The convenient whipped cream in a can may seem like it can fit in a keto diet due to the low carb content of only 1g net carb per serving, but there is more to look at than just net carbs when choosing healthy keto-approved foods.
There are many reasons to avoid Reddi Wip on a keto diet if you look closer. Read on to find out why Reddi Wip is not keto-friendly so you can make an informed decision.
Reason #1 – Sugar is a Significant Ingredient
Sugar and corn syrup (which is another name for sugar) are the 3rd and 4th ingredients found in Reddi Wip.
Since ingredients on the food label are listed in order by amount, food companies often add more than one type of sugar, so that they show up further down on the ingredient list.
This makes it appear that the product isn’t a significant source of sugar, even though it may still contain a fair amount.
If sugar and corn syrup were combined into one ingredient, it may show up as the 1st or 2nd ingredient, making you think twice before using this to top your morning keto coffee.
Reason #2 – It contains 27% carbohydrates
Reddi Whip only contains 1g total carb per serving. However, the entire serving is only 15 calories. One gram of carbohydrate contains 4 calories.
Doing the math, this means that four calories out of 15, or 27% of the calories, in Reddi Wip, are carbohydrates.
This is much higher than what is recommended for a keto diet.
Reason #3 – The serving Size is Unrealistically Small
The serving size for Reddi Wip is a measly 2 tablespoons. To put this into perspective, two tablespoons is about the size of a golf ball, which is much less than you would get on a drink from a coffee house.
Serving up a more generous portion would increase the carbohydrate content significantly, up to four or five grams.
Reason #4 – It Contains Carrageenan
Carrageenan is a controversial food ingredient. It is made from red seaweed and is used as a thickener in various food products like ice cream and yogurt.
This seaweed has undergone extensive processing to extract the carrageenan. Degraded carrageenan has been shown to promote intestinal inflammation and tumors in animals.
Unfortunately, research shows that food-grade carrageenan can also contain the degraded form. Because of this, many food companies have voluntarily removed carrageenan from their products.
It’s best to avoid carrageenan, especially if you have gastrointestinal symptoms such as bloating and diarrhea.
Reason #5 – It Contains Mono- and Diglycerides
Mono and diglycerides are emulsifiers, which are food additives that promote the mixture of liquids that normally cannot be blended, like oil and water.
Cream is mostly fat, which cannot mix with another ingredient in Reddi Wip, water.
These emulsifiers are added to allow them to mix together. Newer research shows that emulsifiers may alter the healthy bacteria in your gut and promote inflammation.
Mono- and diglycerides may also contain trans-fat. Even though the nutrition facts label states there are zero grams of trans fat per serving, due to the chemical processing involved in creating mono- and diglycerides, trans-fats may still be in this product.
The FDA allows food companies to state a product contains zero grams trans-fat per serving, even though there may be up to a half of a gram of trans-fat in the food.
What’s The Alternative?
Reddi Wip is heavily processed and contains ingredients that are not a part of a keto diet, and that are unhealthy.
With all of these reasons why Reddi Wip is not keto-friendly, how else can you incorporate a tasty treat such as whipped cream into your low carb diet?
Instead of relying on heavily processed whipped cream, just whip up your own! Use a hand mixer to whip up one cup of heavy whipping cream plus about 1 tablespoon of powdered erythritol to make 2 cups of whipped cream.
If you feel you need your daily dose of whipped cream on your morning coffee, consider investing in a professional whipped cream dispenser, they run about $30.
This way, you can easily indulge in a little squirt of keto-friendly whipped cream every now and then, and control what ingredients you use.
