Is Cacao Essentials 100% Plant Based Shake Keto?

The Ingredient Breakdown

As a food scientist, I look at the source of carbohydrates just as closely as the total count. The primary reason this shake fails the keto test lies in its sweetening and protein choices. Let's look at the specific ingredients that cause issues for ketosis.

First, we have Organic Pea Protein. While pea protein is a fantastic plant-based source, it is not pure fat or fiber. Pea protein isolates naturally contain a small but significant amount of carbohydrates. Unlike whey protein isolate, which is virtually carb-free, pea protein usually carries 2 to 4 grams of net carbs per serving. In a keto diet where your daily limit is often 20 grams, this base level of carbs eats up a large chunk of your allowance immediately.

The bigger culprits, however, are the sweeteners. The label lists Organic Coconut Sugar and Organic Dates. Coconut sugar is often marketed as a 'healthier' sugar, but metabolically, it is high in sucrose. Sucrose spikes blood glucose and insulin, which is the exact opposite of what you want on keto. Dates are even more problematic; they are dried fruit with an extremely high concentration of fructose and glucose. Even a small amount of date powder or paste adds significant net carbs.

Finally, we have the Organic Almond Milk base. While almond milk is generally low carb, commercial blends often use a higher ratio of water to almonds. However, this isn't the main issue here. The combination of the pea protein, coconut sugar, dates, and even the Organic Hemp Seeds (which are healthy but contain polyunsaturated fats and some carbs) creates a nutritional profile that is simply too high in total carbohydrates to maintain a state of ketosis.

Nutritional Value

To understand why this product doesn't fit the keto diet, we have to look at the math. A standard keto diet limits net carbohydrates to roughly 20-50 grams per day. While the exact label values for this specific product aren't provided in the prompt, based on the ingredient density, we can estimate the carbohydrate load.

The presence of Organic Coconut Sugar and Organic Dates suggests a sugar content likely exceeding 8-10 grams per serving. When you combine added sugars with the natural carbohydrates found in Organic Pea Protein and Organic Hemp Seeds, the total carbohydrates likely land between 15g and 20g per serving.

For a keto dieter, consuming a single shake could utilize nearly an entire day's worth of carbohydrate allowance. This leaves no room for vegetables, nuts, or other foods necessary for a balanced diet. Furthermore, the calorie density is likely moderate, but because the energy comes largely from sugars and protein rather than healthy fats, it does not provide the 'fat fuel' required for the keto metabolic state (ketosis).