Coffee Mate: Friend Or Foe On Keto?

Coffee Mate is a widely-used non-dairy creamer, but is it keto-friendly? The short answer is no. Coffee Mate is not keto-friendly because it is a high-carb processed food that contains unhealthy ingredients like high-fructose corn syrup, canola oil, and carrageenan. These refined oils are prone to oxidation and may cause inflammation in the body. However, Coffee Mate does offer sugar-free and lower-carb alternatives in their liquid creamer product line, which are more suitable for a keto diet. These options use artificial sweeteners and have a lower carbohydrate content.

Coffee-Mate's sugar-free alternatives are more keto-friendly but are considered 'dirty keto'

Coffee-Mate is a widely-used non-dairy creamer, but it is not considered keto-friendly because it contains sugar, corn syrup solids, and unhealthy ingredients like high fructose corn syrup, canola oil, and carrageenan. These ingredients can contribute to increased carbohydrate intake and hinder progress on a ketogenic diet. However, Coffee-Mate does offer sugar-free and lower-carb alternatives in their liquid creamer product line, which are more suitable for a keto diet. These options use artificial sweeteners like sucralose and acesulfame potassium and have a lower carbohydrate content.

While these sugar-free creamers are more keto-friendly, they are considered 'dirty keto' as they still contain unhealthy ingredients. Dirty keto refers to a less strict version of the ketogenic diet, where the focus is primarily on adhering to the macronutrient ratio (low-carb, moderate protein, and high-fat) without emphasizing the quality of food sources. Dirty keto allows for more processed and convenience foods, which may contain unhealthy ingredients or be higher in carbohydrates than ideal.

The sugar-free Coffee-Mate alternatives, for example, still contain high fructose corn syrup, soybean oil, and acesulfame K. These ingredients can impact blood sugar levels and cause inflammation in the body. Additionally, the highly refined oils in Coffee-Mate, such as canola oil and soybean oil, are prone to oxidation and may introduce harmful chemicals. Carrageenan, another additive in Coffee-Mate, is also a controversial ingredient that is potentially harmful to health.

Therefore, while Coffee-Mate's sugar-free alternatives are more keto-friendly in terms of their lower carbohydrate content, they are considered dirty keto due to the presence of these unhealthy ingredients. For a truly keto-friendly option, it is best to choose a product that adheres to the key principles of the ketogenic diet, emphasizing low-carbohydrate, moderate protein, and high-healthy fat intake, while also utilizing whole, unprocessed, or minimally processed foods.

Coffee-Mate is a highly processed food with unhealthy ingredients like high fructose corn syrup

Coffee-Mate is a highly processed food product with unhealthy ingredients. The original flavour is made up of corn syrup solids, hydrogenated vegetable oil, and sodium caseinate, a form of casein, which is a milk derivative. It also contains small amounts of dipotassium phosphate, mono- and diglycerides, sodium aluminosilicate, artificial flavour, and annatto colour. Corn syrup solids are essentially another name for high fructose corn syrup, which has been linked to obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. Hydrogenated vegetable oils, meanwhile, are a source of trans fats, which have been linked to an increased risk of heart disease and stroke.

The highly processed nature of Coffee-Mate and the presence of these unhealthy ingredients mean that it is not a good choice for those following a keto diet or any diet focused on health and well-being. While it is lactose-free and can be a convenient way to add flavour and creaminess to coffee, there are many healthier alternatives available, including keto-friendly creamers.

Keto-friendly creamers are typically non-dairy alternatives that are high in saturated fat and low in sugar. They are often derived from palm and coconut oil, lard, butter, and cocoa butter. Some popular options include Califia Farms Better Half Coconut Cream & Almond Milk Creamer, Nutpods Creamer Variety 4-Pack, and Laird Superfood Creamer, Unsweetened.

When choosing a keto-friendly creamer, it is important to read the ingredient lists and select products with minimal added ingredients. Long ingredient lists are often indicative of highly processed foods, which, when consumed in large amounts, have been linked to an increased risk of chronic conditions such as obesity, heart disease, and cancer. Therefore, it is best to choose a creamer with a short ingredient list consisting mostly of whole, natural ingredients.

In addition to being high in fat and very low in carbs, the best keto coffee creamers are made from whole food ingredients and are free of added sugars and artificial ingredients. While Coffee-Mate may be convenient and tasty, it is a highly processed food with unhealthy ingredients and is not the best choice for those following a keto diet or seeking to improve their health and well-being.

Coffee-Mate's net carb content is high, with 13.33g of net carbs per 100ml serving

Coffee-Mate is not keto-friendly because it is a high-carb processed food that contains unhealthy ingredients like high fructose corn syrup, canola oil, and carrageenan.

The net carb content of Coffee-Mate is high, with 13.33g of net carbs per 100ml serving. This is significantly higher than the recommended daily net carb allowance of 20-30g to stay in ketosis. Therefore, Coffee-Mate is not a suitable creamer for those following a keto diet.

To stay within the keto diet's guidelines, it is important to choose products with minimal carbohydrates and added sugars. Most dairy-based creamers are not keto-friendly due to their high carb and sugar content, so non-dairy alternatives are generally a better option. When selecting a coffee creamer, look for those made with healthy fats and whole ingredients, and sweetened with natural sweeteners like stevia, erythritol, or monk fruit.

There are several keto-friendly coffee creamers available that meet these criteria, including some that are vegan, gluten-free, and budget-friendly. Some recommended options include Califia Farms Unsweetened Better Half Coffee Creamer, Laird Superfood Unsweetened Original Coffee Creamer, and Bulletproof Original Creamer.

Coffee-Mate contains highly refined oils like canola oil and soybean oil

Coffee-Mate is not considered keto-friendly because it contains highly refined oils like canola oil and soybean oil. These oils are prone to oxidation and may cause inflammation in the body. The refining process for these oils involves high heat and chemicals, stripping the oil of nutrients and replacing them with harmful substances.

The keto diet emphasizes the consumption of healthy fats, and Coffee-Mate's inclusion of these refined oils contradicts this principle. As a result, Coffee-Mate is not recommended for those adhering to a keto diet.

It is worth noting that Coffee-Mate does offer sugar-free alternatives, which are more suitable for a keto diet. However, these options are still considered 'dirty keto' due to the presence of other unhealthy ingredients.

When following a keto diet, it is important to prioritize minimally processed foods to ensure optimal nutrient intake and avoid hidden sugars, unhealthy fats, and additives.

Coffee-Mate includes the controversial food additive, carrageenan

Coffee-Mate is a popular coffee creamer that comes in 23 regular flavours and a variety of seasonal flavours. It is available in fat-free, sugar-free, all-natural, liquid and powder forms. However, it has been criticised for containing the food additive carrageenan.

Carrageenan is a substance derived from seaweed and is commonly used as a thickening and emulsifying agent in processed foods, particularly dairy products and meat. It is particularly prevalent in coffee creamers, with a 2021 study finding it in 100% of the creamers tested.

There is controversy surrounding the use of carrageenan in food. While the FDA has deemed it safe for consumption, some studies have linked it to negative health effects. These include digestive issues, inflammatory bowel disease, intestinal tumours, and a weakened immune system. However, other studies suggest that carrageenan does not pose any health risks when consumed in typical amounts and may even have some benefits, such as strengthening the immune system and acting as an antioxidant.

The controversy surrounding carrageenan stems from the fact that most of the negative effects were observed in studies using poligeenan, a specific type of carrageenan that is not approved for use in food by the FDA. Therefore, more research is needed to determine the safety of carrageenan, especially in commonly consumed foods like Coffee-Mate.

Frequently asked questions