Stay in Ketosis With Mio Water Enhancers: Exploring Keto-Compatible Flavors, Carbs, & Ingredients

Mio is suitable for a keto diet due to a specific fat-burning ingredient and its lack of carbs.¹

More precisely, Mio includes an ingredient that removes any need for sugar, reduces calories, carbs, and allows dieters to enjoy something sweet without all the downsides of sugar. In turn, this allows keto dieters to burn fat over glucose.

That being said, let’s take a look at the amount of carbs Mio does, or doesn’t have, if all the flavors are the same, a review if the ingredients are healthy or not, and other water enhancers that are even better than Mio.

Carbohydrate Content in Mio Drinks

Finding keto low carb options means double checking many products for carb content and many will want to know if Mio has carbs, and if so, how many.

Each bottle of liquid Mio water enhancer contains zero calories per bottle and has 18 servings. Only Mio original contains any carbs, at less than 1 gram per serving.

Source: TotalShape from Pixabay²

In order to provide a flavorful punch with a little sweetness, Mio utilizes select artificial sweeteners and flavors. Mio is low carb (less than 1 gram) to no carb, depending on the flavor.

From keto sports drinks to Tropical Smoothie keto options, navigating the no-carb life leads to lots of questions.

Is Mio Compatible with a Keto Diet? Do Any Mio Flavors Affect Ketosis?

While not new, the keto diet remains among the top trending diets for weight loss and maintenance. For beginners new to keto, it can be frustrating to discover that much of their favorite foods and drinks are not compatible with this diet, and since it’s suggested to drink even more water on keto, many people often turn to water enhancers.³

But before consuming any flavored syrup, knowing if Mio is keto friendly or breaks ketosis absolutely crucial.

Just because a water enhancer or sports drink is sugar-free does not automatically mean it’s keto friendly. Additionally, carbs are not the only factor to potentially break ketosis, since too much protein or even small amounts of foods with a high glycemic index could kick someone out of ketosis.

However, all in all Mio is keto friendly and only the original flavor has a minute amount of carbs. All the flavors below, including the original, make for a perfect low calorie mix that can help avoid excessive weight gain.⁴

Mio Original

• Strawberry Watermelon
• Fruit Punch
• Lemonade
• Berry Grape
• Berry Pomegranate
• Cranberry Raspberry
• Sweet Tea
• Blueberry Lemonade
• Mango Peach
• Cherry Blackberry

Energy

• Wicked Blue Citrus
• Black Cherry
• Tropical Fusion
• Green Thunder
• Strawberry Pineapple Smash
• Acai Berry Storm

Vitamins

• Orange Tangerine
• Orchard Apple
• Orange Vanilla

Sport

• Berry Blast
• Arctic Grape
• Lemon Lime
• Orange

Is Mio Healthy?

Much debate and concern surrounds the possible negative health impacts of artificial sweeteners, flavors, and colors (or dyes) – all of which are in Mio. Many sugar-free water enhancers and energy drinks utilize these ingredients in order to offer low calorie and low carb options to consumers.

Besides wondering whether Mio fits into a keto diet, it’s understandable for a health-conscious person to be concerned about its overall healthiness due to some of its ingredients.

Many people attempting to reduce their consumption of junk food and sugar often choose sugar-free versions of their favorite foods and drinks. The goal may be improved overall health, weight loss, or simply adhering to a diet like keto.

Those aiming to lose weight often wonder if products like Mio are beneficial for their goals. Answering whether products like Mio are bad for you can be daunting. It’s important to remember that flavor-enhancing products, such as Mio, are typically consumed in very small serving sizes, usually just 2-4 ml.

Therefore, only a very small amount of any ingredient (all of which are FDA approved for use in food or drink) is consumed per serving.

Mio ingredients vary slightly by flavor and type. The ingredients found in Mio are also in many food and beverage items, and not everyone will experience sensitivities to ingredients.

Source: deepakrit from Pixabay⁵

Citric Acid – Flavor & Preservative
One of the most common ingredients in food and skin products, citric acid can be naturally derived or lab-produced. Excess consumption can cause unpleasant side effects: stomach upset, irritation in the mouth, or enamel erosion of teeth.

Negative effects on the liver or other organs occur only at extremely high doses, from 1-4 grams per kilogram of body weight. One would have to consume extreme daily amounts of water enhancers like Mio to experience this negative effect.

Acesulfame Potassium – Sweetener
Commonly referred to as Ace-K, it is 200 times sweeter than sugar and commonly blended with other sweeteners, like Sucralose. It has been declared safe by the FDA and EU.

The FDA first approved it in 1988. It was approved for general use in 2003, with the FDA stating 90 studies establish acesulfame potassium as safe.

Sucralose – Sweetener
Another common artificial sweetener, the majority ingested isn’t broken down in the body so it’s considered non-caloric. It’s considered safe for diabetics as it doesn’t affect insulin levels.

Sucralose has been determined as safe by numerous agencies, and would have to be consumed in extremely high quantities to cause adverse health effects. Sucralose has not been shown to cause problems when consumed occasionally in moderation.

Malic Acid – Flavor & Preservative
First derived from apples, malic acid is a type of AHA (alpha hydroxy acid) used in food, beverages, and skincare. There are no known concerns regarding toxicity or interactions in normal consumption.⁶

It has a tart flavor similar to citric acid, preserves the product, and maintains flavor.

Sodium Citrate – Flavor & Preservative
Used as a flavor enhancer (typically salty or tart), acid reducer, and preservative. It is similar to Citric Acid, and commonly used in products like yogurt, cheese, and drinks.

Sodium Benzoate – Preservative
There have been concerns about Sodium Benzoate reacting with citric acid, causing it to convert to benzene, acknowledged as carcinogenic.

The likelihood of conversion increases when exposed to heat, light, and long storage periods. This ingredient is not on the ingredient lists for Mio’s Sport or Energy lines.

Gum Arabic – Emulsifier & Stabilizer
Also known as Acacia gum, Gum Arabic is approved in varying concentrations depending on the food product. It most commonly comes from the sap of the Acacia tree. Like many of these ingredients, any negative effects of Gum Arabic (primarily digestive issues) only occurr at extremely high doses.

Interestingly, it was shown in some studies to reduce body fat and BMI in females.

Sucrose Acetate Isobutyrate – Emulsifier
While the name may sound intimidating, sucrose acetate isobutyrate is recognized as being generally food safe. It is used commonly in beverages (particularly citrus-flavored ones) as an alternative to brominated vegetable oil.

It keeps flavor oils in suspension and creates a translucent appearance.

Potassium Sorbate – Preservative
Potassium Sorbate is commonly used in food at extremely low concentrations and generally regarded as safe by the FDA. There are some risks of allergic reaction (typically from topical exposure) or heavy metal contamination in the manufacturing process.⁷

Rosemary Extract – Preservative
As a natural alternative to chemical preservatives, rosemary extract is used for its antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. Unless one has an allergy, rosemary extract is safe for consumption and is considered to have numerous health benefits.

Yellow 5, Red 40, Blue 1 – Colorant/Dye
Some studies have shown that food dyes can have carcinogenic, sensitivity, and hyperactive effects with particular concern for children and pregnant women.

Red 40 showed the greatest safety concern followed by Yellow 5.⁸ Anecdotally, some parents feel behavioral issues in their children improved after removing foods with dye from their diets.⁹

However, not all children display the same sensitivity to food coloring.

Any artificial food dye used in food must be FDA approved. When used in accordance with FDA regulations, foods with artificial colors are safe for consumption.

B Vitamins – B3, B6, B12 – Energy & Recovery
B Vitamins are water-soluble (not stored in the body), helping support energy levels and recovery. B3 is also called Niacinamide.

When consumed in small amounts, B vitamins are considered safe.¹⁰ People in physical therapy or hoping to boost muscle recovery may feel B vitamins are supportive of the process.

Caffeine, Taurine, Guarana Extract, Ginseng Extract – Energy
These ingredients are found in Mio Energy, and are among the most common in energy drinks.¹¹ Guarana has been shown to enhance the energy-boosting effects of caffeine.

Source: Joenomias from Pixabay¹²

Ginseng and taurine are believed to boost recovery, focus, glucose uptake, and provide antioxidant benefits.¹³ There remains debate as to the intensity of benefits, and excessive energy drink consumption is known for contributing to health issues.

Mio Nutritional Facts (Macronutrients & Micronutrients)

Mio has 4 varieties of the liquid water enhancer: Original, Energy, Vitamins, and Sport. Depending on the variety selected, nutritional facts vary slightly.

All flavors and varieties of Mio are keto-friendly, being free of sugars, carbs, and calories.

Mio Original

• Calories: 0
• Protein: 0
• Fat: 0
• Carbs: <1

Mio Sport

• Calories: 0
• Protein: 0
• Fat: 0
• Carbs: 0

Mio Vitamins

• Calories: 0
• Protein: 0
• Fat: 0
• Carbs: 0

Mio Energy

• Calories: 0
• Protein: 0
• Fat: 0
• Carbs: 0

Best Alternative Water Enhancers & Drink Mixes for a Keto Diet

Water may be the most keto safe but it can get boring. Sticking to any diet includes finding ways to satisfy cravings while staying on track.

When searching for keto-friendly drinks other than water, similar questions arise regarding their suitability for a keto diet.

Whether considering Mio or other brands, another concern may be if water enhancers are bad for you. In moderation, adding water enhancers or other keto friendly beverages is perfectly safe.

Consulting with one’s physician can help address concerns and ensure understanding of appropriate consumption levels.

There are numerous keto friendly beverage options to suit every taste. Choices include diet soda substitutes, water enhancers, and carb-free energy drinks.

If ready beverages aren’t suitable, dieters can choose Mio drops or from any number of keto water flavoring packets, powders, and tablets. Many of these are helpful drinks to reduce belly fat, a common goal for both health and aesthetic reasons.

Highly portable, water enhancers are easy to keep on hand. Tiny serving sizes reduce ingredient concerns, and make staying keto friendly easy.

Stur Water Enhancer

Stur water enhancer was started when Neel Premkumar wanted a more natural water enhancer option to help his pregnant wife drink more water. After a year of home-kitchen experiments, the first version of Stur was created.

Stur is a liquid, offering 12 flavors like coconut pineapple and grape acai. There is also an energy option in a mixed berry flavor, with 40 mg of caffeine.

All Stur flavors are calorie, sugar and gluten free. Additionally, they are kosher and high in Vitamin C.

Stur uses Stevia for sweetness. While not completely carb-free, since white grape juice is also an ingredient, the per-serving carb count is less than 1 gram.

Waterdrop

Waterdrop focuses on natural ingredients and environmental sustainability. From replenishing electrolytes, providing energy, to providing a simpler option for a hot cup of tea, the easy-dissolving cubes offer numerous flavors.

Microdrinks have purposeful names like Youth, Boost, or Zen. Microlyte flavors add 5 electrolytes, 9 vitamins, and zinc to the mix.

MicroEnergy utilizes energy boosters such as naturally sourced caffeine and ginseng. Some on keto find their workout routines more difficult, seeking keto-friendly energy drinks options to finish strong.

Free of sugar, Waterdrop is keto-friendly and safe for diabetics. Color comes from natural sources like Spirulina and Beta Carotene.

The calorie count is minimal at just 5 calories per cube. All types contain 1 carb or less.

SweetLeaf Water Drops

SweetLeaf water drops contain 48 servings in a petite 48ml bottle, with 6 flavors to choose from. Monk fruit and stevia are used to replace sugar.

Sweetleaf is just for flavor – no additions like vitamins, electrolytes, or energy boosters. It has zero calories per serving and less than one carb.

The pricing is friendly too: at about $5.50 per bottle, it costs less than 12 cents per serving.

Bigelow Botanicals Cold Water Infusion

Bigelow (yes, the Bigelow that makes tea) has introduced Bigelow Botanicals Cold Water Infusion. Even though these come in tea bags, they’re not traditional teas.

The flavor in these infusions comes largely from florals like hibiscus, rosehips, and honeysuckle. Other additions, depending on the variety, may include lemon or lime peel, rooibos, mint, and cucumber.

All flavors have zero sugar (not even stevia), zero calories, and zero carbs. If ordering on the Bigelow site, there are 7 options, all of which include 108 “tea” bags for $21.95 – $24.95. This translates to $0.23 per bag or less.

Crystal Light

Perfect for budget conscious or nostalgia-stricken keto adherents, Crystal Light has zero carbs and a mere 5 calories. Flavors include fun variations on tea, like pomegranate, and lemonade combinations like blackberry lemonade.

Crystal Light Pure uses Truvia to sweeten, but does have 3 grams of carbs.

The caffeine varieties have 0-2 grams of carbs. It will be important to double check the nutrition information of each flavor being considered to make sure carb intake doesn’t go too high.

A variety of liquid and powder options make a quick flavor boost easy and affordable – around 20 cents per serving.

Amata

Billed as a hydration and energy booster, this liquid water enhancer uses Stevia and Monk Fruit in its 6 flavors. On the Amata website, numerous benefits of Monk Fruit are listed, such as anti-inflammatory properties.

It has zero calories and less than 1 carb per serving plus B vitamins and electrolytes. A 2 ounce bottle has ten servings and costs about $7.

Especially when consumed occasionally, Mio drops make an excellent option to perk up plain old water. After establishing that Mio is keto-approved, healthy in moderation, and does not break ketosis, anyone on a keto diet can use Mio without concern.

Frequently Asked Questions