Ketosis and Alcohol Consumption

Do you like sipping on alcohol during social gatherings or pamper nights? There are a lot of people out there who love their alcoholic beverages and it is undeniable that alcoholic drinks are popular as a way to unwind after a long day.  

But a question that often surfaces when you want to get into keto dieting is, how much alcohol can you drink while on a keto diet? Or, should you even drink alcohol at all? 

Learn everything you need to know about ketosis and alcohol consumption! 

Can You Drink Alcohol on the Keto Diet?  

The short answer is yes you can, but no you shouldn’t. Complicated, right? Before anything, it is essential to understand first about alcohol and its components.  

Alcohol is made based on ethanol, which is commercially produced using a process called fermentation. During this method, yeast breaks down sugar into alcohol and carbon dioxide (CO₂).  

Many different types of alcohol are made this way but some are also produced by synthetic routes such as natural gas, oil, or coal. Carbon dioxide gas bubbles out of the fermenting solution into the air leaving a mixture of ethanol and water. 

Some alcohols are low in carbs, but most of them are high in sugar, so when you ingest them, your liver will most likely metabolize the alcohol for energy instead of your stored fats. This can have a negative effect on ketosis and hinder your weight loss efforts.  

With 7 calories per gram and no nutritional value, alcohol is essentially empty calories. So, while some zero carb alcoholic drinks are okay to drink on the keto diet, if weight loss is your primary goal it is best to limit or avoid them.  

Do Keto Drinkers Get Drunk Fast? 

Going on a low-carb diet means fewer nutrients to help you reduce blood alcohol levels. This may result in getting easily tipsy since you are deprived of pizza, pasta, and bread that often helps slow down the metabolization of alcohol.  

And not to kill the enthusiasm but even choosing your liquor carefully may ruin your willpower and focus after all the drinking. It can be easier to choose that tasty fast food at midnight when your judgement is impaired.  

So, do you trust your drunk self enough not to destroy your diet? For some, it may be best to avoid it altogether. 

What Are the Best Alcoholic Drinks for Staying in Ketosis? 

Staying in the state of ketosis can be hard when all you want to do is consume drinks that contain a lot of carbs. But if you choose your drinks carefully and set limits for yourself, it should not be a problem.  

Here are some of the best keto-friendly alcoholic drinks.  

Champagne or Dry Sparkling Wine 

One glass of this goodness contains about 1 gram of net carbs. Even though the downside to champagne is that it can be very expensive, there are other kinds of sparkling wines that come at reasonable prices and can be enjoyed with meals or for special occasions.  

Dry Wine 

Whether red or white, a glass of dry wine contains about 2 grams of net carbs. Drinking a glass of dry wine occasionally is considered fine if you are on a low-carb diet. 

Whiskey 

Even though whiskey is made from various forms of grains, it has zero carbs and is also gluten-free. Whiskey can be served in many ways and finding the perfect way and the right whiskey for you to enjoy can be beneficial for your keto diet. Just don’t drink it with sugary mixes. 

Dry Martini 

Of course, it has to be dry martinis. One dry martini cocktail contains zero grams of carbs. A martini is usually made with gin and vermouth, and garnished with an olive or a lemon twist. Over the years the dry martini has become one of the most well-known alcoholic beverages and the great thing is keto dieters can enjoy it, too! 

Non-Keto Alcoholic Drinks to Avoid 

It is important not to drink without knowing the nutritional facts of your alcoholic drinks. Take care to avoid these alcoholic drinks so they don’t interfere with your keto diet results.  

Beer and Lager 

Beer and lagers are usually made with barley and hops, with the addition of water and live yeast. The very heavy sugar content in beer comes from the spouting barley. 

A serving of 12 ounces of a typical US lager has 151 calories, has zero grams of fat, and about 13.7 grams of carbs. Take a look at these numbers and give a second thought when you want to consume beer and lager on a keto diet. 

If you are lucky, you may be able to find a low or zero carb beer from a local brewer. As people become more conscious of their carb intake, these beers are becoming more popular. 

Flavored Alcohols 

There are a lot of flavored alcohols out there. These are the ones you should absolutely avoid when on a keto diet because not only do most of them contain a lot of sugar, they are also high in calories.  

Peach schnapps like the Dekuyper contains 72 calories and has a total of seven grams of carbs in one ounce servings. If consumed in a large amount this will easily kick you out of ketosis and your body will then switch back to burning glucose in order to get rid of the alcoholic content in your body. 

Keto Alcohol Recipes 

Want to channel your inner mixologist and start making keto-friendly cocktails? Try these great low-carb drinks! 

Sugar-Free Margarita with Orange Extract 

For this yummy drink, you will need the following: 

• 1 jigger tequila 
• 2 tbsp. lime juice freshly squeezed 
• ¼ cup of water 
• ¼ tsp. orange extract 
• Ice 
• Margarita salt 

In a cocktail shaker, combine tequila, lime juice, water, orange extract, and ice. Shake and wet the rim of the glass with lime juice and dip in salt.  

Pour the mixture into a glass and enjoy! 

Low-Carb Red Sangria 

For this tasty sangria, you will need: 

• 4 ounces of red wine 
• 1 ounce Absolut Citron Vodka 
• ¼ tsp. berry flavor zero carb water enhancer 
• 4 ounces club soda 
• Ice 

Just combine the red wine, vodka, and water enhancer and stir. Fill the glass with ice and club soda, and drink right away! 

Nothing is stopping you having fun with a drink or two while on your keto diet. There is no need to feel guilty about enjoying alcoholic beverages while trying to improve your health and fitness.  

Just know the right drinks to consume, don’t get caught up in too many drinking sessions, and have some self-control over those deceiving snacks at midnight. 

It is possible to drink alcohol and do keto at the same time. Moderation is the key!