Carbsmart Ice Cream: A Keto-Friendly Treat?

The ketogenic diet is a low-carb, high-fat, and moderate-protein diet. Ice cream is not usually part of the diet, but some keto-friendly ice cream brands are available, such as Breyers' CarbSmart. This ice cream is marketed as a low-carb alternative to regular ice cream, but is it truly keto-friendly? This paragraph will discuss whether Breyers' CarbSmart ice cream is suitable for a keto diet.

CarbSmart™ nutritional information

CarbSmart™ is a range of low-carb frozen desserts from Breyers®. It includes products such as Fudge Bars, Vanilla Bars, and ice cream in various flavours, including Mint Fudge Cookie, Brownie a la Mode, and Chocolate Peanut Butter.

The CarbSmart™ range is designed for those looking for an alternative to ice cream that offers fewer carbs but does not compromise on taste. A serving of CarbSmart™ contains 3-5g net carbs and 60-150 calories.

However, CarbSmart™ products are not considered keto-friendly due to their relatively high percentage of total calories from net carbohydrates. On average, 29% of total calories in CarbSmart™ products come from net carbohydrates, which can negatively impact ketosis. Additionally, CarbSmart™ products contain hidden carbohydrates in the form of maltitol or sorbitol.

For those following a ketogenic diet, there are several alternative ice cream brands available that are lower in net carbs and do not contain hidden carbohydrates. These include Rebel Creamery, Enlightened, Keto Pint, Halo Top, So Delicious, Edy's, Wink Frozen Desserts, and Arctic Zero.

CarbSmart™ ingredients

CarbSmart™ products are low-carb frozen desserts that come in a variety of flavours, including bars and scoops. They are marketed as an alternative to ice cream, containing 3-5g net carbs and 60-150 calories per serving.

The ingredients of CarbSmart™ products are not explicitly stated, but they are described as having "fewer carbs" and "less sugar". The brand also offers a range of “No Sugar Added” products, indicating that sugar content is an important consideration for their consumers.

While the specific ingredients of CarbSmart™ products are not listed, we can assume that they are formulated with alternative sweeteners and low-carb ingredients to achieve the reduced carbohydrate content. These alternative sweeteners may include sugar substitutes such as erythritol, stevia, or monk fruit extract, which are commonly used in keto-friendly products.

Additionally, CarbSmart™ products may utilize sugar alcohols like xylitol, which has half the calories of sugar and is often found in "sugar-free" or "no sugar added" foods. These sugar alcohols can provide sweetness without the same level of carbohydrates found in traditional sugars.

It is important to note that while CarbSmart™ products offer reduced carb content, they may still contain hidden carbohydrates. For example, the Breyers® CarbSmart™ "frozen dairy dessert" has been reviewed as not keto-friendly due to its average of 29% of total calories from net carbohydrates, as well as the presence of hidden carbohydrates like maltitol and sorbitol.

In summary, while the exact ingredients of CarbSmart™ products are not disclosed, they are designed to offer a reduced-carb alternative to traditional ice cream. This is likely achieved through the use of alternative sweeteners and low-carb ingredients, such as sugar substitutes and sugar alcohols, which provide sweetness with fewer carbohydrates.

CarbSmart™ flavours

Breyers® CarbSmart™ is a frozen dessert that offers a variety of delicious flavours with fewer carbs. Each serving contains 3-5g net carbs and 60-150 calories, making it a guilt-free treat.

One of their popular flavours is the CarbSmart™ Mint Fudge Cookie, which combines the refreshing taste of mint with the indulgent sweetness of fudge and cookie pieces. Another favourite is the CarbSmart™ Brownie a la Mode, a perfect blend of chocolatey brownie and creamy ice cream.

For those who prefer classic flavours, Breyers® offers CarbSmart™ Vanilla, a smooth and versatile option, as well as CarbSmart™ Chocolate, which is rich and indulgent. If you're a fan of nutty flavours, the CarbSmart™ Almond Bar is a great choice, offering the creamy texture of ice cream with the crunch of almonds.

In addition to these mouth-watering options, Breyers® CarbSmart™ also includes the Chocolate Peanut Butter flavour, a decadent combination, and the Caramel Swirl Bars, which offer a sweet and indulgent treat.

CarbSmart™ compared to other keto ice creams

CarbSmart™ is a frozen dairy dessert marketed as a low-carb alternative to ice cream by Breyers®. It comes in several flavours, including Vanilla, Almond Bar, Smooth Mint Bar, Chocolate, Vanilla Bar, Peanut Butter, and Fudge Bar.

However, CarbSmart™ is not considered keto-friendly due to its relatively high percentage of total calories from net carbohydrates. With an average of 29% of total calories from net carbs, it falls short of keto-friendliness, especially when compared to other keto ice cream brands that have a significantly lower percentage of net carbs.

For example, Rebel Creamery, a keto ice cream brand, has 7 times fewer net carbs per calorie on average than CarbSmart™. Their products are made with a rich, full-fat base of cream and egg yolks, resulting in a custard-like texture. Additionally, they use healthy fats and sweeteners like erythritol, ensuring that their ice cream satisfies cravings without spiking blood sugar levels.

Other keto-friendly ice cream brands include Enlightened, Halo Top, So Delicious, Edy's, Keto Pint, Wink Frozen Desserts, Three Twins, and Arctic Zero. These brands offer a range of flavours and use sweeteners like stevia, monk fruit, and erythritol to keep the carb count low.

While CarbSmart™ may be a good option for those looking for a low-carb treat, it is not the best choice for individuals strictly following a keto diet, as it may have a more significant impact on ketosis due to its higher net carb content.

Other keto-friendly ice cream options

While Breyers CarbSmart ice cream is a low-carb option, it may not be the best choice for those following a keto diet as it contains hidden carbohydrates. However, there are several other keto-friendly ice cream options available. Here are some alternatives:

Halo Top's Keto Series

Halo Top offers a keto-friendly ice cream range with various flavors, including Mint Chocolate Cookie and Banana Cream Pie. Their ice cream has about 4–10 grams of net carbs per pint, making it a good option for those on a keto diet.

Edy's Slow Churned No Sugar Added

Edy's has created keto-friendly versions of their popular ice cream flavors, such as Fudge Tracks, Vanilla Bean, Triple Chocolate, and Neapolitan. Their ice cream contains sugar substitutes like sorbitol, maltitol syrup, and Splenda (sucralose).

Enlightened Keto

Enlightened offers a variety of keto-friendly ice cream options, including both dairy-free and light varieties. Their ice cream contains 2–3 grams of net carbs for most flavors and is sweetened with allulose, sugar alcohol, and monk fruit extract.

So Delicious No Sugar Added (Dairy-Free)

So Delicious makes dairy-free ice cream from full-fat coconut milk, with negligible amounts of sugar. Their keto-friendly options are sweetened with erythritol and monk fruit extract. A serving contains 9–10 grams of net carbs, making it a good choice for those on a keto diet.

Rebel Creamery

Rebel is a popular choice for those on a keto diet, as their ice cream is made with cream, high-fat ingredients, erythritol, and monk fruit. It has negligible amounts of sugar, with just 4–8 grams of net carbs per pint. Rebel also offers a range of flavors, ensuring you don't have to compromise on taste while sticking to your keto diet.

Arctic Zero

If you're looking for a keto-friendly ice cream without sugar alcohols, Arctic Zero is a good option. Their ice cream is made with plant fibers and faba bean protein and is lower in calories than other keto ice creams. However, it's fat-free, so it may not be suitable if you need to meet a daily fat intake goal.

KETO Foods

KETO Foods offers a range of keto-friendly products, including ice cream pints and bars. Their ice cream is made with cream, egg yolks, and erythritol, resulting in a high-fat, low-carb treat. Their peanut butter fudge swirl flavor is a popular choice, with 250 calories and 3 grams of net carbs per serving.

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