldwide. Now it has introduced sugar-free low carb options that are also keto friendly.
The 80mg of caffeine in Red Bull Zero is quite moderate if you are sensitive to caffeine. To compensate for the sugar, Red Bull Zero uses artificial sweeteners like aspartame and sucralose. It also contains ingredients like taurine and B-vitamins.
Monster Ultra Zero
Monster Zero Ultra is another keto-friendly energy drink and it is also sugar-free and calorie-free. Monster Zero Ultra contains the classic Monster taste that you will surely enjoy if you’re a fan of Monster Energy drinks.
Monster Zero Ultra contains 140mg of caffeine per can. The caffeine amount might be a little excessive if you have a low tolerance or a caffeine sensitivity. So, drink your can of Monster Zero Ultra in a moderate amount and throughout the day to avoid the side effects of caffeine.
Check read this article to learn if drinking a can of Monster Energy drink every day is harmful.
CELSIUS
If you’re looking for something refreshing without an excess of calories, then CELSIUS is definitely one of the better energy drinks out there.
With each 12 fl. oz serving having 200mg of caffeine, 10 calories, and no added sugar, it’s a great choice for a ketogenic diet. Furthermore, its relatively high caffeine content can certainly give you a boost, but it’s not quite as excessive as some other brands out there.
If you want to know more about what goes into a can of CELSIUS, do have a look at my CELSIUS Caffeine and Ingredients article, to know all about this particular energy drink.
Reign
For those of you craving an absurd amount of caffeination, Reign Energy‘s 300mg of caffeine per can will definitely provide you with enough caffeine until you start bouncing off the walls.
With a modest 10 calories and no added sugar, Reign is for those of you who aren’t just keto enthusiasts but want to go the extra step in getting a boost for your workout sessions as well, which Reign can help with due to its electrolytes and BCAA content.
But be careful, 300mg is pretty close to the 400mg daily approved FDA limit for caffeine, so be sure to keep your caffeine intake in check, and try not to have any other caffeinated beverages alongside Reign.
REIZE (10 out of 10)
If you’re looking for the best energy drink to have while you’re on your keto diet, look no further because REIZE is the one for you.
REIZE energy drink is completely sugar-free and contains a low-calorie amount of just 11 calories. It is also free from any carbohydrates, making it the perfect keto diet choice. REIZE also comes with a sensible 50mg of caffeine that will provide you a nice energy boost without making you jittery and anxious.
REIZE is also packed with beneficial ingredients like taurine, B vitamins, and ginseng root extract that are good for your overall well-being and is a powdered energy drink that comes in light 4g sachets that can be easily carried and prepared.
What’s more, REIZE ships directly to your door for just around $1 per serving, making it a great low-cost energy drink if you’re on a budget.
Give REIZE a try today and have a smoother and better keto diet experience.