Keto Lemonade with Monk Fruit

What is better on a hot summer day than a glass of cold lemonade? Lemonade with vodka, obviously, but that was a rhetorical question. This keto lemonade is low carb, sugar free and low calorie. Taste like nostalgia without the blood sugar spike and ready in only minutes. Cheers to that. 🍋

Jump to:

• Sugar Free Sweeteners
• Using Store Bought Lemon Juice
• Electrolyte Needs On Keto
• Adding Electrolytes To This Recipe
• Recipe Tips
• Other Low Carb Beverages
• 📖 Recipe

Sugar Free Sweeteners

For this recipe, I chose to use the powdered monk fruit and eyrthritol blend from Lakanto (you can find it here). This sweetener works great in this recipe because it dissolves easily and has a comparable flavor to sugar.

When choosing a sweetener I would opt for one that is natural. My top choices are monk fruit, stevia and erythritol.

If you decide to use a granulated sweetener, the first step in this recipe is important. You will need to heat the water and make a "simple syrup" in order for any granulated sweetener to dissolve properly. A powdered sweetener will usually dissolve in cold water.

All sweeteners have a different level of sweetness. So, if you choose to deviate from the recipe start with a small amount of sweetener and add until it meets your desired level of sweetness.

Using Store Bought Lemon Juice

While using fresh lemons is never a bad decision, I am not a zealot when it comes to always needing fresh squeezed juice in every recipe. Fresh lemons add a nice flavor, but using a good quality store bought lemon juice can be almost indistinguishable from fresh juice. At least to my unrefined pallet.

I use Santa Cruz Organic 100% lemon juice. This brand, or something similar, is what I would recommend if you are not planning on juicing your own lemons.

Electrolyte Needs On Keto

Whether you are doing keto or just living in a hot climate, you might benefit from supplementing with electrolytes. There are many electrolytes but the three most commonly needing supplementation are sodium, potassium and magnesium.

Those living a ketogenic lifestyle have higher electrolyte needs compared to those who are not in ketosis. There are several reasons for this:

1. Less Glycogen - Glycogen is the storage form of carbohydrate in your muscles. When you are eating fewer carbohydrate glycogen begins to get depleted. Each glycogen molecule contains water. The release of glycogen causes a shift in body fluid which subsequently causes a loss in electrolytes.
2. Lower Circulating Insulin - Insulin is used to remove glucose from the bloodstream. When someone is eating low carb there is a decrease in circulating insulin. When insulin levels lower the kidneys excrete electrolytes.

These combined factors make your electrolyte needs higher on ketosis, specifically sodium. A general recommendation is to aim for 3000-5000 mg of sodium, 3000-4000 mg of potassium and 300-500 mg of magnesium daily when following a ketogenic diet (1). You may need more or less depending on activity level and body size.

Adding Electrolytes To This Recipe

• Sodium - Pink Himalayan salt is a good option because it contains other trace minerals apart from sodium. Start by adding a little and then adjusting according to your taste.
• Potassium - Using "Lite Salt" or "No Salt" will add additional potassium to this lemonade. Lite Salt is a combination of sodium and potassium. No Salt does not have the sodium. Be a little more cautious adding this because it has a metallic taste.
• Magnesium - I would generally recommended supplementing with magnesium glycinate (this would be taken in pill form and not added to this drink). Magnesium glycinate is better absorbed and utilized by the body and it can actually cross the blood brain barrier. Whereas, magnesium citrate which is more commonly mixed in drinks, generally stays in the GI tract and can cause a laxative effect.

When adding sodium and/or potassium to this recipe. I would limit to 1/4 tsp total. This will help preserve the flavor of the lemonade. But! Please add slow and taste before you commit because preference will vary depending on your individual electrolyte needs and tolerance to salty things.

Recipe Tips

• If using the recommended Lakanto Powdered Monk Fruit Sweetener, you can get away without mixing it into warm water to form a simple syrup. This is mostly used when adding granulated sweeteners or the electrolytes. The powdered sweeteners will usually dissolve right into the cold water.
• Adjust the sweetness to taste. I like my lemonade a little sour, but don't be afraid to add a little more sweetener if that is your preference.
• Adding a little (subjective) vodka or tequila to this recipe would be a good option for a delicious low carb cocktail.

Other Low Carb Beverages

• Turmeric Golden Butter Latte

📖 Recipe