Carbs in Gin and Diet Tonic: Keto Alcohol Guide

Understanding Carbs in Gin and Diet Tonic

The ketogenic diet has become one of the most popular weight loss strategies in recent years. This very low-carb, high-fat diet puts your body into a metabolic state called ketosis, which has been shown to promote fat burning and weight loss.

However, many keto beginners worry that theyll have to give up drinking alcohol on the diet. The good news is that you can still enjoy an occasional low-carb alcoholic beverage without kicking yourself out of ketosis.

One of the most keto-friendly cocktail options is gin and diet tonic. But just how many carbs are actually in this classic drink combination?

Carb Content of Gin

Straight gin is one of the lowest carb alcoholic beverages you can choose on the ketogenic diet. In fact, a 1.5 ounce (45 ml) serving contains just 0 grams of carbs.

Thats because gin is distilled, meaning it goes through a process of heating, cooling, and condensing to purify and concentrate the alcohol. This process removes all naturally occurring carbs like sugar.

So gin gets nearly all of its calories from alcohol, with a 100 ml serving providing around 230 calories.

Other low-carb liquors include rum, vodka, tequila, and whiskey, all of which contain minimal amounts of carbs per serving.

Diet Tonic Water Nutrition

Tonic water is often paired with gin to make a classic gin and tonic cocktail. Traditional tonic water contains a sizable amount of added sugar, providing 33 grams of carbs in 12 ounces (355 ml).

Luckily, most brands offer diet versions of tonic water that contain very few carbs:

• Schweppes Diet Tonic Water: 0 grams of carbs per 12 oz (355 ml)
• Canada Dry Diet Tonic Water: 0 grams of carbs per 12 oz (355 ml)
• Fever-Tree Naturally Light Tonic Water: 0 grams of carbs per 12 oz (355 ml)
• Q Tonic Zero Sugar Tonic Water: 0 grams of carbs per 12 oz (355 ml)

Diet tonic is sweetened with artificial sweeteners like aspartame, acesulfame K, and sucralose rather than sugar. This slashes the carb content significantly so it can fit into a low-carb diet.

Gin and Diet Tonic Nutrition Facts

Combining gin with diet tonic results in a great low-carb drink option on the ketogenic diet. A standard pour is around 5 ounces (150 ml) of tonic water plus 11.5 ounces (3045 ml) of gin.

This drink has only around 100 calories and 0 grams of carbs. For comparison, a gin and regular tonic prepared the same way would contain about 170 calories and 8 grams of carbs from the tonic alone.

Here are the nutrition facts for a typical gin and diet tonic containing 5 ounces (150 ml) of diet tonic and 1.5 ounces (45 ml) of gin (2):

• Calories: 100
• Carbs: 0 grams
• Fat: 0 grams
• Protein: 0 grams

Keep in mind that the carb content can vary based on the exact brand of diet tonic you use, as well as your pouring ratios. But as long as you stick with diet tonic, the carb count should be less than 1 gram per serving.

Keto Alcohol Guidelines

Most forms of straight liquor like gin, as well as dry wines and sugar-free mixers like diet tonic, can fit into a keto diet in moderation.

However, there are some guidelines you should follow when drinking alcohol on the ketogenic diet:

Limit Your Intake

First, its best to limit your alcohol intake to 1 serving per day for women and 2 servings max for men. Consuming more than this may inhibit ketosis.

Its also best to consume your daily serving of alcohol with food rather than drinking in a fasted state, which can increase ketone levels rapidly and result in symptoms like flushing, nausea, and rapid heartbeat (3).

Account for Calories

Be sure to account for the calories in your cocktail of choice when planning your meals and macros. While gin and diet tonic is one of the lowest calorie mixers around, alcohol is still calorie-dense.

Each gram of alcohol provides about 7 calories (4).

This can quickly add up with multiple drinks, making it easier to go over your carb or calorie limits for the day.

Stay Hydrated

Alcohol acts as a diuretic, meaning it causes you to lose more fluid through increased urination. Make sure to drink plenty of water before, during, and after drinking to stay hydrated.

This can help prevent symptoms like cramps, headaches, fatigue, and dizziness caused by dehydration.

Avoid Carb-Heavy Mixers

Mixing liquors with carb-heavy sodas, juices, simple syrups, and other high-sugar mixers can increase carb intake substantially. Either avoid these altogether or only use a splash.

Some examples of low-carb mixers include:

• Diet tonic
• Seltzer water
• Sparkling water
• Water
• Club soda
• Lemon/lime juice

Dont Overdo It

Its important to drink alcohol in moderation on keto. Consuming too much at one time can increase carb cravings and lead to poor decision making around food choices.

Plus, excessive alcohol intake may cause adverse health effects.

If you choose to drink, do so responsibly by pacing yourself and not exceeding more than 12 servings per day max.

Healthiest Keto Alcohol Options

Some types of alcohol are better suited to the ketogenic diet than others.

Here are some of the top low-carb alcoholic beverages to enjoy in moderation (1):

Dry Wine

Dry red and white wines are good options, providing around 34 grams of carbs per 5-ounce (150-ml) serving. Stick to varietals like sauvignon blanc, pinot grigio, cabernet, and merlot.

Champagne

Brut champagne is very dry with minimal carbs, at around 12 grams per 5 ounces (150 ml). Limit sweeter options like moscato.

Light Beer

Light beer is lower in carbs and alcohol than full-bodied beer. At 36 grams of carbs per 12-ounce (355-ml) serving, it can be an occasional option.

Liquor

Hard alcohols like gin, vodka, tequila, rum, and whiskey contain minimal carbs per serving. Opt for sugar-free mixers like diet soda.

Low-Sugar Cocktail Mixes

Companies like Skinny Mixes offer keto-friendly cocktail mixes with zero added sugar. Try their mojito mix or margarita mix with tequila.

Alcohol to Avoid on Keto

On the flip side, there are several types of alcohol that should be limited or avoided altogether to maintain ketosis (5):

Craft Beer

While light beer contains 36 grams of carbs, craft beer can have

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.