Are Atkins Shakes Keto? The Truth

‍If you’ve been to the grocery store recently, you’ve probably seen Atkins shakes. 

Atkins shakes are marketed as low–carb shakes for people trying to stay fit or lose weight. 

But you may be wondering if Atkins shakes are keto or not. 

In this article I’ll discuss how many carbs are in Atkins shakes & if they are keto or not.

What Are Atkins Shakes?

Atkins shakes are low–carb meal replacement shakes that are designed to help you lose weight. There are many flavors, and they come in both powder and concentrated liquid forms. The key ingredient in Atkins shakes is milk & soy protein, which provides the majority of calories.

When I first started keto, these were my go–tos when I wanted a nice shake that tasted like chocolate milk or a milky cappuccino.

But, Atkins is not the same as keto.

What Is Atkins?

Atkins is a high–protein, low–carbohydrate diet created by Dr. Robert Atkins in the 1970s. The Atkins diet is supposed to help you lose weight by increasing the amount of protein you eat and reducing your carb intake. The reason it’s high in protein is to keep you full so you don’t overeat.

The Atkins diet consists of eating mostly protein, some vegetables, and very few carbs. The diet is divided into four phases: 

• Induction 
• Ongoing Weight Loss
• Pre–Maintenance
• Lifetime Maintenance

These phases dictate what foods you can and cannot eat during each phase.

And the reason for eating low–carb is because when you eat fewer carbs, your body uses fat for energy instead.

Well than, isn’t Atkins the same as keto?

No, because the amount of protein you eat in Atkins would kick you out of ketosis.

But, just by eliminating carbs, even if you didn’t reach ketosis, you’d start losing weight because most of the foods that cause you to gain weight are high in carbs (pasta, pizza, cake, etc.)

And the shakes by Atkins are designed perfectly for Atkins because they’re low in carbs & high in protein.

What Are the Ingredients In Atkins Shakes?

The main ingredients in Atkins shakes are soy protein, whey protein, and various thickeners, vitamins, and minerals. 

The ingredients in Atkins shakes are not very different from other protein shakes. 

The main difference is that the carb content is lower than in other shakes.

Another difference is that Atkins shakes aren’t marketed to people who want to build muscle but for people who want to stay healthy or lose weight.

How Many Carbs Are In Atkins Shakes?

The carb content in these shakes varies according to flavor, but it’s normally between 1 – 4 grams. The shakes range from 6 – 8 total carbs per shake, but that’s including artificial sweeteners. When you remove artificial sweeteners & fiber, the net carb count is only 2 grams per shake.

Remember, the carb content would change if you make the shake from the powder form & don’t follow the instructions.

But, most people buy Atkins shakes from the pre–made form so they don’t need to worry about that.

Here’s the list of the net carbs in each flavor of Atkins shake:

• French Vanilla Shake––1g net carbs
• Atkins Plus Vanilla––1g net carbs
• Strawberry Shake––1g net carbs
• Cookies and Creme Shake––2g net carbs
• Cafe Caramel Shake––2g net carbs
• Dark Chocolate Royale Shake––2g net carbs
• Milk Chocolate Delight Shake––2g net carbs
• Atkins Plus Chocolate––2g net carbs
• Vanilla Cream Shake––3g net carbs
• Mocha Latte Shake––3g net carbs
• Creamy Chocolate Shake––3g net carbs
• Chocolate Banana Energy Shake––4g net carbs

As you can see, all of the flavors are low in carbs, so just go with the one that you like best.

And yes, I did go to Walmart & look at the carbs for each flavor 😉

Are Atkins Shakes Keto?

Since Atkins shakes only have 1 – 4 grams of net carbs per shake, they’re keto friendly. 

You can usually get a rough idea of how many carbs are in an Atkins shake by looking at the nutrition label on the container & then subtracting the fiber from the total carbs.

But, if you’re strict on eating no artificial sweeteners, remember that Atkins shakes have some artificial sweeteners.

What Are Atkins Shakes Sweetened With?

Atkins shakes are sweetened with acesulfame-potassium and sucralose. These two sweeteners haven’t been studied much on their impact on health, so we can’t be certain if Atkins shakes are healthy or not. But, as long as you only drink Atkins shakes every once in a while, you’ll probably be ok.

How Many Calories Are In Atkins Shakes?

Normal Atkins shakes have 160 calories per shake. Atkins Plus Shakes, the Atkins shake with more protein, has 190 calories. Both of these shakes are low in calories & great for people trying to satisfy their cravings without going overboard on the calories.

How Much Protein Is In Atkins Shakes?

Most Atkins shakes contain around 16 grams of protein per shake. But, if you’re looking for more protein, go with the Atkins Plus shakes that contain 30 grams of protein.

Both of these shakes are high in protein, but not too high to where it would kick you out of ketosis.

How Much Fat Is In Atkins Shakes?

Normal Atkins shakes contain around 9 grams of fat. But, Atkins Plus shakes contain only 5 grams of fat. So, if you’re looking to eat more fat, go with normal Atkins shakes. But, if you’re looking to eat more protein & less fat, go with Atkins Plus shakes.

How Many Carbs Are In Atkins Shakes?

Atkins shakes only have 1 to 4 grams of net carbs per shake. But, they do have artificial sweeteners & fiber which raises their total carb count to 6 – 8 grams per shake.

However, since net carbs are the only carbs that affect insulin, just track net carbs & forget about the high total carb count.

Should You Drink Atkins Shakes on Keto?

Drinking Atkins shakes on keto is ok, but eventually you should transition away from artificially sweetened products, like Atkins shakes. This is because artificial sweeteners have been shown to increase your sugar cravings, so it’s best to completely cut off sweet tasting foods.

But, if you’re just starting out, drinking Atkins shakes can help you to cope with your new low–carb reality.

I personally drank & ate artificially sweetened foods like bars, cookies, shakes, & ice cream for about 2 months.

But, after I got a hang of eating keto, I decided that I would quit my bad habit to all sweetened foods, whether it be through sugar or through artificial sweeteners.

FAQ

Now I’ll answer some of the most common questions that people have about Atkins shakes when they first start keto.

Are Atkins Shakes Healthy?

Yes, Atkins shakes are healthy. Atkins shakes are just made of protein powder, fat, thickeners, & artificial sweeteners. Compared to most other foods, they’re healthy. But, if you’re looking to eliminate processed foods or artificial sweeteners from your diet, then you should avoid Atkins shakes.

Should You Drink Atkins Shakes on Keto?

If you like the taste of Atkins shakes, and want to say full for longer, you should drink Atkins shakes, even if you’re on keto. They taste great & likely won’t kick you out ketosis since they don’t have that much protein.

Can You Drink Atkins Shakes Without Working Out?

Yes, you can drink Atkins shakes without working out. Aktins shakes help you to satisfy your cravings & stay full for longer, so you don’t need to workout to drink them. 

Are Atkins Shakes Good for Weight Loss?

Yes, Atkins shakes are good for weight loss. This is because they are low in carbs, and high in fat and protein. This helps you to stay full whilst losing weight.

How Much Fiber Is In Atkins Shakes?

Atkins shakes have 5 grams of fiber per shake. But, Atkins Plus shakes have around 8 grams of fiber per shake & more protein.

Are Atkins Shakes Ok for Diabetes?

Yes, Atkins shakes are ok for diabetics. The sweeteners in Atkins shakes, acesulfame-potassium and sucralose, haven’t been shown to raise your insulin that much. But, if you find that your insulin spikes when you drink Atkins shakes, stop drinking them.

Are Atkins Shakes Low–Carb?

Yes, Atkins shakes are low–carb. Atkins shakes only have 1 – 4 grams of net carbs per shake, so they’re great for anyone on a low carb diet.

Are Atkins Shakes Gluten–Free?

Yes, every Atkins shake is gluten–free. Atkins shakes don’t contain any grains, so they don’t contain any gluten. Atkins shakes have also passed the FDA’s test on whether a food product is gluten free or not.

Are Atkins Shakes Dairy–Free?

No, Atkins shakes aren’t dairy free. This is because the first ingredient in Atkins shakes is milk protein. So, if you’re looking for a dairy free alternative to Atkins shakes, look for a plant-based protein shake.

Are Atkins Shakes Vegetarian?

Yes, Atkins shakes are vegetarian. They don’t contain any meat protein or meat products.

Are Atkins Shakes Vegan?

No, Atkins aren’t vegan. This is because one of the first ingredients in Atkins shakes is milk protein. If you’re looking for a vegan alternative to Atkins shakes, search for a plant–based shake or protein powder.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Atkins shakes are great for people on low–carb diets who want to satisfy their cravings whilst still staying in ketosis. But, once you get the hang of eating keto, you should transition away from artificial sweeteners so you can end the bad habit of eating sweetened foods for dopamine & pleasure.

If you’re interested in learning how I lost over 40 pounds with keto & intermittent fasting, & what I would say to my past self if I was starting keto again, read this article.