The ketogenic diet is a high-fat, moderate-protein, and low-carbohydrate eating pattern. Typically, ice cream is not on the list of allowed foods in a ketogenic diet. However, there are some ice cream brands that are suitable for those following a keto diet, such as Halo Top, Edy's, Enlightened, So Delicious, and Rebel. Keep in mind that a regular cup of ice cream contains about 37 grams of carbohydrates, which is almost the total amount of carbohydrates a person on a keto diet can consume in a whole day.

The main goal of the ketogenic diet is to put the body into a state of ketosis. In ketosis, the body shifts from using carbohydrates for energy to using ketones, thereby burning fat. In view of this, some ice cream manufacturers have developed products suitable for the keto diet to help people maintain ketosis.

These manufacturers use sugar substitutes in making ice cream. Some popular substitutes include sugar alcohols like xylitol and erythritol. Sugar alcohols are sweeteners that have about half the calories of sugar. Many foods labeled "sugar-free" or "no added sugar" contain sugar alcohols.

In addition, food manufacturers also use two natural sweeteners: stevia and monk fruit. Stevia is made from the leaves of a plant, and monk fruit comes from a small, round fruit native to China. These brands also add ingredients like chicory root, guar gum, and xanthan gum to create a creamy texture and mouthfeel. Chicory root is made from the root of the chicory plant and is added to food to increase fiber content. Fiber slows down the digestion and absorption of carbohydrates and thus helps regulate blood sugar.

Guar gum and xanthan gum are derived from guar beans and the xanthan tree. These ingredients contain soluble fiber, which dissolves in liquid to form a gel-like substance that helps thicken the liquid. Soluble fiber also slows down the digestion and absorption of carbohydrates and helps lower cholesterol and blood sugar.

Here are five ice creams worth trying when you have a craving for ice cream. They are delicious, creamy, high in fat, and low in net carbohydrates.

Halo Top's keto series might be the best option for those who want to control their carbohydrate intake when choosing ice cream. For example, a serving (two-thirds of a cup) of the Chocolate Caramel Lava Cake flavor contains 190 calories, 6 grams of protein, 6 grams of fiber, and 3 grams of net carbohydrates. This keto ice cream comes in a variety of flavors and is available in pints and popsicles, ranging from Mint Chocolate Chip to Banana Cream Pie. These options contain about 4 - 10 grams of net carbohydrates per pint, so you can enjoy them while staying in ketosis.

Edy's adds sugar to its fan-favorite Fudge Tracks, Vanilla Bean, Triple Chocolate, and Neapolitan flavors. These flavors contain sorbitol, maltitol syrup, and Splenda (sucralose). Two-thirds of a cup of the Vanilla Bean flavor contains 130 calories and 14 grams of net carbohydrates.

Enlightened offers both keto ice cream and low-calorie non-keto ice cream. Most flavors of the keto ice cream have 2 - 3 grams of net carbohydrates. The low-calorie ice cream contains 7 - 12 grams of net carbohydrates and 120 - 140 calories per two-thirds of a cup serving.

Enlightened uses allulose along with sugar alcohols and monk fruit extract to replace sugar. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recognizes allulose as a "sugar substitute." The human body metabolizes allulose differently from other sugars. Each gram of allulose provides only 0.4 calories, while sugar provides 4 calories per gram. The FDA has excluded allulose from the total sugar and added sugar on nutrition labels. Allulose is not a sugar alcohol and is not counted as a carbohydrate.

So Delicious makes dairy-free ice cream using whole coconut milk. The sugar-free ice cream has a minimal amount of sugar. These keto ice creams are sweetened with a mixture of the sugar alcohol erythritol and monk fruit extract. A serving (two-thirds of a cup) contains 130 - 160 calories, 9 - 10 grams of net carbohydrates, and 2 grams of protein.

Rebel is an ice cream brand specifically designed for those on a keto diet. Each pint of this ice cream is made from cream, other high-fat ingredients, erythritol, and monk fruit. Since the main ingredient is cream, a pint of Rebel has a higher fat and calorie content than other brands. This ice cream has a minimal amount of sugar and only contains 4 - 8 grams of net carbohydrates per pint. The net carbohydrate content of two-thirds of a cup of Rebel is also less than 3 grams.

These ice creams are sweet desserts with low carbohydrate content and are suitable for those on a keto diet. People on a keto diet have a high-fat, moderate-protein, and low-carbohydrate eating pattern. The keto diet may help people reduce body fat. Ice cream brands like Halo Top, Edy's, Enlightened, So Delicious, and Rebel offer options using sugar substitutes and may be friendly to those on a keto diet.

It should be noted that the keto diet is not suitable for everyone. It is essential to consult a healthcare provider before starting this diet.