Tea Vs Coffee: Which Suits Your Keto Diet Better?

Coffee and tea are both keto-friendly drinks, but there are some caveats. Both drinks contain zero carbs or sugar, but only when drunk plain or unsweetened. This means that black coffee and plain tea are completely keto-compliant. However, if you like milk or sugar in your tea or coffee, this can add nearly 13 or more grams of carbs to your drink, which is not ideal for a keto diet. If you want to stick to a keto diet, it's best to avoid adding milk, honey or sugar to your tea or coffee.

Tea and coffee are keto-friendly, but only when they're plain or unsweetened

Tea and coffee are allowed on the keto diet because they contain zero carbs or sugar. Decaf coffee, regular coffee, espresso, black tea, matcha tea, chai tea, unsweetened iced tea, and green tea are all keto-friendly options. However, you might have to change how you take your coffee or tea. Sugar, most sugar alcohols (artificial sugar-free sweeteners), and most natural sweeteners are not permitted on the keto diet. Instead, you can add a low-carb sweetener such as stevia, monk fruit, or erythritol.

When it comes to tea, it's best to stick with plain, high-quality tea and water. Commercial teas often add citric acid, which requires them to label their products as 'with lemon' or 'with raspberry'. These additives can be slowly corrosive to your overall health, and sweeteners can add carbs where you don't need them. Tea is a magnificent keto diet companion because of its lower caffeine level, which makes it easier for caffeine-sensitive drinkers to tolerate, and its compound called L-theanine, which promotes relaxation without drowsiness.

Coffee is also keto-friendly, but only when it's plain or unsweetened. If you don't like black coffee, you can add low-carb, high-fat, and real food ingredients. Some keto-friendly add-ins include coconut cream, coconut milk, unsweetened almond milk, double cream, whipping cream, ghee, and grass-fed butter.

Additives in tea can be corrosive to health and add carbs

Tea is a keto-friendly drink, but additives in tea can be corrosive to health and add carbs.

Tea is a natural and healthy drink, but commercial tea products can contain a wide range of additives. These additives can be deliberate or unintentional. While pure tea made from only the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant does not contain any additives, many herbal tea blends and flavoured teas contain various additives.

The most common additives are flavourings, which are classified as natural or artificial flavours. Natural flavourings are extracted from food ingredients and include essential oils, distillates, and other extractives that require enzymes or hydrolysis for extraction. Artificial flavourings, on the other hand, are not extracted from food sources but are instead derived from non-edible substances such as crude oil or coal tar. While artificial flavourings are not inherently worse than natural flavourings, they usually have stricter standards for purification and can omit certain toxic compounds found in natural flavourings.

Another common additive is citric acid, which is added to tea to impart sourness and increase acidity. While citric acid is generally safe in small quantities, it can be harmful in larger amounts, eroding tooth enamel and causing irritation to the mouth and throat.

Sweeteners are also sometimes added to tea, either by the consumer or by the manufacturer in the case of pre-sweetened products. Common sweeteners include sugar, honey, and artificial sweeteners such as saccharin, aspartame, and sucralose. While these sweeteners can enhance the taste of tea, they can also add carbs and calories, which may be of concern for those on a keto diet or watching their weight.

Other additives found in tea include vanilla extract, milk, lemon, and various colours and emulsifiers. These additives can have both positive and negative effects on health. For example, milk adds healthy fats, calcium, and vitamins to tea, but it can also reduce the antioxidant capacity of the tea. Lemon, on the other hand, adds vitamin C and polyphenols, which may have anti-cancer properties.

When choosing a tea, it is important to read the label carefully and opt for loose-leaf teas made from whole ingredients whenever possible. By avoiding teas with unnecessary additives, you can minimise the potential health risks associated with these substances and ensure that your tea aligns with your dietary goals, such as staying in ketosis.

Tea is a good option for those who are caffeine-sensitive

In addition to its lower caffeine content, tea also contains a compound called L-theanine, which is known to promote relaxation without causing drowsiness. The combination of L-theanine and caffeine in tea can lead to improved focus and a more stable energy boost without the negative side effects associated with high caffeine consumption, such as a dramatic crash.

When choosing tea as a beverage on a keto diet, it is important to ensure that it is plain or unsweetened. This is because additives such as sugar, honey, and artificial sweeteners can increase the carb content and hinder ketosis. Tea is a natural option that typically contains less than 1 gram of carbohydrates per cup, making it a suitable choice for those following a keto diet.

Some examples of keto-friendly teas include black tea, green tea, white tea, matcha tea, and chai tea. These teas offer a variety of flavours and can be enjoyed hot or iced. It is worth noting that herbal teas, such as hibiscus, chamomile, yerba mate, peppermint, and rooibos tea, are also low in carbs and can be considered as alternatives.

Coffee can give your metabolism a boost

Coffee and tea are keto-friendly beverages, but they must be consumed without any additives to be considered truly keto-compliant. Both drinks contain zero carbs and sugar, making them ideal for a ketogenic diet, which aims to limit carbohydrates to 20 grams or fewer per day.

Coffee, in particular, can give your metabolism a boost thanks to its caffeine content. Caffeine has been shown to slightly enhance metabolism, and coffee also provides chlorogenic acid, a polyphenol antioxidant that may aid weight loss.

If you're a tea drinker, you'll be glad to know that tea, especially green tea, offers similar benefits. Green tea is not only low in carbs but also packed with bioactive compounds that can improve health. Studies suggest that green tea may increase fat burning and boost metabolic rate, making it an excellent beverage choice for those following a keto diet.

For those who are caffeine-sensitive, tea is a great alternative as it contains lower caffeine levels than coffee. Tea also contains L-theanine, a compound known to promote relaxation without causing drowsiness. The combination of L-theanine and caffeine can result in improved focus and a more stable energy kick without the crash associated with coffee.

While coffee and tea are keto-friendly, it's important to be mindful of any additions you make to these drinks. Avoid high-carb additives such as regular milk, sweetened creamers, sugar, honey, and standard flavouring syrups. Instead, opt for keto-friendly additions like heavy whipping cream, unsweetened plant-based creamers, zero-calorie sweeteners, and sugar-free flavouring syrups.

Tea is full of polyphenol antioxidants

Tea is a keto-friendly drink, but it must be drunk without any added sweeteners or flavourings. Tea is a natural drink that contains a negligible number of carbohydrates, typically less than 1 gram per cup. Tea is also full of polyphenol antioxidants, which are great for the skin and have anti-cancer benefits. Green tea, for example, is rich in epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a powerful antioxidant.

Tea is a good alternative to coffee, which is also keto-friendly, for those who are more caffeine-sensitive. Tea contains a lower level of caffeine than coffee, making it easier for caffeine-sensitive drinkers to tolerate. Tea also contains a compound called L-theanine, which is known to promote relaxation without drowsiness. The combination of L-theanine and caffeine can create sharpened focus and a more stable kick of energy without any dramatic crash.

However, it is important to be aware of the type of tea you are drinking and what is in it. Some commercial teas are labelled 'with lemon' or 'with raspberry', which may indicate the addition of citric acid. These additives can be slowly corrosive to your overall health, and sweeteners can add carbohydrates to your drink.

Therefore, to make the perfect keto beverage, you should choose a drink that adds nothing but great natural flavour to your routine.

Frequently asked questions