Ice cream is a favorite frozen treat of many, yet following a keto diet requires restricting carbohydrates. Luckily, there are numerous keto-friendly ice creams in the freezer aisle that will satisfy your sweet tooth while helping you reach your weight loss goals.
Keto ice creams typically feature a high-fat base of heavy cream to provide that velvety texture you love, while using low-carb sweeteners like stevia, monk fruit extract and sugar alcohols such as erythritol that your body cannot process and won’t increase insulin levels.
Carbohydrates
People following a ketogenic diet – a high-fat, moderate protein and low-carbohydrate eating plan commonly associated with weight loss – face the challenge of staying within their daily net carb limits while enjoying delicious treats like ice cream without exceeding it. But there are options that allow people to satisfy cravings without derailment to their goals!
If you are on a ketogenic diet and looking for ice cream to add to your shopping cart, be sure to carefully examine its ingredients list and nutrition facts panel in order to assess its net carb count per serving. While certain “low-carb” or “light” options may boast lower net carb counts per serving, they could still contain lots of calories that could hinder weight loss efforts.
Ice creams made with fat-free or low-calorie bases like skim milk are best, sweetened using no-cal sweeteners such as stevia and erythritol; any artificial sweeteners such as sucralose, acesulfame K or aspartame can impede metabolic processes while leaving an unpleasant aftertaste.
Keto-friendly ice creams may use natural zero-net carb sweeteners such as erythritol, monk fruit and allulose sweeteners to replicate the taste and texture of traditional ice cream. Other keto-friendly options may add in non-carb soluble corn fiber for further reduction of their carb count; though this form of fiber can often contain genetically modified organisms (GMO) which could potentially cause digestive issues in some people.
Some strict dieters subtract all or half of the sugar alcohols listed on a nutrition label when calculating net carbs of a serving, since their digestion causes similar digestive issues to regular sugar. Sorbitol, xylitol and maltitol tend to be most easily absorbed while erythritol has the lowest risk.
Fat
The keto diet is a low-carb, high-fat eating plan popularly used for weight loss and other health benefits. Unfortunately, its restrictive nature makes it challenging to stick with. But now there’s keto-friendly ice cream to satisfy sweet tooth without derailing healthy eating progress!
Traditional ice creams contain milk and sugar, both of which are high in carbohydrates and calories. Keto ice creams on the other hand often have less carbohydrates and contain healthy fats instead. These fats provide slow-burning fuel sources to help stabilize blood sugar levels and provide lasting energy throughout the day.
Selecting the ideal keto ice cream depends on your individual dietary needs and goals. When following a strict ketogenic diet, selecting an ice cream with low net carb counts and minimal added sugars is key for successful results. In addition, checking serving size labels on labels is also advised as this helps ensure you keep within healthy boundaries in terms of calories and carb consumption.
As well as checking total carb, sugar, and net carb counts of products on your ketogenic diet, seek out products naturally sweetened with stevia or erythritol rather than artificial sweeteners for best results. These natural sweeteners will not cause insulin spikes or mood swings and should therefore be consumed safely without worrying about insulin spikes or mood changes.
As with anything, it’s also essential to find an ice cream that does not contain hidden fillers, as these can quickly add up in terms of total carbohydrates and sugars. Reduced-fat or dairy-free ice creams often use corn, oats or flour to simulate creamy textures – increasing carb counts significantly in their product. To avoid unnecessary additives altogether, opt for one made using full-fat milk or cream without fillers altogether.
Finally, choose an ice cream that uses high-quality ingredients. The best brands will utilize products free of toxic seed oils, artificial sweeteners and corn fiber. You can easily identify such brands by reading the ingredient list on its label.
Protein
As part of your keto diet, it’s crucial that you ensure you’re consuming sufficient protein daily. Protein helps maintain muscle health while also filling you up and keeping you from overeating – making it an integral component of a balanced diet. When shopping for ice cream, be sure to select brands with an adequate protein content in order to reach your fitness goals and remain healthy.
Most of the best keto ice creams are sugar-free, meaning that there is no added sugar and instead uses low carb sweeteners like stevia, vegetable glycerin, erythritol or monk fruit extract to sweeten it instead. This lowers calorie counts while keeping ketosis active.
Consider the fat content when selecting an ice cream. Most brands feature high fat contents to create its creamy texture; however, not all are created equally; some use less healthful oils and refined ingredients that may negatively impact your health. Seek out brands made with higher-grade oils and natural ingredients.
Look for an ice cream that contains ample amounts of protein and has low net carbs, as well as natural flavors without artificial coloring or flavorings. While marketing claims on packaging might tempt you, be sure to read up on its nutrition facts label and ingredient list to ensure it meets keto requirements.
Keto ice cream has grown increasingly popular as people seek delicious ways to satisfy their cravings. More and more brands are producing low-carb and sugar-free ice cream suitable for the keto diet; Halo Top recently unveiled their Keto Series featuring peanut butter chocolate, strawberry swirl and jelly donut flavors – though these could possibly exceed the daily carb limit on their own! Serving sizes should also be monitored carefully so as not to go beyond your daily limit of carbohydrates.
Sweeteners
When it comes to keto ice cream, the goal is finding one that meets your nutritional needs while not derailing your keto diet goals. To do this, assess its sugar and carb content; one way is reading its nutrition label; look out for information like serving size, calories, fat content and sugar/net carb content as well as any sugar-free sweeteners like stevia, monk fruit extract, allulose or erythritol that might alter consistency or taste quality compared to natural sugars.
To qualify as keto-friendly ice cream, its total net carbs per serving must fall under 20 grams – which can be calculated by subtracting fiber from the total carb content. Keep in mind that many low-carb and low-sugar options contain large quantities of carbohydrates – too much can easily exceed your daily limits for carbs and sugar consumption.
Keto-friendly ice creams are typically created using heavy whipping cream, which provides all of the richness found in traditional ice cream without added sugars or sodium. Furthermore, these low sodium, gluten free options may suit a range of diets. This sample pack from Two Spoons includes Rocky Road, caramel swirl, fudgy brownie and strawberries and cream varieties-something for every palate! One pint contains 16 to 14 net carbs and sweetened with erythritol which has proven more effective at controlling blood glucose levels than natural sugar can.
Keep this in mind when looking for keto ice cream: it may be slightly harder than traditional versions due to less sugar in its composition melting more slowly; to lessen this impact, leave the ice cream out for several minutes before eating it.
No matter the kind of ice cream you select, it is crucial to read its label thoroughly. Look out for products with high-quality fats that are free from GMO ingredients as well as products with recommended serving sizes so as to stay within your daily sugar and carb intake limits.