Replacement sweeteners and low fat milk and creams equal low carb coffee & tea.

Drinking Tea & Coffee – Low Carb

Low Carb Basics
Can You Drink Coffee or Tea on a Low Carb Diet?

Your morning beverage might need a little modifying when you start a low carb or keto diet – find out why and how!

Getting the day started with coffee or tea is necessary for many people, but not always healthy. If you are on a low carb or ketogenic diet, or are thinking of starting one, here’s what you need to know to make your morning beverages low carb and tasty!

On their own, coffee and tea can be good for you. They are both full of antioxidants and can help increase your focus and mental clarity. In addition, the caffeine in coffee and tea can increase your metabolic rate and help promote fat loss. That said, not everyone likes to drink their coffee or tea black, and this is where it can get tricky to make your beverages taste good while still being good for you – until now. The Low Carb Grocery carries a number of low carb and keto-friendly coffee and tea helpers that can help you make your morning beverages low carb without sacrificing taste! Below are a few ways to get started.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is not medical advice. A low carb diet may not be suitable for you. Consult your health care provider before making any changes to your lifestyle or use at your own risk. 

  1. Replace Sugar

The worst thing you can do to a cup of coffee or tea is add heaping spoonful’s of sugar – especially when that’s the first thing to hit your stomach in the morning. Starting your day with too much sugar can cause a number of negative side effects that you may not even realize are affecting the rest of your day. Consuming sugar in the morning can cause your blood sugar levels to spike and then crash very rapidly, making you feel groggy and tired for the rest of the morning, and causing you to crave more sugar or carbohydrates to get your blood sugar back up. This can also cause your mood to suffer, which can be burdensome if you have work, exercise or other tasks to get done. In addition, eating sugar every morning can ruin your gut health over time because the “bad” bacteria in your gut feed off of sugar. Too much bad bacteria in the gut can cause digestive problems, food sensitivities and allergies, unintentional weight changes, skin problems, sleep disturbances and autoimmune diseases (where the body’s immune system attacks healthy cells).

As you can probably tell, it’s a good idea to replace sugar whether you follow a low carb diet or not. The good news is there are tons of all-natural, zero glycemic sugar replacements that still taste sweet, without the negative side effects (seriously)! Stevia, erythritol, xylitol and monk fruit sweeteners are all great and safe choices. Unlike artificial sweeteners, consuming these won’t cause bloating, gas or other digestive issues (of course, still consume them in moderation). Check out our inventory of natural sweeteners!

And if you’ve never tried any of these natural sweeteners and aren’t sure which one to choose, read through our article all about sweeteners on this topic to help you understand some of the differences (we’re fans of all of them, though!).

  1. Try These Instead of Milk

Although 2% milk is low carb and technically keto-friendly, it may not be your best choice if you are trying to consume 70% of your calories from fat, as you would on a ketogenic diet. Also, you definitely should not be drinking skim milk as this gets you even further away from your ideal fat intake, and skim milk often undergoes extra processing and refining that removes a lot of its original nutrients, too. Instead, swap out your milk for heavy cream or half and half. It will make your morning coffee or tea taste even more delicious and keep you satiated longer!

For some extra flavour and healthier fats, you can also try a plant-based version of a coffee creamer:

  • Nutpods – Nutpods Unsweetened & Dairy Free Creamers are a great replacement for traditional coffee creamer! Not only do they come in delicious, sugar-free flavours such as French Vanilla, Caramel and Hazelnut, but they are also a great source of heart-healthy plant-based fats. The main ingredients include coconut cream and almonds, giving them the same thick, creamy texture as dairy creamers but more nutritious!
  • Coconut Milk Powder – Coconut milk powder is a great shelf-stable replacement to liquid creamers. It is made from dehydrated coconut milk and mixes well for a delicious, creamy taste in your hot beverages. It is naturally low in carbs, while also providing some fibre, protein and a number of vitamins and minerals! We love Wild Tusker Organic Coconut Milk Powder, made from organic, non-GMO coconuts. Another great thing about coconut milk powder is its versatility; it can be added to sauces, soups, curries and other dishes as a thickener!
  • Butter, Ghee, Coconut Oil & MCT Oil – For those familiar with bulletproof coffee, these milk replacements should come as no surprise. Bulletproof coffee has been praised by keto dieters for its ability to kick start ketosis first thing in the morning! By blending hot coffee (be sure to use a blender suitable for hot liquids) with butter, ghee, coconut oil or MCT oil, you’ll get a foamy, creamy keto-friendly beverage that will keep you satiated all morning or fuel a workout.

 

Now that we’ve covered how to make your own low carb and keto-friendly versions of coffee and tea at home, let’s talk about how to order from restaurants.

It goes without saying that specialty coffees, Frappuccino’s and other sweetened beverages are off-limits for low carb dieters. That said, there are still many ways to achieve the same great flavours of these indulgent beverages without going over your daily carb allowance. While black teas, black coffees, americanos, and cold brews are your lowest-carb and safest options, there are other ways to enjoy café beverages from time to time.

Many establishments offer sugar-free syrups as an alternative to their normal sweeteners. Be mindful of “skinny” beverages made with these, however, as the “skinny” claim can still be misleading. It’s best to ask the barista to make your own customized drink than order something straight off the menu as the full ingredients are not always shown.

Start with a simple black coffee, espresso shots or tea as the base of your drink. From there, you can ask the barista to add heavy cream or almond milk (make sure that it’s unsweetened) as well as any other flavourings, such as sugar-free syrups. For example, you can try ordering an iced coffee and ask them to add heavy cream and a few pumps of sugar-free caramel syrup. Here are some other ideas:

  • Keto Vanilla Iced Latte – 2 espresso shots over ice with almond milk and sugar-free vanilla syrup
  • Keto Chai Tea Latte – steeped chai tea with heavy cream, topped with cinnamon
  • Keto Half & Half Matcha Latte – matcha latte with sugar-free vanilla syrup and leave room to add heavy cream

If you prefer to stick to plain coffee and tea, make sure to choose the right sweeteners at the store. A lot of cafés have a sugar replacement packets, but these are not always clean, healthy choices. Many cafés only offer artificial sweeteners instead of sugar, which can be harmful to your gut. If this is the case, you can purchase your own portion-sized sweetener packets and keep a few in your bag or in your car whenever you go out for coffee. We offer these single serving size packets of sweeteners:

Stay Connected

We hope this article helped answer your questions about coffee and tea, while on a low carb diet! We also hope you feel inspired to transform your morning beverages with our suggestions and recommendations! If you would like to share your thoughts or more ideas, join our social communities on Facebook and Instagram. If you want to share your experience with us, leave a Google Review! And be sure to subscribe to our weekly newsletter for the most up-to-date low card and keto news, as well as special announcements and product sales!