This is the TENTH article in the ABC Keto never-ending series of shorter articles packed only with the essential information and nutrition facts about specific types of foods, drinks or liquids in the context of a keto diet. If you like drinking alcohol and want to do a ketogenic diet the right way, this article is a must-read. 

In this post we are coming back to the topic of alcohol and we will be talking about its most prominent representative, that is, vodka. Can you drink vodka on a keto diet? Is drinking vodka allowed on a ketogenic diet? Will this type of alcohol hinder your progress on this program? Does vodka have carbs?

Let’s find all of this (and more) out.

Nutrition Facts About Vodka

Below you will find all the necessary nutrition facts about vodka you should know if you want to do a keto diet and have some vodka at the same time. 🙂

I split the information into two separate tables which show only the facts and data that are interesting and relevant from the point of view of a keto diet (i.e. calories and macronutrients).

Nutrition Facts Of One Shot Of Vodka

Nutrition Facts Of Vodka

As you can see, vodka is keto compliant but, just like with any alcohol, cannot go totally overboard with it.

Vodka & Its Keto Compliance (9/10)

Here you will find information and facts about how keto compliant and keto friendly vodka is.

Here is the bunch of facts you need to know about vodka and a keto diet:

• NO CARBS AND NO SUGAR. As you can see, vodka has a very high score for compatibility with keto. That’s because it has absolutely no carbs and sugar.
• GLYCEMIC INDEX OF ZERO. Since vodka has no carbs, its glycemic index is equal to zero, which means it doesn’t raise sugar or spike insulin. And that’s the whole point of a keto diet. So vodka is ideal in this respect!
• STILL HAS CALORIES. Yes, vodka does have calories, but they all come from alcohol, so they are way “better” calories. The moment you drink vodka (or any alcohol), your liver start to metabolize it and all of this alcohol is turned into energy (this is a great simplification, of course).
• VODKA AND KETOSIS. Moderate consumption of hard alcohols (for example, one or two shots of vodka) may even increase the production of ketone bodies. However, you cannot go overboard and poison your body with huge amounts of alcohol at a time because you will kick yourself of our ketosis for many hours (or even days) and effectively stop any fat burning.

As you can see, vodka in itself is a very keto-friendly liquid. However, you still need to remember that alcohol is toxic to your body and your liver will always prioritize it. In practice it means that if you eat a lot of food (especially, carbs or/and fat) and drink vodka at the same time, your liver will be metabolizing alcohol and the food you ate will be directly stored as fat.

That’s why if you want to stay in ketosis and keep burning fat, you need to separate food consumption from drinking alcohol. It’s best to drink a few hours after your last meal when you are in a relatively fasted state. This way you can kill two birds with one stone and keep burning fat!

Make sure to read other articles that talk about different types of alcohol and its compliance with a keto diet. Check wine and whiskey out. 

Vodka On A Ketogenic Diet & Health Impact (7/10)

Here you will find information and facts about health benefits of vodka. 

Even though vodka doesn’t have any vitamins or minerals and all of its calories come from alcohol, it still has a bunch of interesting health properties. Here are the major ones you want to know about:

• GREAT AT REDUCING STRESS. Vodka has been shown to be more effective at reducing stress that other alcoholic drinks like wine. It calms down the brain, lets you fall asleep quickly and will help you relax more easily.
• GOOD FOR HEART. It’s not only about but alcohol (when consumed in moderation) in general has a positive effect on cardiovascular system and helps prevent heart disease. It can lower blood pressure and help increase the HDL “good” cholesterol levels.
• ANESTHETIC. In Europe (especially in Russia and Poland) vodka is used to cure a wide range of conditions starting from a cold, flu, toothache, stomachache and more.
• ANTISEPTIC. Vodka also works on the outside thanks to its antiseptic properties. It helps prevent infections and can be used to sterilize the wound (for example after a dog bite). It’s also good for hair and skin and so it’s the ingredient of many cosmetics.

As you can see vodka can have positive impact on your health both internally and externally. However, due to its zero content of vitamins or minerals, its final health score is only 7/10. I know I am repeating myself but if you want to reap the “internal” benefits of vodka, you have to consume it in moderation.

How is it with drinking other types of alcohol? Learn about drinking wine on keto and drinking whiskey. 

Bottom Line: Consume In Moderation

If you are to drink alcohol on a ketogenic diet, vodka will be probably one of the best choices. It has absolutely no carbs, no sugar and has a bunch of both external and internal uses that promote heath.  

Just like with many foods or liquids (except for carbs), it’s up to you how to use it and whether you use it to your harm or benefit.

This guide, together with the rest of the guides on ABC Keto, is supposed to show you facts so that you can make the right and conscious dietary choices.

The bottom line is: if you like vodka, drink it but make sure it aligns with your goals and lets you make progress.

If you find this mini guide helpful and useful, please share it with your friends on social media. My goal is to reach as many people as possible to help them make wise dietary choices and transform their lives. Thanks!