Carb Smart Ice Cream: A Keto-Friendly Treat?

The ketogenic diet is a low-carb, high-fat, and moderate-protein diet. While ice cream is not usually considered keto-friendly, there are some ice cream brands that are suitable for the keto diet. Breyers Carb Smart is a popular choice for those looking for a low-carb ice cream option, but is it truly keto-friendly?

Carb Smart ice cream's ingredients and their effects on health

Carb Smart ice cream is marketed as a low-carb alternative to regular ice cream. It comes in a variety of flavours, including vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, fudge bar, almond bar, mint fudge cookie, and chocolate peanut butter. While it is promoted as having a low sugar and net carb content, a closer look at the ingredients list reveals some questionable components.

The ingredients in Carb Smart ice cream vary depending on the flavour, but some common ones include:

• Maltitol syrup: a sugar alcohol that has been criticised for its impact on blood glucose levels, similar to regular sugar. It is also known for causing digestive issues.
• Soluble corn fiber: while it provides fibre, it is often genetically modified, and its health implications are not yet fully understood.
• Mono- and diglycerides: these are additives that may be derived from vegetable oils or animal fats and can have an impact on gut health.
• Acesulfame potassium: an artificial sweetener that has been linked to negative effects on gut bacteria and weight gain.
• Sucralose (Splenda): a common artificial sweetener that can raise blood sugar and insulin levels and contribute to weight gain.

While Carb Smart ice cream may be a tempting option for those watching their carb or sugar intake, it is important to consider the potential health implications of these ingredients. These include an impact on blood sugar regulation, weight gain, gut health, and energy levels.

In addition to the ingredients listed above, Carb Smart ice cream also contains milk and cream, which contribute to the fat content. While some individuals may enjoy this product in moderation, it is important to be aware of the potential health effects and make an informed decision about including it in your diet.

For those following a keto diet, there are alternative ice cream options available that use natural sweeteners like monk fruit and stevia, providing a sweet treat without the same potential health concerns.

Other keto-friendly ice cream options

If you're looking for a keto-friendly ice cream, there are several options available. Here are some of the best alternatives to Carb Smart:

Rebel Creamery

Rebel Creamery is a keto ice cream brand with a rich, full-fat base of cream and egg yolks, giving it a custard-like taste and a velvety texture. Their ice cream is packed with healthy fats and sweeteners like erythritol. With 56-79 grams of fat per pint, it's a great choice for those on a keto diet. Their Peanut Butter Fudge and Chocolate Peanut Butter flavours are particularly popular.

Enlightened

Enlightened is a well-known low-carb ice cream brand that offers a variety of tasty flavours in pints and ice cream bars. Their Keto Marshmallow Peanut Butter and Mint Chocolate Chip bars are fan favourites. While their products contain zero net carb sweeteners and real cream, each serving also includes one gram of sugar. So, while a serving won't affect your ketosis, an entire pint might be too much for your daily sugar intake.

Keto Pint

Keto Pint is a recently launched ice cream line made with high-quality, keto-friendly ingredients. The brand is keto-certified, soy-free, and gluten-free, and they don't use milk with rBST hormones. Keto Pint offers a variety of flavours in pints and chocolate-covered bars. However, due to the high-calorie count, it's best to stick to the suggested serving size of two-thirds of a cup.

Halo Top

Halo Top is a well-established low-carb ice cream brand, offering a wide range of flavours. They recently released a new keto series with much lower net carbs, ranging from 2 to 10 grams per pint. They also offer keto-friendly ice cream bars, making it easier to keep your portions in check. However, be sure to look for their keto series specifically, as their other flavours may have higher carb counts.

So Delicious No-Sugar-Added

So Delicious offers a no-sugar-added line that is gluten-free and dairy-free, making it a safe choice for those on a low-carb diet. Their Vanilla Bean Coconut Milk bars contain 15 grams of fat and 2 grams of net carbs per serving. This option is widely available at most grocery stores, but you may have to order the No Sugar Added line online.

Arctic Zero

Arctic Zero is another popular ice cream brand that has recently transitioned to a completely plant-based line. Their products are certified keto-friendly, but due to the water base, they may lack the creaminess of traditional ice cream. Their Salted Caramel flavour is a popular choice, but keep in mind that it has zero healthy fats and only 1 gram of protein per serving.

The ketogenic diet and its requirements

The ketogenic diet is a low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet that shares similarities with the Atkins and low-carb diets. It involves drastically reducing carbohydrate intake and replacing it with fat. This reduction in carbs puts your body into a metabolic state called ketosis, where fat is used as the primary fuel source instead of carbohydrates.

There are several versions of the ketogenic diet, but the standard ketogenic diet (SKD) is the most researched and most recommended. This typically contains 70% fat, 20% protein, and only 10% carbs. The high-fat intake usually comes from foods such as meat, fish, eggs, nuts, and healthy oils, while the moderate protein consumption can come from meat, fish, and eggs.

The goal of the keto diet is to shift your body's metabolism into ketosis, which is when your body uses ketones, burning fat for energy instead of carbohydrates. This shift can cause significant reductions in blood sugar and insulin levels, which has various health benefits.

The ketogenic diet has been shown to be effective for weight loss and can also help lower your risk for certain diseases. It has been linked to improved risk factors for heart disease, and research is being done to determine its effectiveness as an additional treatment for cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and epilepsy.

While the ketogenic diet has many potential health benefits, it is not suitable for everyone. It is essential to consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new diet, especially one as restrictive as the keto diet.

Carb Smart ice cream's taste and texture

Carb Smart ice cream is a low-carb, low-sugar alternative to regular ice cream. It is marketed as a frozen dessert that is part of a low-carb lifestyle. A serving of Carb Smart ice cream contains 3-5 grams of net carbs and 60-150 calories, making it a guilt-free treat for those watching their carbohydrate intake.

Reviews of Carb Smart ice cream are mixed. Some people enjoy the taste and texture, claiming that it tastes pretty good and has a good vanilla flavor. They also appreciate that it is a more affordable option compared to other keto ice creams. However, others have found the ice cream to be lacking in flavor, describing it as having absolutely no taste.

The ice cream has a creamy and smooth texture, similar to regular ice cream. It is made with sustainably-farmed vanilla and is available in various flavors, including vanilla, chocolate, and mint fudge cookie. It comes in different forms, such as bars and scoops, providing options for consumers.

While Carb Smart ice cream may be a tasty treat for those on a low-carb diet, it is important to note that it contains artificial sweeteners and other questionable ingredients that may not be suitable for everyone. Some people may experience digestive issues or other negative side effects from consuming these types of sweeteners.

Overall, Carb Smart ice cream can be a good option for those looking for a low-carb ice cream alternative, but it is always important to read the ingredient list and be aware of any potential health implications.

How to make keto-friendly ice cream at home

Ingredients

• Heavy cream
• Sweetener (powdered allulose, erythritol, or monk fruit)
• Xanthan gum
• Vanilla extract
• Ice cream maker (optional)
• Blender (optional)

Method

• In a deep jar, add all your ingredients and mix.
• Using an immersion or stick mixer, beat everything together until it thickens and soft peaks form.
• Cover the jar and place it in the freezer for at least 4 hours, stirring every 40 minutes, to ensure it doesn't become too icy.
• Remove from the freezer and let sit for 15 minutes, before serving.

Tips

• If you want to make chocolate ice cream, add 3 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder to the mixture.
• If you want to make cookie dough ice cream, fold through 1/4 cup of crumbled keto cookie dough.
• If you want to make strawberry ice cream, add 1/2 cup sliced strawberries and, if desired, strawberry extract.
• If you want to make mint chocolate chip ice cream, replace the vanilla extract with peppermint extract and fold through 1/2 cup sugar-free chocolate chips.
• If you want to make butter pecan ice cream, add 1/2 teaspoon butter extract and 1/4 cup chopped pecans.
• If you want to make salted caramel ice cream, fold through 1/4 cup of sugar-free caramel syrup.
• If you want to make peanut butter cup ice cream, drizzle peanut butter and add chopped-up keto peanut butter cups.
• If you want to make birthday cake ice cream, add 1/4 cup sugar-free sprinkles and 1/2 teaspoon butter extract.
• If you want to make brownie batter ice cream, add 3 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder and 1/2 cup chopped keto brownies.

Frequently asked questions