Is X Keto? An Investigative Analysis of Ingredients and Carbs

The Ingredient Breakdown

When analyzing a product for the ketogenic diet, we look beyond the marketing claims and dive straight into the label. For X, the verdict is clear: the formulation relies on ingredients that are incompatible with strict low-carb living. Here is why we flagged specific components.

The primary red flag is maltodextrin. This is a highly processed starch derived from corn, rice, potatoes, or wheat. Despite often being labeled as zero sugar, it has a Glycemic Index (GI) that can be even higher than table sugar—sometimes reaching 110 on the scale. On keto, the goal is to keep insulin low, and flooding your system with maltodextrin does exactly the opposite. It is a fast-acting carbohydrate that will halt fat burning immediately.

We also see the use of sorbitol and poly-ethylenglykol (PEG). Sorbitol is a sugar alcohol that, while lower in calories than sugar, still contains about 2.6 calories per gram and can cause a slight insulin response in some individuals. More importantly, PEG is often used as a laxative or bulking agent. While it is technically a polymer and not a sugar, its inclusion suggests the product is designed more as a supplement or medication carrier than a nutritional food, and it can cause significant digestive distress.

Finally, the sweetener blend of aspartam (aspartame) and acesulfam-K is common in "diet" products. While these are technically zero-calorie, many keto practitioners avoid them due to potential inflammation and the fact that they can perpetuate sugar cravings. The presence of maltodextrin as a carrier for these sweeteners is the dealbreaker, rendering the product unsuitable for ketosis.

Nutritional Value

From a macronutrient perspective, X is deceptive. A single tablet contains Vitamin C, but the nutritional payload is overshadowed by the fillers required to make it. The maltodextrin content contributes to the total carbohydrate count, which is the only metric that matters on keto. Even if the label claims "0g sugar," the maltodextrin must be accounted for as a carb.

Because X is essentially a concentrated supplement tablet, the volume of intake is low, meaning the total carb count per serving might look small (e.g., 1g or 2g). However, on a strict keto diet (20g net carbs per day), wasting 2g on a product that actively fights ketosis via high-GI maltodextrin is poor allocation of resources. There are zero fats in this product, which is expected for a vitamin tablet, but it offers no satiety or energy benefits that align with a high-fat diet.