Can You Drink Energy Drinks On A Keto Diet?

If you're doing the keto diet — or if you've ever researched it — you know there's a long list of things you can't eat. Bread, rice, potato chips (and potatoes, for that matter), sugar, and donuts. If it's made with grains, flour, or sugar, or if it's high in carbohydrates, it's a no-go. That's because the whole point of keto is to put your body into a state of ketosis, where your body starts breaking down fat to use as energy. This is done through eating a very low-carb diet, typically less than 50 grams of carbs per day, the Harvard School of Public Health explains.

While there are some things that are very obviously forbidden on the keto diet, there are also some things that aren't so black and white. Like energy drinks, for instance. Are the caffeine-laden cans of Monster, Red Bull, etc., low carb-friendly? Here's what you need to know about energy drinks and the keto diet.

Fortunately, for the caffeine-obsessed among us, the majority of energy drinks are okay to drink on the keto diet. However, it's important to check the label. You'll want to look for sugar-free energy drinks (like sugar-free Rockstar, Monster Ultra, or Bang) as these contain artificial sweeteners that are keto-approved, Is It Keto explains. Healthline also recommends opting for sugar-free energy drinks that specifically use natural sweeteners, like stevia.

Many sugar-free energy drinks are low in carbohydrates, so they're easy to fit into your daily carb intake if you're doing keto. A can of Bang, for example, has zero carbs, while a can of Monster Ultra has around four to five grams on average. One word of caution, however? As Low Carb Hack points out, just because energy drinks are keto-friendly doesn't mean they're healthy — they're still high in caffeine and artificial ingredients so enjoy at your own risk.