Question: Can I consume bone broth and beef broth while I’m following the keto diet?
Answer:
Bone broth is an excellent addition to the keto diet since it’s typically very low in carbohydrates. It also helps provide your body with electrolytes, which are harder to get from low-carb, keto-friendly food options. Thirdly, it offers a great natural source of collagen protein.
The Benefits of Bone Broth
To give you a little more context, let’s dive a little deeper into why the keto diet and bone broth pair up well:
Low-Carb
Bone broth is naturally very low in carbs – a key component of keto-friendly foods. That said, the carb amount can range from 0 to 2 grams, depending on the type of broth. To pick the right broth, be sure to read the nutrition labels before you head to the checkout counter at the grocery store. Check for any added ingredients that may not align with your personal carb threshold.
Collagen-Rich
Bone broth is made primarily from animal bones and connective tissue, which makes it a great source of collagen. Collagen is the most abundant protein in our body, found in our bones, muscles, skin and tendons. However, it isn’t consumed much in modern-day diets.
While on the keto diet, it’s essential to consume no more than a moderate level of daily protein to keep your body in ketosis. However, be sure not to cut back on protein too much! Aim for 20% of your daily calories to come from protein.
Electrolytes
When you decrease your carb intake, your body also retains less water. As such, the low-carb nature of the keto diet leads to additional water loss, which causes an imbalance in electrolytes.
Electrolytes are essential for hydration, muscle contractions, heartbeat regulation and numerous other bodily functions. Bone broth is a natural source of electrolytes, including magnesium, potassium, calcium and sodium. Since electrolytes aren’t as easy to come by on the keto diet, finding a reliable natural source – like bone broth – is key.
As you can see, bone broth fits well into a keto diet, accounting for roughly 2 grams of carbs and 6 grams of protein. When choosing your broth or collagen supplement, make sure there are no added ingredients that spike up the carb count!
