Is NextMilk Reduced Fat Keto?

The Ingredient Breakdown

As a food scientist, looking at the label of NextMilk Reduced Fat reveals a complex blend of plant-based ingredients designed to mimic dairy. However, for the keto diet, the source of carbohydrates is just as important as the quantity. The primary issue lies in the base ingredients: oatmilk (filtered water, oat concentrate) and cane sugar.

Oats are naturally high in starch. When processed into a concentrate, they provide a significant load of carbohydrates that are rapidly digested. While oats are a healthy whole grain for many diets, their glycemic impact is too high for ketosis. Furthermore, the addition of cane sugar is a definitive red flag. Keto relies on keeping insulin low, and pure sugar is the fastest way to spike it.

Additionally, chicory root extract is often used as a prebiotic fiber and sweetener. While chicory root fiber (inulin) is generally keto-approved, in a liquid product mixed with sugar and oat starch, it doesn't offset the total net carb load enough to make the drink safe for ketosis. The presence of soy protein isolate and coconut cream provides the protein and fat structure, but the carbohydrate fraction is the dealbreaker here.

Nutritional Value

When evaluating NextMilk Reduced Fat for a ketogenic lifestyle, we look at the macronutrient ratio. The 'Reduced Fat' label indicates that the fat content has been lowered, which is actually counter-intuitive for keto, a diet that requires high fat intake for fuel. However, the main concern is the carbohydrate count. A standard serving of this milk likely contains between 7 to 9 grams of carbohydrates per cup. On keto, the daily limit is often 20 grams or fewer.

Because the carbohydrates come from cane sugar and oat concentrate rather than fiber, the 'net carb' count remains high. This specific product does not fit the strict limits required to maintain nutritional ketosis. Even if the calorie count is lower than dairy milk, the metabolic response to the sugar content makes it unsuitable for this specific dietary protocol.