Is Açaí Keto Friendly?

From cocktails and cheesecakes to seltzers and smoothie bowls, the Açaí berry is popping up in all sorts of culinary corners. However, first, you may have questions about this Amazonian fruit such as “Where does Açaí come from?” or “What is Açaí made of?” or how it may fit into your diet—particularly if you take a ketogenic approach. 

So, is Açaí keto friendly? In this article, we’re going to break down how Açaí berries can fit into a low-carb diet plan like the keto diet, the superfruit’s nutrition facts, which Açaí products to look out for if you’re avoiding carbs, and how much Açaí puree you can eat during the average low-carb day. 

If you’re an Açaí puree aficionado, read on to discover how the world’s favorite superfruit can fit into your low-carb and perfect keto diet. 

Açaí and Your Keto Plan

Is Açaí keto? Well, that depends on your approach to keto. 

A ketogenic (“keto,” for short) diet usually entails considerable limitation of your carbohydrate intake in order to modify your body’s primary energy source. When you deplete your body’s carbohydrate source, some experts believe that your cells opt to use fat-based energy sources instead, which could lead to depletion of your body’s fat stores.

There are two common approaches to this diet:

• Eating some carbs, but trying to keep your daily intake below a certain quantity.
• Making an attempt to eat zero carbs by avoiding all foods with carbohydrate content

If you’re in the first camp, you’re probably still eating some carbs every day—perhaps you’re simply trying to consume less than 20g per day to maintain some dietary flexibility, account for meals served during events, or find a compromise with your family’s typical meal-preparer. In this case, Açaí products can likely fit into your daily meal planning. 

The good news is that at SAMBAZON, we’re proud to offer pure, unsweetened açaí frozen pouches that are certified keto! The SAMBAZON Pure formula is Ketogenic Certified, which is the gold standard certification for ketogenic products, supplements, and ingredients. Products go through rigorous testing and analysis to ensure accepted metabolic responses in the human body. 

Products that are Ketogenic Certified have been tested and shown to only elevate blood glucose and ketone levels within a range acceptable for frequent use on a ketogenic diet with specific criteria. We believe that Açaí should be enjoyed by anyone and everyone, including those trying to avoid or limit carbohydrates as part of their personal nutrition and wellness plan. 

Açaí’s Nutrition Facts

To determine whether or not the ingredient of Açaí has a place in your daily nutrition goals, let’s explore the macronutrient profile for Açaí . 

100 grams of pure, unsweetened Açaí without additives contains the following macros:

• 5 grams of fat
• 1 gram of protein
• 4 grams of carbohydrates
• 3 grams of dietary fiber

Some keto dieters believe that dietary fiber—an insoluble carbohydrate—essentially “cancels out” an equal amount of carbohydrates in foods. In the case of Açaí , 3 out of 4 grams of net carbs are dietary fiber, giving Açaí 1 net gram of carbohydrates.

Frozen Açaí Products—Keep an Eye Out for Carbs

It’s important to remember that not all Açaí products are created equal. 

And some Açaí lovers prefer their superfruits slightly sweeter! Thus, numerous Açaí products—including Açaí bowls, smoothies, and desserts—contain added sugars or carb-based flavor additives. 

So, before you learn how to store smoothies and add that delicious pouch of frozen Açaí to your blender, bowl, or juicer, check the nutrition label and ingredients list for added ingredients. Pure Açaí does not contain sugar but watch out for sugar and sweetener additives like the following:

• Honey
• Agave
• Brown rice syrup
• Maple syrup
• Cane syrup

While these additives are perfectly safe and nutritious in small quantities, they can carry a high carbohydrate count. If you’re trying to keep your carb intake below a certain threshold or avoid them completely, any Açaí products with these additives are a no-go. 

How Much Açaí Can You Eat on Keto?

The amount of Açaí you can eat on your keto diet depends entirely on you, your body’s readiness to enter ketogenesis (where your body might use fat for energy instead of carbs), and your overall daily carb goals. 

SAMBAZON: Providing Delicious, Nutritious Açaí Since 2000

Is Açaí keto friendly? Yes. Are all Açaí products keto friendly? No, and that’s where your judgment and dietary preferences must come in to determine what’s suitable for your lifestyle.

Açaí is delicious, nutrient-rich, and perfect for countless recipes without additives, we also think that even those on keto should be able to add our frozen pouches to their smoothies, bowls, or low-carb desserts without stress. 

If you're trying to maintain peak nutrition, and keto is your strategy of choice, SAMBAZON’s pure, unsweetened Açaí products could be a great option to include in your diet.

Looking for more information about Açaí? Be sure to check out our blog on Pitaya vs Açaí to learn more!

Sources: 

Cleveland Clinic. Carbohydrates. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/15416-carbohydrates 

Harvard University College of Medicine. Diet review: Ketogenic Diet for Weight Loss. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/healthy-weight/diet-reviews/ketogenic-diet/ 

SAMBAZON. Pure Unsweetened Frozen açaí Packets. https://www.sambazon.com/products/pure-unsweetened-frozen-açaí -packets