Are you on the ketogenic diet or considering it? It can be a bit complicated to follow, although many people rave about its benefits, ranging from weight loss to increased energy.
Sake is keto-friendly and can be an excellent choice as an alcoholic drink on the ketogenic diet. When consumed in moderation, sake contains very few carbs, with the average 1.5 ounces amounting to between 0 and 1.5 grams. It is also reasonably healthy, with a low alcohol content and simple ingredients. Some other keto-friendly alternatives include vodka, tequila, and rum.
You may have started having to wonder how many carbohydrates are in certain foods and beverages. On the keto diet, it is essential that you know what you can and can’t eat. Sake is a top-rated Japanese rice wine that could be the solution to your problems!
Contents
What Is The Ketogenic Diet?
The ketogenic diet involves eating a high amount of fat (80%), a moderate amount of protein (10%), and a low amount of carbohydrates (10% or less). You can choose between keeping your carbs at 10% or less or 50 grams or less per day.
The purpose of reducing the number of carbs so drastically is to put your body into a state of ketosis. When this happens, your body stops using carbs as its source of energy and instead utilizes ketones.
Ketones provide energy for primarily the brain, heart, and kidneys, and they are produced from the liver. You must be eating high amounts of fat for the ketones to be built.
This diet has become very popular from people’s weight loss results after following it for a few months. Since there are no carbohydrates for your body to burn, it turns to your fat stores instead. Your body will continually use the alternate energy source as long as you do not consume too many carbohydrates and break your body out of the state of ketosis.
What Can You Eat On The Keto Diet?
Because you need to stay within the proper percentages of each macronutrient to stay in a state of ketosis, you must pay attention to what you are eating. Many foods contain more carbohydrates than you would think and have to be eliminated or replaced.
Foods To Include On The Keto Diet
- Vegetables such as garlic, mushrooms, asparagus, bell peppers, and spinach
- Fatty meats and fish
- Whole eggs
- Tofu
- Nuts and seeds
- Olive oil, coconut oil, and avocado oil
- Butter
- Full-fat cheese
- Full-fat dairy products
- Vodka and tequila
- Unsweetened tea and coffee
Foods To Avoid On The Keto Diet
- Fruit
- High-carb vegetables such as corn, beans, and peas
- Bread
- Pasta
- Breakfast cereals
- Baked goods and pastries
- Sweets
- Beer and high-carb liquor
What Is Sake?
Sake is an alcoholic fermented rice wine that is about half as strong as most vodkas and whiskeys, as the typical sake contains 15-20% alcohol.
Being the national beverage of Japan, it is a very popular drink. Records state that sake has been around since the 8th century CE, but it could have been around beforehand. The main ingredients are water, yeast, Aspergillus oryzae (a mold), and sake mai rice.
It is served at most sushi restaurants and can be drunk either hot or cold. A high-quality sake ages for at least a year and is served chilled, while lower quality sake is served warm.
What Are The Different Types Of Sake?
While there are many different brands and flavors of sake, the beverage can be grouped into four categories based on their creation.
Daiginjo-shu
Daiginjo-shu tends to be the most expensive sake because it involves the most labor in the production process. In addition, it may or may not have alcohol.
Ginjo-shu
Ginjo-shu is known for its diverse fruity flavors. Like Daiginjo-shu, it contains highly milled rice, and only certain brands add alcohol to the beverage.
Honjozo-shu
Honjozo-shu tends to be warm and considered easier to drink, as it is lighter and drier than others. It also contains a small amount of brewers alcohol during its final stage in production.
Junmai-shu
Junmai-shu tends to be more acidic and denser than the other sakes. Its ingredients are rice, koji, and water; it contains no distilled alcohol.
Is Sake Healthy?
Sake is considered to be healthy, especially compared to other alcoholic beverages. Some sakes do not contain alcohol, while others have less than half of other liquors typically consumed.
It is high in amino acids and is gluten-free, making it an excellent option for anyone with Celiac disease or gluten sensitivity. Some studies have even been done to see if the amino acids in sake contain anti-cancer benefits.
Top-Rated Sake Products
#1 Momokawa Nigori Genshu Pearl Sake
- Calories (per 1 oz): 30
- Total fat: 0 g
- Total carbohydrate: 1.5 g
- Total sugar: 0 g
- Protein: 0.1 g
#2 Gekkeikan Sake
- Calories (per 1 oz): 25
- Total fat: 0 g
- Total carbohydrate: 5 g
- Total sugar: 5 g
- Protein: 0 g
#3 Hakutsuru Sake
- Calories (per 180 mL): 234
- Total fat: 0 g
- Total carbohydrate: 20 g
- Total sugar: 0 g
- Protein: 0 g
#4 Ty Ku Sake Junmai Ginjo Black
- Calories (per 1.5 oz): 55
- Total fat: 0 g
- Total carbohydrate: 1.8 g
- Total sugar: 0 g
- Protein: 0 g
#5 Sho Chiku Bai Sake
- Calories (per 1 oz): 30
- Total fat: 0 g
- Total carbohydrate: 1.5 g
- Total sugar: 0 g
- Protein: 0.1 g
#6 Ty Ku Sake Junmai Silver
- Calories (per 1.5 oz): 45
- Total fat: 0 g
- Total carbohydrate: 1.8 g
- Total sugar: 0 g
- Protein: 0 g
#7 Joto Sake Junmai
- Calories (per 1 oz): 46
- Total fat: 0 g
- Total carbohydrate: 0 g
- Total sugar: 0 g
- Protein: 0 g
#8 Hakutsuru Sake Draft
- Calories (per 1 oz): 32
- Total fat: 0 g
- Total carbohydrate: 1.5 g
- Total sugar: 1.5 g
- Protein: 0.1 g
#9 Ty Ku Soju
- Calories (per 1.5 oz): 60
- Total fat: 0 g
- Total carbohydrate: 0 g
- Total sugar: 0 g
- Protein: 0 g
#10 Organic Hakutsuru Sake
- Calories (per 1.5 oz): 39
- Total fat: 0 g
- Total carbohydrate: 3.3 g
- Total sugar: 0 g
- Protein: 0 g
Keto Alternatives to Sake Products
While these options are not considered healthier than sake, especially for your liver, they all contain no carbohydrates. That makes tracking these whiskies, rums, tequilas, and vodkas very easy!
Whiskey
Jack Daniels
Nutrition Info:
- Calories (per 42 g): 105
- Total fat: 0 g
- Total carbohydrates: 1 g
- Total sugars: 0 g
- Protein: 0 g
Jim Beam
Nutrition Info:
- Calories (per 30 ml): 62
- Total fat: 0 g
- Total carbohydrates: 0 g
- Total sugars: 0 g
- Protein: 0 g
Evan Williams
Nutrition Info:
- Calories (per 42 g): 97
- Total fat: 0 g
- Total carbohydrates: 0 g
- Total sugars: 0 g
- Protein: 0 g
Rum
McDowell’s
Nutrition Info:
- Calories (per 1 oz): 59
- Total fat: 0 g
- Total carbohydrates: 0 g
- Total sugars: 0 g
- Protein: 0 g
Bacardi
Nutrition Info:
- Calories (per 1.5 oz): 97
- Total fat: 0 g
- Total carbohydrates: 0 g
- Total sugars: 0 g
- Protein: 0 g
Captain Morgan
Nutrition Info:
- Calories (per 1.5 oz): 97
- Total fat: 0 g
- Total carbohydrates: 0 g
- Total sugars: 0 g
- Protein: 0 g
Tequila
Don Julio
Nutrition Info:
- Calories (per 1.5 oz): 96
- Total fat: 0 g
- Total carbohydrates: 0 g
- Total sugars: 0 g
- Protein: 0 g
Jose Cuervo
Nutrition Info:
- Calories (per 1 oz): 69
- Total fat: 0 g
- Total carbohydrates: 0 g
- Total sugars: 0 g
- Protein: 0 g
Patrón
Nutrition Info:
- Calories (per 1.5 oz): 97
- Total fat: 0 g
- Total carbohydrates: 0 g
- Total sugars: 0 g
- Protein: 0 g
Vodka
Grey Goose
Nutrition Info:
- Calories (per 1.5 oz): 73
- Total fat: 0 g
- Total carbohydrates: 0 g
- Total sugars: 0 g
- Protein: 0 g
Belvedere
Nutrition Info:
- Calories (per 1.5 oz): 66
- Total fat: 0 g
- Total carbohydrates: 0 g
- Total sugars: 0 g
- Protein: 0 g
Cîroc
Nutrition Info:
- Calories (per 1.5 oz): 97
- Total fat: 0 g
- Total carbohydrates: 0 g
- Total sugars: 0 g
- Protein: 0 g
Final Thoughts
The ketogenic diet can be beneficial to follow if you want to lose weight. However, it does not come without its struggles due to how restrictive it is. Counting carbohydrates is not very fun, but it is necessary to make sure that your body stays in a state of ketosis.
Sake is a relatively healthy alcoholic beverage that can satisfy you while not ruining your keto diet. Even though it is made of rice (as it is a rice wine), it contains surprisingly few carbs per serving, although it stills needs to be consumed in moderation to ensure that you do not go over your carb limit.
If you want to not have to worry about carbohydrates at all while drinking alcohol, you can try whiskey, rum, tequila, or vodka. The calories can add up very quickly with these options, but they each contain zero carbohydrates.
Related Questions
Is Sake Strong?
Sake contains 15-20% liquor, making it stronger than beer and wine but half as strong as hard liquors.
Is Sake Sweet?
Sake is a little sweet, but it varies by brand and type.
Is Sake Bad For Your Liver?
While it needs to be consumed in moderation, sake tends not to be the worst alcoholic beverage for your liver.
Is Sake Dairy-Free?
Yes, sake does not contain any dairy products.