It may give you wings, but what will you do if you fly out of ketosis?
Redbull sugar-free is the most successful energy drink created(*). It has been marketed to attract those craving a mental boost in an instant, both in a sugar-free and normal variant.
We know you wake up in the morning and you’re late for your workout. You don’t have time to make a coffee, make it to the gym, and make it to work.
So what do you do when you need a quick buzz? You crack open a can of sugar-free red bull to try to give you that pre-workout boost.
Did you think that all this benefit comes for free? WRONG. You won’t believe the truth behind the cost of these added benefits!
About Red Bull
Created in 1987 in Austria, red bull is a carbonated energy drink that contains caffeine, B vitamins, and other energy-containing nutrients such as taurine (*).
In 2003, Redbull became the first company ever to release a sugar-free energy drink. Hence the birth of Red Bull Sugar-Free.
So why is Red Bull sugar-free so popular?
In America alone, over 3 billion cans of Redbull were consumed in 2020. When the signature 8.4 ounces can contain a whopping 80mg of caffeine, it is no wonder that people are always craving Red bull sugar-free.
So let’s get right into it. How good is Red Bull sugar-free in the keto diet?
Red Bull Sugar-Free Nutritional Information
According to Redbull, the ingredients used in Red Bull sugar-free are synthetically made and produced by various pharmaceutical companies. (*) This was a marketing campaign to ‘guarantee the highest quality of ingredients used.
Since the ingredients aren’t natural, this already is not a good sign for us on the keto diet.
Let’s take a look at the nutrition that one can of red bull sugar-free can give(*):
- Total Fat – 0 grams
- Calories – 12
- Total Carbs – 3 grams
- Net Carbs – 1.8 grams
- Protein – 0. 5 grams
- Caffeine – 80 milligrams
Micronutrients:
- Vitamin B6 – 104%
- Niacin – 106%
- Riboflavin – 85%
- Vitamin B12 – 73%
Red Bull sugar-free seems to be packed perfectly into the keto diet from a macro and micronutrient perspective. So why don’t we look into the ingredients of Red Bull and see how they can be incorporated into the ketogenic diet?
Red Bull Sugar-Free Nutrition:
Here’s the deal. Although red bull sugar-free is not zero-carb, Red Bull sugar-free has synthetically made ingredients. Is that keto?
We need to remember that the net carb content is not the only variant determining if a drink is keto-friendly.
Red bull sugar-free ingredients:
- Caffeine
- B-group Vitamins
- Aspartame
- Acesulfame Potassium
- Taurine
- Alpine water
However, Red Bull sugar-free comes in a variety of flavors, and therefore the ingredients need to be taken into account for different products.
Does Red Bull Sugar-Free Have Any Benefits?
Is Red Bull sugar-free healthy? There is no way it can be healthy, right?
You will be surprised at what Red Bull sugar-free contains and how the zero-calorie drink can benefit you!
Caffeine
Red Bull sugar-free contains caffeine.
There are a ridiculous amount of benefits that caffeine can bring to us, so we will list you a few just to give you an idea:
- Weight Loss – Caffeine suppresses our appetite and stimulates the body to burn more calories.
- Brain function – Studies have proven that caffeine can slow our decline in brain function over the years and help us think faster (*).
- Alzheimer’s – Research has shown that consuming caffeine over a long period of time may reduce the risk of developing dementia (*).
And many, many more benefits!
B-Vitamins
We know by now how essential vitamins are to our bodies. They are vital micronutrients that are related to regulating and maintaining bodily functions.
Red Bull contains 4 types of B vitamins, which are:
- B3
- B5
- B6
- B12
Vitamins help us with metabolism and break down many carbs in the body. They are vital in the ketogenic diet as they contribute to our mental performance, reduce fatigue, and help with functions of skin regeneration.
Taurine
Taurine is a product usually found on ox bile. It plays a vital role in regulating organ functions within the human body, such as (*):
- Aid digestion
- Promote absorption of fats and cholesterol
- Stabilize cell membranes in electrical hubs of the body such as the heart and brain
- Aid the gallbladder, blood vessels, and eyes
What does all this mean for you?
Taurine in Red Bull sugar-free products can be used to help treat cardiovascular conditions, raised cholesterol, control seizures, and has a role in preventing macular degeneration.
Taurine also helps reduce blood pressure and calm you down. Taurine helps counteract the bad effects of caffeine.
Artificial Sweeteners: Are They Keto?
In all honesty, we are very uncomfortable with artificial sweeteners in keto. The main artificial sweeteners used in most processed sugar-free drinks are:
- aspartame
- acesulfame potassium
Believe us when we say this. Artificial sweeteners (aspartame, acesulfame potassium, and sucralose) are not keto-friendly and do not fit well into a ketogenic diet.
Artificial sweeteners, like aspartame, although they contain no net carbs, can actually be detrimental to our health. For this reason, we classify foods that contain artificial sweeteners as “Dirty Keto.”
The sweeteners aspartame and acesulfame potassium combined can lead to significant health risks in the future despite their low number of total carbs.
These health risks are:
Weight gain
Aspartame and Acesulfame Potassium can increase our appetite for sweeter foods and lead us to eat high-carb foods that may knock us out of ketosis and lead to weight gain.
Diabetes
Research has uncovered a dirty truth that is anything but sweet (*). This research was conducted on mice and has confirmed that artificial sweeteners instead of common sugar lead to glucose intolerance, diabetes, and metabolic dysfunction.
Brain Hindrance
Aspartame has been linked to certain neurological conditions and learning problems, from seizures to depression (*). This is because aspartame can block the uptake of important neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine, which are essential in stabilizing our mood.
Is Sugar-Free Redbull Keto?
NO, Red Bull beverages of all sugar-free varieties are not keto-friendly. They are suitable in the keto diet if you consume them in moderation, perhaps before a workout.
Did you know that there is still more caffeine in one cup of black coffee than in one can of Red Bull Sugar-Free? The USDA recommends no more than 400 mg of caffeine per day. (*)
So, as long as you don’t go crazy on the Red Bull sugar-free, you may have one can a day! Remember, everything in moderation.
However.
Due to the unhealthy ingredients such as artificial sweeteners (aspartame, acesulfame potassium), all Red Bull zero sugar flavors are classified as dirty keto. If you want to opt for a healthier energy drink that also has a low carb or no net carb profile, try a product that contains one of the following alternative sweeteners:
- Stevia
- Monk Fruit
These sweeteners are natural, contain zero carbs, and are about 100x sweetener than common sugar. They do not affect our blood sugar and insulin release and, therefore, help with fat and carbohydrate metabolism.
Keto-friendly Energy Drink Alternatives
If you need that boost in energy, why not try making a zero carb drink from one of the following:
- Coffee – a simple serving cup of black coffee contains more caffeine than a can of red bull, is clear keto, and contains no carbs!
- MCT Oil – try adding this keto supplement in your serving of coffee (bullet-proof coffee) and drinks to help give you a significant boost in energy!
- Iced Green Tea – Drinking iced tea with a dash of MCT oil is both sugar-free and adds flavor without making a dent in your net carbs!
The best part? All of the above are sugar-free!
Learn more: Keto-Friendly Energy Drinks: The Best Low-carb Options!
Conclusion
All flavors of Red Bull sugar-free are suitable for the keto diet. They are all low carb with around 1.8 grams of net carbs and provide a substantial kick in energy.
However, due to the artificial sweeteners used in most Red Bull products, Red Bull sugar-free is rendered dirty keto food.
So, the dark truth? We recommend you try alternative keto-friendly energy drinks containing no artificial sweeteners and use more natural sweeteners such as stevia and monk fruit.
Up Next:
