I was never really a huge fan of soda, but sometimes I missed having an occasional fizzy drink on the keto diet. You wouldn’t believe how excited I was when I first saw Sparkling Ice water on the store shelves!
That second I wondered – is Ice Sparkling Water keto? Maybe it’s just another carbonated water marketed as keto friendly, when in reality it’s filled with artificial sweeteners and hidden carbs? Will it affect ketosis? I had so many questions at that time!
So, is Sparkling Ice keto friendly? Read on to find out!
Can you have ice sparkling water while on keto?
While most sodas are not allowed on the keto diet, you can drink Ice Sparkling Ice Water without worrying about getting kicked out of ketosis. It’s an awesome carbonated water drink to have nearby when you’re depriving your body of carbohydrates and not consuming any sugars.
“Unhealthy” is the best way to describe regular soda. It’s loaded with sugar and empty calories, which is why it’s one of the worst things you can drink on keto. It’s high in carbs and can quickly kick you out of ketosis.
If you’re looking for a soda alternative on keto, look no further than getting yourself a Sparkling Ice drink. Plus, they’re like $1 each which makes them an affordable keto friendly drink too!
Is ice sparkling water healthy?
While it does contain a trace amount of sucrose, it’s still a healthy choice for those on the ketogenic diet. It’s both zero carbs and zero sugar, which is much better than other drinks commonly used on the ketogenic diet.
In comparison to other sugary sodas or juices, you’re much better off having Sparkling Ice on keto if you’re tired of drinking plain water all the time.
Does ice sparkling water contain carbs?
Sparkling Ice Water contains 0 grams of carbs! It’s a great alternative to sugary sodas. While years ago they advertised as zero calories as well, some laws have change and they began to put the real number of calories on their labels – which is 5.
Since Sparkling Ice drinks are sweetened with sucralose, they have virtually no carbohydrates. So you got all the sweet taste you need while being keto friendly.
Consider reading our guide on Is Gatorade Zero Keto?
What are the ingredients of ice sparkling water?
Depending on the flavor, ingredients found in each Sparkling Ice drink may vary. For the most part, nearly all of them contain carbonated water, natural flavors, sucralose and a tad bit of vegetable juice to give them natural colors.
- Carbonated water – while there is evidence that soda is bad for you (sugars!), there is no research that suggests carbonated water intake is unhealthy. It’s essentially the same exact thing as regular water, but with bubbles. Plus, it’s just as hydrating!
- Natural flavors – although these might be manufactured in a lab, they must come from natural sources such as plants, fruit and vegetables, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Code of Federal Regulations.
- Citric acid – used as both a flavoring and preserving agent, sourced from lemon juice.
- Malic acid – this ingredient is used as a flavoring agent to give food tart taste and adjust acidity. It’s an organic compound, so no need to worry about artificial ingredients.
- Potassium benzoate – companies use potassium benzoate to ensure freshness and preserve the food or drink.
- Calcium disodium EDTA – this safe additive is used to preserve flavor, color and texture.
- Vegetable juice – I know fruit and vegetable juice is not keto friendly, but here the entire serving has less than 2% of it. Sparkling Ice adds a bit for natural flavors and colors, hence you don’t need to worry if it kicks you out of ketosis or spikes your blood sugar.
- Sucralose – while Sparkling Ice contains zero sugar and is not sweetened with normal sugar, it does use sucralose as an artificial sweetener. If you’re diabetic or have issues with balacing your blood sugar levels, you may want to skip on having Sparking Ice altogether since sucralose can cause an insulin spike and contribute to glucose intolerance.
- Gum arabic – although it may sound scary, there’s nothing to worry about when it comes to gum arabic. It’s a complex mixture of glycoproteins and polysaccharides that are soluble and water and used to keep ingredients together.
Vitamins and antioxidants
Sparkling Ice contains additional vitamins and antioxidants. Although it’s a nice touch, remember that these amounts will never replace eating keto friendly, healthy and nutritious foods.
- Vitamin A – helps in healthy vision, immune function and reproduction. Too much of vitamin A can actually be toxic, but here you have nothing to worry about.
- Vitamin D – I find this one to be one of the most important (if not THE most important) vitamins for our bodies. It helps to keep our bones, teeth, and muscles healthy. Nowadays, we can never get enough sunlight – 25% to 50% of people are deficient in vitamin D.
- Niacinamide (vitamin B3) – used to treat high cholesterol, diabetes, ADHD and even schizophrenia. If you’re deficient, you may have fatigue, nausea, vomiting and overall be under the weather mentally and physically.
- Calcium pantothenate (vitamin B5) – this vitamin plays a crucial role in breaking down fats and carbs for energy. It’s also a very important element in building red blood cells, as well as supporting the production of hormones in the adrenal glands.
- Pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6) – important for healthy brain development, keeping the nervous system in tact, and supporting the immune system.
- Biotin (vitamin B7) – you’ve probably heard about this vitamin if you’re taking supplements to strengthen your skin, hair and nails. Biotin is one of the most common vitamins in supplements that aid in beauty and
collagen production. - Cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12) – needing some energy? Take vitamin B12! This one is important for keeping your blood and nerve cells healthy. Not only that, it’s also important for mood regulation and reducing any symptoms of depression.
- Green tea extract – as one of the best and most powerful antioxidants out there, green tea extract promotes weight loss, regulates blood sugar and helps in exercise recovery as well as disease prevention. Perfect for those who are on a low carb diet to lose weight.
Sparkling ice flavors and kinds
I’m so glad there are so many different Sparkling Ice flavors! From classic lemonade and fruit punch to more sophisticated coconut pineapple and cherry limeade, everyone can find a flavor they enjoy.
Classic Sparkling Ice
- Grape raspberry
- Black cherry
- Berry lemonade
- Black raspberry
- Fruit punch
- Cherry limeade
- Strawberry watermelon
- Strawberry lemonade
- Kiwi strawberry
- Pink grapefruit
- Peach nectarine
- Orange mango
- Coconut pineapple
- Classic lemonade
- Lemon lime
Sparkling ice + caffeine
Missing energy drinks? You can now get a Sparkling Ice drink with caffeine! Although it won’t replace the taste of a RedBull, I’m sure you’ll love these as well. My favorite is the citrus twist – hands down the best refreshing, keto diet friendly energy drink out there.
- Cherry vanilla
- Black raspberry
- Blue raspberry
- Watermelon lemonade
- Orange passion fruit
- Strawberry citrus
- Citrus twist
Nutritional information of ice sparkling water
If you suspect that Sparkling Ice has tons of hidden sugars, you’re far away from the truth. I’ve always said that the best labels are ones that have the least number of ingredients and simple nutrition facts.
Sparkling Ice contains:
- 5 calories per serving
- 1% juice concentrate
- 135 mcg RAE vitamin A
- Vitamin A – 15% of daily value
- Vitamin D 3mcg – 15% of daily value
- Niacin – 15% of daily value
- Vitamin B6 – 15% of daily value
- Vitamin B12 – 15% of daily value
- Biotin – 15% of daily value
- Pantothenic Acid – 15% of daily value
In addition to nearly zero carbs and only 5 calories, Sparkling Ice also has added vitamins and antioxidants, as well as naturally sourced colors and zero sugar (sucralose isn’t technically a “sugar”).
Can I drink Sparkling Ice with alcohol?
Yes! Ice Sparkling water drinks are actually my favorite. I used to love a good and simple vodka soda, but since soda is no where near being keto friendly, I stopped enjoying drinks as much as I used to.
Remember that alcohol shouldn’t be consumed regularly on keto if you want to lose weight. Your body will burn through alcohol first and put fat second, so you may want to limit or cut out alcohol completely. However, having a drink once in a while is no sin at all.
Mix your favorite hard liquor with a Sparkling Ice water of your choice and add some ice cubes too. You can choose from lots of different flavors, from coconut limeade to black cherry and many more.
You can even swap out club soda in our Low Carb Mojito recipe and make it into a flavored drink.
Our final thoughts
Although regular water and bulletproof coffee are the best keto friendly drinks, I highly approve of Sparkling Ice drinks as well.
They are sugar free, have zero carbohydrates and only 5 calories per serving. Plus, they taste pretty awesome so if you’re tired of drinking water all the time, you will love them.
Added vitamins and antioxidants are a plus too. I’ll never say no to extra supplements, especially since most of us are deficient in vitamin D and all the B’s. While Sparkling Ice drinks will not replace nutritious meals or dietary supplements, getting a little more vitamins in your body can’t hurt.
Let us know in the comments – what’s your favorite Sparkling Ice flavor?
Written by
Matt Gaedke
Matt is a former college basketball player turned computer engineer who discovered his passion for health and nutrition after cutting sugar from his diet in 2016. That year he founded KetoConnect with Megha in order to share their ketogenic lifestyle through recipes, videos, and educational content. Matt is always seeking to grow and try new things, a passion he shares with his wife and two amazing sons.
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