Are Leeks Keto or Not?

If you are looking for unique foods that you might want to include in your diet, then you might be thinking about leeks. Leeks are similar to onions in taste even if they look totally different, but should you be including them in the keto diet? Leeks have a moderate number of carbohydrates, so you need to be careful with how much you consume. What should you know about leeks?

Leeks Nutritional Facts

If you take a look at the nutrition facts of leeks, you will see that a single cup of leeks has 12.6 grams of carbohydrates. This is a significant number, so you need to consume them in moderation. While it is highly unlikely that you will consume a whole cup of carbohydrates with your meal, even a third of a cup of leeks contains more than four grams of carbs. In addition, a single cup of leeks contains 54 calories, 0.3 grams of fat, and 1.3 grams of protein. Overall, leeks are a healthy food, but this does not necessarily mean you should consume them regularly if you are following the keto diet. 

Health Benefits of Leeks 

There are a number of significant health benefits that come with leeks. For example, they are relatively low in fat. Therefore, they could be a great option if you are looking to keep your weight under control. In addition, they are packed with a variety of vitamins and minerals as a whole, minimally processed food. You can lose weight and improve your overall health if you consume leeks regularly. Finally, leeks also contain a significant amount of vitamin K, which is important for the health of your blood. 

Best Keto Brands of Leeks 

When people purchase leeks, they usually purchase them off the shelf at the grocery store. They can be easily found in the produce section. At the same time, the nutrition facts of these leeks are going to be similar whether you go to Walmart, Target, Harris Teeter, or Food Lion. Therefore, you might be looking for other options aside from leeks.

Alternatives to Leeks

Fortunately, there are plenty of foods that taste like leeks that contain fewer carbs. For example, you might want to go with onions instead, as red onions, white onions, and green onions contain relatively few carbs. In particular, green onions only contain a single gram of carbs in a serving! Another nice alternative you might want to consider is olives, as they contain almost no carbs in a single serving. Even though the exact nutrition facts of olives can vary depending on the type of olives you consume, this could be a great option if you are looking for something to eat other than leeks. Think about going with these alternatives if you are trying to stick to the keto diet yet cannot eat as many leeks as you would like.