When starting a ketogenic diet, you may think that an occasional cocktail is completely off limits. While it is true that alcohol should be limited due to the amount of carbohydrates that can kick you out of ketosis, also know that not all cocktails are created equal. Most wines, beer, flavored alcohols, and mixed drinks should be avoided, but alcohols on their own like tequila, whiskey, brandy, gin, and vodka will not contain the same amount of sugar and can be enjoyed on occasion in moderation. They key to keto friendly cocktails is finding appropriate mixers to pair with your alcohol.

The Main Ingredients in This Cocktail Include:

Vodka
Kevita “Lemon Cayenne” sparkling probiotics
Cayenne pepper

Mixers like plain soda and juices are what will usually contain the most carbs in cocktails, so when having a drink it is most important to find options with the least amount of sugar. Zero calorie sodas sweetened with stevia are wonderful for mixed drinks, but there are also a wide variety of very low carb, low sugar sparkling probiotic drinks widely available these days as well. You’ll have the extra boost of flavors, less sugar and possibly even a few health benefits to balance out the alcohol.

If you’re going to have a cocktail, you might as well get some kind of nutritional benefits from it and probiotics come with a long list. Some would even say that probiotics could help improve hangover symptoms such as headaches and nausea.

Benefits of Probiotics:

Boost digestion
Improve mental health conditions
Reduce likelihood of infections

#1: Gut Health

Probiotics are widely known to introduce and maintain the “good” bacteria in your stomach. When there is an imbalance of bacteria in the gut it can lead to digestive issues, allergies, weight gain, weight loss, and a wide variety of diseases.

#2: Gut-Mind Connection

Many believe that the stomach is the second brain in the body. Studies have shown that introducing specific bacteria can help improve mood, reduce depression, anxiety, and stress. It can also help bring inflammation and insulin levels down.

#3: Boost Immunity

Over 70% of your immunity is located in your gut. Supplementing with “good” bacteria can help promote natural antibodies in the body and boost natural killer cells and other immune cells. Certain probiotic strains can also help reduce the severity and risk of many diseases.

No need to avoid alcohol completely on a ketogenic diet if you don’t want to. Depending on the mixer you choose to pair with your alcohol, you may even gain some nutritional benefits.