For many, coffee is more than just a morning beverage; it's a ritual, a comfort, and a source of energy. However, when embarking on a specialized diet like the carnivore diet, the rules surrounding coffee and its accompaniments become a point of contention. This article explores the compatibility of coffee and the carnivore diet, focusing on suitable creamer options and alternatives for those who prefer not to drink their coffee black.
Understanding the Carnivore Diet
The carnivore diet is a primal eating approach centered around consuming foods that our ancestors ate, primarily meat, eggs, and sometimes cheese. Many people use the carnivore diet for weight loss, as its low carb content almost always helps you lose weight. One of the biggest benefits of the carnivore diet relates to carnivore diet inflammation. Because the carnivore diet is so low in carbs, it doesn’t spike your blood sugar levels, leading to better regulation throughout the day. It's a diet that drastically reduces carbohydrate intake, leading to a state of ketosis where the body burns fat for fuel instead of carbohydrates.
The Question of Coffee on a Carnivore Diet
The inclusion of coffee in a carnivore diet is a debated topic. Some proponents believe that coffee is incompatible with the diet's principles, while others are more lenient. Part of the premise of the carnivore diet is that you’re in a state of ketosis. The primary concern lies in the additives often found in coffee, particularly traditional creamers loaded with sugars and carbohydrates.
Acceptable Creamer Options for Carnivore Dieters
If black coffee isn't appealing, the key is to find carnivore diet coffee creamer options that adhere to the diet's restrictions. Here are some suitable choices:
- Animal-Based Fats: Ghee, tallow, or heavy cream can serve as carnivore diet coffee creamers, providing fat without the unwanted sugars and carbs.
- Homemade Rendered Animal Fats: Beef tallow or duck fat, when emulsified correctly, can be a unique and pure creamer alternative.
Exploring Coffee Alternatives
For those who decide that coffee doesn't fit into their carnivore lifestyle, several alternatives can provide a similar sense of comfort and warmth:
Read also: Protein Coffee Smoothie Recipe
- Herbal Teas: Offering diverse flavors and potential health benefits, herbal teas are a popular coffee alternative for caffeine diets. Chamomile tea brings an unmatched sense of calm, while rooibos tea has an earthy flavor and high levels of antioxidants.
- Bone Broth: For those seeking a warm and cozy beverage, bone broth can be a satisfying substitute. Homemade bone broth from leftovers is a great place to start for those trying to do a cheap carnivore diet.
Keto-Friendly Coffee Creamer Ideas
Even if you are not on a strict carnivore diet, but rather following a low-carb or ketogenic lifestyle, there are many options for coffee creamers. The best low carb coffee creamer will depend on your tastes and personal preferences. Swapping typically high carb milk and regular creamers for low carb coffee creamer will help reduce your daily net carb intake, helping to induce ketosis and make room in your daily net carb allowance for more nutrient-rich options like foundation vegetables and healthy fats.
Almond Milk and Creamers
Unsweetened almond milk and other nut milks are a great low carb alternative to regular milk. There are also plenty of almond milk creamers available at most supermarkets. Just make sure to read the labels to look for any hidden carbs in flavored varieties.
Atkins Shakes
Specially designed to be part of your low carb lifestyle, high in calcium and other essential nutrients, a bit of Atkins shakes or protein powders (we like vanilla or chocolate best for coffee) will add a pop of protein and flavor to your cup.
Collagen Creamer
Collagen is the most abundant protein in your body and the substance that holds the body together. Adding more of these amino acids to your daily routine will provide extra protein and may help boost your energy levels, relieve joint pain, and strengthen your hair, skin, and nails.
Coconut Cream or Milk
Coconut cream and milk are made from the same ingredients (coconut, water, and sometimes guar gum), but much like regular milk compared to heavy cream, coconut cream has a higher fat content and a thicker texture than coconut milk. Both are tasty low carb keto creamer options.
Read also: Weight-Loss Trend: Coffee Loophole Diet
Cream (Heavy or Light)
With 6 g fat and just 0.4g net carbs per tablespoon, heavy cream is an excellent low carb choice for your coffee and will be most similar to processed and flavored creamers you might be trying to transition from. Light cream and half and half are great choices as well, though they tend to have slightly higher carb counts.
MCT Powder
Medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) are fatty acids typically derived from coconut and palm kernel. Too much MCT oil can be tough on your digestive system, but a high-quality MCT powder (which is made from MCT oil) is a more gentle alternative that is also easily dissolved in your coffee and will give it a creamy texture.
Keto Coffee Sweetener
Because low carb diets like Atkins avoid consuming added sugars, try swapping refined sugar for keto sugar substitutes. Keep in mind that many people are sensitive to low calorie sweeteners and may experience slower weight loss or stop weight loss altogether. Especially during the induction phase, limit sugar substitutes to no more than three servings a day (one serving is treated as 1g of net carbs). If you do encounter a stall or plateau in your weight loss, reevaluate how much low calorie sweetener you are consuming and try reducing that amount.
Atkins-approved keto coffee sweeteners include:
- Sucralose
- Saccharine
- Stevia
- Allulose
The Benefits of Adding Collagen to Coffee
Collagen has been a hot topic in the health community for years now-and for good reason. Collagen is shown to benefit so many areas of the body, from joints to skin and hair to bones. I originally started adding collagen into my diet right before I hit 35 years old, because that’s about the time your cells that make collagen start slowing down production. As I have begun aging, I’m also more aware of the effects my workouts have on my joints. So supplementing collagen is my answer to continuing on with hard workouts despite aging.
Read also: The Truth About Baking Soda and Coffee for Weight Loss
MCTs and Ketones
Medium chain triglycerides are involved in the metabolism of carbohydrates and lipids. From healthy fats, ketones emerge as your brain's go-to fuel. Looking to stay energised during your fasting window? Want to turbocharge your metabolism and burn fat fast? Say hello to the most ketogenic of all MCTs: C8 rapidly converts to ketones, your secret weapon for intermittent fasting - keeping your brain fuelled, sharp and ready to get life done!
Practical Recipe
Let’s all just remember that coffee is not our main meal. Simply add ingredients to an oversized coffee mug or tumbler. Insert immersion blend and blend about 10 seconds until frothy. If you don’t have an immersion blender, you can add all the ingredients to a normal blender and pour in your mug.
Ghee & MCT Oil Blend
Coffee++® is the World's First Ghee & MCT Oil blend! You've heard of butter coffee - it's like your morning cup of joe's cool, adventurous cousin! In the classic version, a rich, smooth coffee is blended with a dollop of creamy butter and a splash of MCT oil. We decided to take this recipe to the next level by using our grass-fed, organic, Cultured Ghee instead of butter. Because our Cultured Ghee is made by a simple process of gently simmering cultured butter to remove potential allergens such as casein and lactose. What remains is the pure delicious butter oil. It's a better butter coffee creamer. Our milk comes from cows which are never fed anything with GMOs, chemical fertilizers, herbicides, or pesticides.