If you’re on the keto diet, you’re probably used to feeling a little left out at social gatherings. While your friends are sipping on cocktails or beer, you’re stuck nursing a club soda. URGH!
And when it comes to food, things can get even more restrictive. That’s why many people on this diet are surprised to learn that juicing is actually allowed, in moderation of course!
So if you’re looking for a way to add some variety to your diet, juicing is an excellent, nutritious option. Just be sure to do it in moderation.
π©ββοΈ What Does Ketosis Look Like?
A low carb diet that is high in fat and contains moderate amounts of protein is commonly referred to as the keto diet, whose main goal is to get your body to enter a state of ketosis.
When your body is in ketosis, it uses fat instead of carbohydrates for energy. It is widely known that the ketogenic diet is beneficial for weight loss, but it can also be beneficial for a variety of other health problems including, epilepsy, diabetes, and a host of other conditions.
Some people view keto diets as unhealthy, but contrary to popular opinion, it really depends on which foods you choose. It is possible to stay in ketosis for days by eating something as simple as fast food burgers without buns.
Although it is still possible to lose weight this way, as well as burn ketones in your body, this form of ketosis is clearly not healthy in general.
It is also easy to remain in ketosis through a healthy diet high in fat, protein, and vegetables. A keto diet should also include plenty of leafy greens. If you’re a fan of juicing, you know juicing can be easier than eating vegetables!
πββοΈ Juicing and The Ketogenic Diet: Are they compatible?
Is it okay to juice on keto? Most folks that know a little about the diet would say “hell no!”
Since fruit juices tend to be loaded with sugar, they are deemed unsuitable because of the high carbohydrate content.
But there are also some exceptions, such as fresh lemon juice, which are very low in carbs while offering great flavor, essential nutrients, and plenty of antioxidants.
To give plain water or other beverages a fun taste, you can add some of these fruits to them to give them more flavor.
However, keto juicing is not just feasible, but it is also a fantastic way to consume more vegetables. Besides being delicious, keto-friendly juicing is also incredibly nutritious and offers a host of health benefits.
π Is Juicing or Blending Better for The Keto Diet?
Whether you are making a juice or blending something, what you put into it is what will make the difference.
In order to make the diet as healthy as possible, many keto-friendly ingredients can be successfully blended or juiced in the right amounts.
Keto juices, particularly green juices, are generally consumed in relatively small quantities. You can find numerous keto-friendly recipes written for blenders rather than juicers.
How come?
The dietary fiber in blended ingredients remains intact. When counting carbs is the focus of keto diets, what does fiber have to do with it? The fiber in your diet contributes to a reduction in the number of net carbs that are absorbed.
A keto diet also requires some healthy fats, so blending provides an opportunity to incorporate them. The best fats for smoothies are avocado, coconut oil, MTC oil, nuts, seeds, and nuts.
π The Keto Juice Making Process
One word that best describes a keto-friendly juice is “green”. It seems there is no such thing as too much celery and leafy greens when it comes to eating!
It is crucial to have a juice base that is extremely low carb if you want to juice on a keto diet.
The majority of keto juice recipes are just celery juice with some cucumber and other ingredients such as herbs, wheatgrass, ginger, and other lemon juice.
Some keto juice recipes also include leafy non starchy vegetables of any kind such as kale, arugula, beet greens, and lettuce.
Need a juicer that’s great for leafy greens? See our Best Juicers for Leafy Greens! π
π Juice With Fruit: Is It Good on Keto?
On a low-carb or keto diet, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, and other berries with lots of seeds are usually the only fruit choices. Nevertheless, keto-juicers should be cautious!
Although berries are okay to eat whole, they are not recommended for juicing. When the pulp and seeds are juiced, the fibers get left behind, but when the whole fruit is blended, the fibers are included.
You might be surprised to learn that fresh juiced berries contain more than twice the amount of carbohydrates as whole fruits!
π Keto Juice Recipe
If you’re like most people, you probably think of juice as a healthy beverage. But what you may not realize is that not all juices are created equal.
In fact, some juices are actually quite high in sugar and calories, which can contribute to weight gain.
However, there are a few keto-friendly juices that can help you stick to your diet.
Cranberry and Spinach or Celery
One of the most popular keto juices is cranberry juice. Cranberry juice is high in antioxidants and low in sugar, making it a great choice for those on the keto diet.
Another popular keto juice is green juice, that is packed with nutrients and antioxidants, and also low in sugar.
Keto-friendly green juices include spinach, celery, kale, and cucumber juice.
Looking for a keto recipe? Here are two more of our favorites!
Morning juice made with celery
This one’s for a healthy, refreshing low carb juice that is a fantastic way to start your day.
- One cup of leafy green vegetables (kale, spinach, etc.)
- Some fresh herbs (parsley, cilantro basil)
- 4 stalks of celery
- 1/2 of regular-sized cucumber
All ingredients should be juiced and the drink should be approximately 10 ounces of juice. You can add some lemon juice to give some extra flavor and make this drink even more delicious!
Juice blend of celery and berries
There is a little savory kick in this juice, as well as a little sweetness. The closest thing you can come to a fruit smoothie on a strictly keto diet is probably this drink.
- 1 Handful of mint leaves, optional
- 4 stalks of celery (you can substitute this for spinach or carrot instead)
- 1-2 ice cubes, omit if using frozen berries
- 3 whole fresh or frozen strawberries
Mint leaves and celery are juiced together, then the resulting juice transferred to a blender. Add the ice and strawberries, and blended until smooth.
Then enjoy your super healthy smoothie with no guilt!
π‘ Final Thoughts On Keto Juicing
So, there you have it. Everything you ever wanted to know about keto juicing (but were too afraid to ask).
Whether youβre a complete beginner or an experienced juicer looking for some new ideas, we hope this article has given you all the information you need to start whipping up delicious and nutritious keto juices at home.
Happy juicing, and all the best to your health!