V8 can be keto-friendly, but only certain varieties have the least amount of carbs. Upon inspecting the nutrition labels, there are five varieties that could be considered “keto.” However, since all of them contain sugar, it’s recommended to consume no more than one 8-ounce serving. In other words, only specific kinds of V8 are suitable for a keto diet, and only in the given serving size.1
However, if you stick to the V8 flavors recommended below and monitor serving sizes closely, you can drink V8 sparingly without being kicked out of ketosis.
Which Flavors of V8 Are Keto?
While V8 is commonly used as an ingredient in Bloody Mary’s, many people do drink V8 for its purported health benefits. This is due in part to a series of famous V8 marketing campaigns dating all the way back to the 1930s.
Eating enough vegetables is challenging in a busy lifestyle, so simply pouring a glass of vegetables seems like the perfect solution.
In fact, research does show that V8 can be a good way to increase daily vegetable intake and consequently reduce blood pressure and improve other health markers.2 But, if you’re not careful, it can also be a good way to derail your keto progress!
Currently, V8 comes in eight different flavors. While they’re all tomato-based, the nutrition facts differ slightly depending on the other ingredients. Below, all eight flavors are listed with complete nutrition facts in order from lowest carb to highest carb.
The best keto, low-carb options are found at the top of the list.
V8 Original
V8 Original is a 100% vegetable juice blend made with tomatoes, carrots, celery, beets, parsley, lettuce, watercress, and spinach. An 8 ounce serving provides 20% of the Daily Value of Vitamin A and 80% of the Daily Value of Vitamin C.
V8 claims that every 8 ounce glass contains two servings of vegetables.
- Calories: 45
- Net carbs: 7 grams
- Fat: 0 grams
- Protein: 2 grams
V8 Spicy Hot
V8 Spicy Hot is just like V8 Original, but with a zesty kick added by ‘natural flavors’. One 8 ounce serving contains:
- Calories: 45
- Net carbs: 7 grams
- Fat: 0 grams
- Protein: 2 grams
V8 Low Sodium 100% Vegetable Juice
While V8 Original has 640 milligrams of sodium per 8 ounce serving, V8 Low Sodium has only 140 milligrams. 640 milligrams is approximately ¼ of the FDA’s daily sodium intake recommendation, so V8 Low Sodium is definitely a better choice if you’re monitoring salt intake.
- Calories: 45
- Net carbs: 7 grams
- Fat: 0 grams
- Protein: 2 grams
Low Sodium Spicy Hot 100% Vegetable Juice
This variation combines the zesty kick of V8 Spicy Hot with the smart sodium content found in V8 Low Sodium.
- Calories: 45
- Net carbs: 7 grams
- Fat: 0 grams
- Protein: 2 grams
High Fiber 100% Vegetable Juice
Soluble corn fiber bumps the fiber content up from 2 grams to 5 grams in this V8 flavor. Unfortunately, this doesn’t reduce the total net carbs.
- Calories: 45
- Net carbs: 7 grams
- Fat: 0 grams
- Protein: 2 grams
Essential Antioxidants 100% Vegetable Juice
In addition to the standard juice blend, this variation includes additional supplements, vitamins, and minerals. One serving packs 35% of the Daily Value of Vitamin A, 200% of the Daily Value of Vitamin C, and 100% of the Daily Value of Vitamin E.
- Calories: 45
- Net carbs: 8 grams
- Fat: 0 grams
- Protein: 2 grams
Beet Ginger Lemon 100% Vegetable Juice
Research shows that fruit and vegetable juices may improve gut health, and this is particularly true of beet juice.3 However, the carbs in this V8 flavor makes it a no-go for strict keto dieters.
While the blend of beet juice, carrot juice, sweet potato juice, and lemon and ginger extracts may provide some health benefits, with 16 grams of net carbs per serving, it’s not a wise way to ‘spend’ your carb budget on the keto diet.
- Calories: 70
- Net carbs: 16 grams
- Fat: 0 grams
- Protein: 1 gram
Carrot Ginger 100% Vegetable Juice
Made with sweet potato juice, carrot juice, and ginger extract, this V8 flavor is significantly higher in carbs than the other traditional vegetable juices. Keto dieters should proceed with caution or avoid altogether.
- Calories: 80
- Net carbs: 19 grams
- Fat: 0 grams
- Protein: <1 grams
Better V8 Keto Alternatives
Ultimately, instead of asking if V8 is keto-friendly, it’s better to consider if there are superior keto alternatives to V8. Fortunately, there are! These options are lower in carbs and offer more nutrition than any of the V8 flavors mentioned above.
Make Your Own Keto Vegetable Juice
When it comes to popular rehydration products like Gatorade and Liquid IV, keto dieters should proceed with caution. However, if you have a juicer, it’s easy to make your own rehydrating keto-approved vegetable juice packed with naturally-occurring electrolytes and anti-inflammatory compounds.
Try juicing these vegetables together:
- 5 ounces arugula
- 5 ounces spinach
- 5 ounces cucumber
- 5 ounces celery
- 1 ounce parsley
Add lemon juice, kosher salt, and stevia to taste. Split between three people, this juice has 40 calories and 4 grams net carbs per serving.
V8 is a good source of lycopene, an antioxidant that may improve heart health.4 You can get some of these same benefits by adding a medium-sized tomato to your juice blend. This will only set you back 3 grams of net carbs.
Make Your Own Keto Green Smoothies
For keto green smoothies, all you need is a blender! It’s easy to mix up a nutrition-packed smoothie that can serve as a meal replacement, or simply a sneaky way to get your veggies in even if you don’t have time to eat a big salad.
Try this simple and scrumptious recipe:
- 12 ounces unsweetened low-carb milk alternative
- 2 large handfuls spinach or other greens
- ½ frozen avocado
- 1 tablespoon almond butter
- 1 teaspoon cocoa powder
- 1 scoop chocolate keto protein powder
- Stevia or other low-carb sweetener to taste
Blend milk and spinach together until spinach is completely dissolved. Add avocado, almond butter, and cocoa powder and blend until creamy.
Add protein powder and blend until just combined. Stir in sweetener to taste and drink immediately.
Make Mushroom Keto Coffee
Most keto dieters are familiar with keto coffee – coffee blended with MCT oil and other ingredients to create an energizing AM fat bomb. You can reap additional plant-based benefits by using a mushroom coffee product instead of regular coffee.
Made with chaga extract, lion’s mane mushroom extract, Cordyceps mushrooms, and other naturally-occurring nootropics that may improve brain function, mushroom coffee is a delicious way to improve focus and energy.
Try blending 8 ounces of mushroom coffee with 1 tablespoon MCT oil (plus stevia or other keto sweeteners to taste) for a creamy and quick morning treat.
Pack Blended Vegetable Soups In Thermos For On-The-Go Nutrition
This is an unconventional but surprisingly easy way to get more vegetables in your keto diet. It’s easy to make rich, veggie-packed blended soups with ingredients like cauliflower, zucchini, spinach, heavy cream, and cream cheese.
You can find some pre-made soups that fit these specifications as well, from brands like Kettle & Fire, Amy’s Organic Soups, and Progresso. Stow in a Thermos for a drinkable, nutrient-rich meal while out and about.
Enjoy Collagen-Based Beverages
Collagen is an animal-based protein supplement that can improve hair, skin, gut, and tissue health. Protein is also very satiating, so collagen, which typically provides 10-2o grams of protein per serving, is a quick snack that will fill you up without sending you on a blood sugar rollercoaster like V8.
There are many keto collagen supplements available today, including unflavored Collagen Peptides from Vital Proteins, chocolate-flavored Orgain Keto Collagen, and Primal Kitchen Collagen Keto Latte. Mix these supplements into hot or cold unsweetened low-carb milk alternatives, coffee, black tea, or just water for a nourishing snack that’s nearly as quick as pouring a glass of V8.
Important Considerations for Keto Dieters Who Consume V8
The keto diet is one of the most popular weight loss diets today, and for good reason. Going keto can reduce visceral fat, improve heart health, and minimize cravings.5
In order to reap the incredible benefits of this diet, keto dieters need to be very careful to avoid most sources of sugar and carbs.
Source: kirin_photo via Canva.com6
Although you could technically fit V8 into a keto diet by adjusting your carbohydrate intake for the rest of the day to stay below 30-50 grams of net carbs, it’s important to note that all the carbs in V8 come from sugars. These are naturally occurring sugars, admittedly, but in liquid form they will spike your blood sugar rapidly.
Eating an equivalent amount of whole vegetables would not spike your blood sugar as quickly thanks to the additional fiber found in whole foods.
This means that V8 has a high glycemic index. For example, a serving of V8 has a glycemic index score of 43.
Meanwhile, a tomato has a score of 15. The tomato would be a better choice for keto dieters in terms of overall sugar, fiber, and micronutrient content.
As usual, whole foods sources of carbohydrates are the best way to use your limited carbohydrate budget while in ketosis. It takes some additional effort, but with advance planning it can be done even on the busiest days.
Are V8 Energy Drinks Keto-Friendly?
V8 +ENERGY is a caffeinated blend of fruit juice, veggie juice, and tea that comes in nine different flavors. All of the standard flavors contain 12 grams of net carbs from sugar, so they should be avoided by keto dieters.
However, the Diet Strawberry Lemonade flavor, sweetened with sucralose, only has two grams of net carbs. It’s also a decent source of vitamins and minerals, making it a reasonably good energy drink option on the keto diet.
Why “Does V8 Fit into a Keto Diet?” Might Be the Wrong Question
Keto dieters should consider whether V8 will help them adhere to the keto diet and achieve optimal health. Due to its high sugar content, V8 is unlikely to be a suitable choice.
On occasions when eating whole foods is simply not an option, keto dieters would be better off avoiding sugar-packed V8 and opting instead for a protein shake, collagen supplement, fat bomb, burger patty, or other quick snack that contains protein and fat.
With this detailed explanation about V8 and its compatibility with the keto diet, keto dieters can make informed choices that will help them succeed on their keto journey.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is V8 Juice Good for You?
V8 is a good source of Vitamin A and Vitamin C, and, in some flavors, zinc. It’s a relatively low-calorie beverage and it contains potassium and sodium, which can be rehydrating. Ultimately, however, it’s best to eat vegetables in their whole, natural form instead of relying on processed vegetable juices. Whole vegetables provide blood sugar stabilizing fiber that V8 simply can’t.
How Many Carbs Are in V8 Juice?
Most flavors of V8 have 7 grams of net carbs in each 8 ounce serving. V8 Essential Antioxidants 100% Vegetable Juice has 8 grams, V8 Beet Ginger Lemon 100% Vegetable Juice has 16 grams, and V8 Carrot Ginger 100% Vegetable Juice has 19 grams. Each can of V8 +ENERGY has 12 grams net carbs, except for the Diet Strawberry Lemonade flavor, which only has 2 grams.
What Should I Drink on the Keto Diet?
Above everything else, keto dieters should drink plenty of water to aid in digestion of fats and proteins. Additionally, unsweetened coffee, all types of unsweetened tea (particularly green tea), keto coffee beverages made with MCT oil, sparkling water, diet soda, and some high-proof alcohol like whiskey, vodka, and gin are all great carb-free choices.
References
1Emre Ceylan. “Juice Bottle.” Canva. Accessed 22 April 2023. <https://www.canva.com/photos/MADTTaKWZaA-juice-bottle/>
2Shenoy, S. F., Kazaks, A. G., Holt, R. R., Chen, H. J., Winters, B. L., Khoo, C. S., Poston, W. S., Haddock, C. K., Reeves, R. S., Foreyt, J. P., Gershwin, M. E., & Keen, C. L. (2010). The use of a commercial vegetable juice as a practical means to increase vegetable intake: a randomized controlled trial. Nutrition journal, 9, 38. <https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2891-9-38>
3Henning, S. M., Yang, J., Shao, P., Lee, R. P., Huang, J., Ly, A., Hsu, M., Lu, Q. Y., Thames, G., Heber, D., & Li, Z. (2017). Health benefit of vegetable/fruit juice-based diet: Role of microbiome. Scientific reports, 7(1), 2167. <https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-02200-6>
4Biddle, M. J., Lennie, T. A., Bricker, G. V., Kopec, R. E., Schwartz, S. J., & Moser, D. K. (2015). Lycopene dietary intervention: a pilot study in patients with heart failure. The Journal of cardiovascular nursing, 30(3), 205–212. <https://doi.org/10.1097/JCN.0000000000000108>
5Daria Gołąbek, K., & Regulska-Ilow, B. (2022). Possible Nonneurological Health Benefits of Ketogenic Diet: Review of Scientific Reports over the Past Decade. Journal of obesity, 2022, 7531518. <https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/7531518>
6kirin_photo. “vegetable juices.” Canva. Accessed 22 April 2023. <https://www.canva.com/photos/MAEEquUz8P0-vegetable-juices/>