Keto Means
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Why no tomatoes on keto?

“If you're on keto, you should not be on a zero carbohydrate diet,” Keatley points out. “Tomatoes, which have carbohydrates, are low in sugar, have fiber, and, more importantly, have phytonutrients that you may be lacking on a strict keto diet.”

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There are some basic rules when it comes to following the keto diet. Fat and protein are good, while carbs and sugars are enemy No.1. And while fruit is generally considered a healthy food, it’s severely limited on keto thanks to its typical carb and sugar content.

That raises a huge question: What’s the deal with tomatoes? Technically, they’re a fruit, but pretty much everyone treats them like a vegetable. So, are tomatoes keto-friendly or not?

First, a quick primer on the keto diet…

Keto is short for ketogenic diet, which focuses on eating plenty of fats and minimal carbs. This gets your body into a state known as ketosis, where your body burns fat for energy, explains Scott Keatley, R.D., of Keatley Medical Nutrition Therapy.

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Everyone’s needs on keto are a little different but, in general, you want to aim to have 60 to 75 percent of your calories from fat, 15 to 30 percent of your calories from protein, and five to 10 percent of your calories from carbs. For keto fans, that usually means limiting your carb intake to less than 50 grams a day, although some people who are on the more hardcore end of keto try to have less than 20 grams of carbs a day.

So, are tomatoes keto?

Yup. “Tomatoes, which are technically a fruit, are keto-friendly,” Keatley says. Your standard tomatoes have four grams of carbs and two grams of sugar per half cup serving, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). However, the counts vary a little depending on the type of tomato you go for. Grape tomatoes contain three grams of carbs per half cup serving, while cherry tomatoes have six grams of carbs and four grams of sugar. Still, it shouldn’t be a biggie if this fits into your overall carb counts. “If you're on keto, you should not be on a zero carbohydrate diet,” Keatley points out. “Tomatoes, which have carbohydrates, are low in sugar, have fiber, and, more importantly, have phytonutrients that you may be lacking on a strict keto diet.” When it comes to eating tomatoes on the keto diet, Keatley recommends opting for whole tomatoes and skipping store-bought sauce (they can be loaded with added sugar, which is definitely not keto-friendly). For the record, you don’t need to worry that you’ll completely screw up your ketosis if you have a tomato (or two) on any given day. “You'd likely need to eat five to six medium tomatoes to upset the balance of carbohydrates,” Keatley says. Korin Miller Korin Miller is a freelance writer specializing in general wellness, sexual health and relationships, and lifestyle trends, with work appearing in Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Self, Glamour, and more. She has a master’s degree from American University, lives by the beach, and hopes to own a teacup pig and taco truck one day.

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Do tomatoes have a lot of sugar?

Tomatoes are not high in sugar, and neither are carrots. Tomatoes, similar to carrots, are considered a non-starchy vegetable in meal planning for diabetes. This means that the amount of naturally occurring sugar is minimal in a serving.

Answer:

Tomatoes often get a bad rap for having “too much sugar.” I hear this myth often in my diabetes education practice. Carrots are another vegetable that seems to suffer the same reputation. Tomatoes are not high in sugar, and neither are carrots. Tomatoes, similar to carrots, are considered a non-starchy vegetable in meal planning for diabetes. This means that the amount of naturally occurring sugar is minimal in a serving. A non-starchy vegetable serving is ½ cup cooked or 1 cup raw and contains approximately 2 grams of sugar and 4 grams of total carbohydrates (amount of starches and sugars added together). How does this compare to fruits and starchy vegetables like potatoes, corn, peas, and beans? A serving of a fruit or starchy vegetable, such as a small apple or ½ cup of beans, contains about 2 to 15 grams of sugar and 15 grams of total carbohydrate. In other words, non-starchy vegetables like tomatoes contain less sugar and carbohydrate. The total amount of carbohydrates in food affects glucose levels in people with diabetes. The bottom line is that tomatoes are not high in total carbohydrates or sugar and are an excellent source of B vitamins like folate, and vitamins A, C, E, and K. Non-starchy vegetables of all shapes, taste, and colors are a valuable part of meal planning for people with and without diabetes Meeting with a Registered Dietitian or Certified Diabetes Educator can help you get specific recommendations for meal-time amounts of total carbohydrates.

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