Is Chai Tea Keto Friendly?
Chai tea is an increasingly popular beverage that has been beloved by many cultures for centuries. But, is chai tea keto friendly?
What is Keto?
The keto diet is a high-fat, moderate-protein, and low-carbohydrate diet that is intended to help those seeking to lose weight or improve their health, by targeting particular macronutrients. This eating style changes your metabolism so that you burn fat instead of carbs for energy.
Is Chai Tea Keto Friendly?
The short answer is, yes, chai tea can be keto friendly. Depending on the ingredients and preparation, chai tea can fit into this type of diet.
Chai tea typically is made with a concentrated mixture of black tea and a combination of spices, such as cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. Generally, chai tea ingredients are keto friendly.
However, when you add other ingredients such as sugar or milk, the carbohydrate content increases. Tea with sugar, dairy, honey, or other sweeteners should be consumed in moderation if you’re looking to stay on the track of your keto diet.
How Much Caffeine is in Chai Tea?
Chai tea does have caffeine, as it typically uses a strong black tea or black tea concentrate as an ingredient. Some preparations also use green tea leaves for a milder flavor and less caffeine content.
Keto diets limit caffeine intake, due to its effect on the body and propensity to interfere with the diet’s ability to switch from burning glucose to burning ketone bodies for energy. If you’re looking for a keto friendly caffeine option, you may want to consider decaf chai tea.
In Summary
Chai tea can be a keto friendly beverage depending on the ingredients and preparation. The spices and teas used are generally keto friendly, but the added sweeteners, sugar, honey, and dairy should be limited. The caffeine content is also something to consider. Consider opting for decaf chai tea to maximize its keto friendly capabilities.
Remember: when following the keto diet, every ingredient counts and should be monitored!
