In this article, we’re going to talk about whether or not you could (or should) drink alcohol on the keto diet, and tell you which types of alcohol or ok (sort of!) and which to avoid. Many people think that drinking alcohol is forbidden on the keto diet. In addition to being unhealthy overall, alcohol can have a counterproductive effect on someone who is participating in the keto diet. Even low carb varieties of alcohol can contribute to weight gain, nutritional deficiencies, and serious health conditions.
Quick and Easy Keto Diet Snacks Already in Your Fridge or Pantry
Alcoholic ketoacidosis most commonly happens in people who have alcohol use disorder and chronically drink a lot of alcohol. But it can happen after an episode of binge drinking in people who do not chronically abuse alcohol. Alcoholic ketoacidosis doesn’t occur more often in any particular race or sex. “For some people, the keto diet can be potentially harmful,” says Alyssa Burnison, RD, a regional registered dietitian for the supermarket chain Hy-Vee in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. That includes people who take insulin for type 2 diabetes or type 1 diabetes, she says. Still, it does not mean that alcohol should be part of your routine whether you’re on the keto diet or not.
How long does it take to restart ketosis after I drink alcohol?
When the ketogenic diet is used with a caloric deficit, weight loss will occur. However, long-term use of the ketogenic diet has not been drug addiction shown to be any more effective withweight lossthan other diets with similar calorie counts. For best results choose low-carb alcoholic drinks like wine or other low-carb drinks, see the guide below. Beer is typically made from grains and usually has a higher carb count than straight liquor or wine. However, there are some light beers, such as Corona Premier and Miller Lite, which are very low in carbs. These beers typically contain around 2-3.2 grams of carbs per serving.
Treatments for Alcohol Use Disorder
She was previously an assistant editor at Prevention where she wrote monthly science-based beauty news items and feature stories. Frequent alcohol use can cause or worsen nutrient deficiencies even if you consume a balanced diet. Despite impressive efforts made by the alcohol industry to sell alcohol as a heart-healthy and health-promoting beverage, the scientific evidence largely agrees that alcohol has no health benefits. Alcohol is typically cleared from the body within a few hours, but that doesn’t mean your body re-enters ketosis straightaway.
Differential Diagnosis
This means that while your body is busy breaking down alcohol, it’s alcohol ketosis not producing ketones. So, while alcohol won’t directly kick you out of ketosis, it effectively slows or pauses ketosis. If you opt for low-carb alcoholic drinks and consume in moderation, you can likely maintain ketosis.
- With a ketogenic diet, your body burns fat in the form of ketones rather than carbohydrates.
- Alcohol can disrupt this process, as the liver prioritises metabolising it over burning fat.
- Going on a drinking binge when your body is in a malnourished state may cause abdominal pain, nausea, or vomiting.
- The worst alcoholic drinks for the keto diet are those high in carbs and sugar.
- You can drink them plain or mix them with low-carb mixers like soda water, diet soda, or sugar-free tonic water.
- Try using a carb-free spirit like vodka or gin, mix with soda water and add a squeeze of lime or lemon.
- Jessica Migala is a freelance writer with over 15 years of experience, specializing in health, nutrition, fitness, and beauty.
- Aside from the fact that alcohol makes it easier for you to make bad life choices, it’s also notorious for leading people to make terrible dietary choices.
Now you know that there are certain types of alcohol that you can drink without throwing yourself out of ketosis. The next thing to be cautious of is what sort of mixers are being used to make your drinks. Some of the byproducts of alcohol metabolism are acetaldehyde, acetate, and phosphatidyl ethanol. These compounds are pretty toxic, and as such, your body targets them to be ‘burned’ much like it would any other poisons.