Go Ahead, Have As Many Tomatoes As You Want on Keto (2024)

This fruit is perfectly keto-friendly.

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Go Ahead, Have As Many Tomatoes As You Want on Keto (1)

As far as health food goes, tomatoes are pretty amazing. They're refreshing, low-calorie (22 calories per medium whole tomato), and chock-full of vitamins and antioxidants like vitamin A, C, K, which are all crazy good for you. But we had to ask, are tomatoes actually keto-friendly?

Since tomatoes are so healthy, you would think they're perfect for the keto diet, right? Previously reported by Men's Health, lycopene, the phytochemical that makes tomatoes red, helps protect your prostate and reduce free radicals that cause skin damage and aging.

Even better, if you cook your tomatoes, their lycopene levels go up, so enjoying fresh tomato sauce, tomato paste, and even ketchup boosts its protective factors.

Japanese researchers also found that tomatoes can help break down lipids in the bloodstream, reducing the risk of vascular diseases like stroke and heart disease.

It'd be remiss to say that rumors haven't tried to slander the humble tomato's reputation. Some folks claim that fruits and vegetables in the nightshade family (like tomatoes) are actually bad for you and can cause inflammation, but that simply isn't true.

In a 2014 study from the Illinois Institute of Technology, subjects ate two meals: one containing tomatoes and another without. Researchers found that the subjects' inflammation levels were actually significantly lower after the tomato meal.

With all of that said, are tomatoes still safe to have on the keto diet? This is what one of our nutrition experts had to say.

Can you eat tomatoes on the keto diet?

"Tomatoes are keto," says Abby Langer, R.D., author of Good Food, Bad Diet. "They're low in carbs, so they fit perfectly into keto."

One whole medium tomato contains roughly 5 grams of carbohydrates, of which 1.5 grams are fiber and 3 grams are sugar.

Go Ahead, Have As Many Tomatoes As You Want on Keto (2)

If you're eating keto, your goal is to enter a state of ketosis (a fat-burning state kickstarted by reducing your protein and carb intake). In this case, only 10 percent of your calorie intake should comes from carbs, leaving you to 20 to 30 grams of carbs per day to stay in that state. One tomato is barely a quarter of that limit, so there's little to stress about.

Go ahead, have a tomato, or three.

Go Ahead, Have As Many Tomatoes As You Want on Keto (3)

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Go Ahead, Have As Many Tomatoes As You Want on Keto (2024)

FAQs

Go Ahead, Have As Many Tomatoes As You Want on Keto? ›

Yes, tomatoes are keto friendly in moderation.

How many tomatoes can I have on keto? ›

However, although tomatoes are technically a fruit, one medium-sized tomato (about 120 grams) contains only 4-5 grams of carbohydrates and only 3 grams of sugar, making it fine to include in a keto diet.

Why are tomatoes not allowed on keto? ›

Tomato-based products, such as sauces, juices, and canned tomatoes, may contain added sugars, making them less suitable for a ketogenic diet. Sundried tomatoes may also be considered less keto-friendly than their raw counterparts.

Can you eat tomatoes on a no carb diet? ›

Yep! Most raw tomatoes have less than 4 net carbs in a 100-gram (g) serving. So, you can totes eat tomatoes while on a keto or low carb diet. PSA: Some tomato products contain added sugars that can kick you out of ketosis.

Can you eat unlimited vegetables on keto? ›

You do not have to limit vegetables if you are on the keto diet or are considering it. Plenty of low-carb vegetable options include arugula, asparagus, bell peppers, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, kale, mushrooms, spinach, and tomatoes.

Can you overeat vegetables on keto? ›

“Even though all vegetables have health value, eating too much of some will likely push you over your carb limit.” Worried about their carb counts, some people avoid veggies altogether when they go keto.

Are cucumbers keto friendly? ›

Cucumber is another popular salad vegetable. It contains many essential nutrients, including vitamin K. Cucumber is also suitable for the keto diet, as its carb content is just 3.63 g per 100 g. To make the carb content lower, a person can peel the cucumber before eating it.

Are pickles keto friendly? ›

Luckily, pickles are keto friendly, especially those that are of the dill pickle variety, as sugar is low. “Simply put, sweet pickles are made with sugar which will automatically push the carb count up,” says Hultin. “Dill or salt pickles don't have the added sugar and carbs, naturally,” she says.

Can you eat salad on keto? ›

You can eat a variety of salads on keto, as long as they contain healthy fats and proteins and are low in carbs. Egg salad, grilled chicken salad, shrimp salad, cauliflower salad, arugula salad, cucumber salad, antipasto salad, Greek salad, Caprese salad, and spinach salad are just a few keto-friendly salads to enjoy.

Is cantaloupe good for keto diet? ›

Although its fiber content is nothing to boast about, with fewer than 2 g per cup, and it has close to 13 g of sugar, cantaloupe contains a reasonable amount of carbs per serving, which makes it a fit on most keto plans.

What fruit can I eat on keto? ›

Keto fruits by definition are low in carbohydrates. You still need to exercise portion control with most keto-friendly fruits to be within the limits of a keto diet. Keto-friendly fruits include avocados, watermelon, strawberries, lemons, tomatoes, raspberries, peaches, cantaloupe, star fruit, and blackberries.

Can I eat watermelon on keto? ›

“Watermelon is relatively low in carbs compared to other fruits,” says Yawitz, explaining that you can't stay in ketosis if you eat large amounts of it, or if you're getting too many carbs from other foods. “But in small amounts, watermelon can absolutely fit into a keto diet.”

What happens if you eat no carbs for a week? ›

Severe carb limits can cause your body to break down fat into ketones for energy. This is called ketosis. Ketosis can cause side effects such as bad breath, headache, fatigue and weakness. It's not clear what kind of possible long-term health risks a low-carb diet may pose.

Is sour cream keto? ›

Regular, full fat sour cream is made from cream and contains far more fat than carbs. Therefore, it's considered keto-friendly. However, low fat or nonfat sour cream is not. Full fat sour cream can provide some variety in a keto diet when used as a dip base or incorporated into recipes to boost the fat content.

How many tomatoes can you eat a day? ›

How many raw tomatoes should I eat per day? Eating tomatoes daily will provide you with many vitamins and minerals, but you'll still receive the benefits if you eat them less often. There is no recommended number of tomatoes to eat per day.

What vegetables are off limits on keto? ›

On the keto diet, you should restrict the consumption of starchy vegetables such as potatoes, yams, and corn.

Can I eat cucumbers on keto? ›

Cucumber is another popular salad vegetable. It contains many essential nutrients, including vitamin K. Cucumber is also suitable for the keto diet, as its carb content is just 3.63 g per 100 g. To make the carb content lower, a person can peel the cucumber before eating it.

How many tomatoes have carbs? ›

Carbs comprise 4% of raw tomatoes, which amounts to fewer than 5 grams of carbs for a medium specimen (123 grams). Simple sugars, such as glucose and fructose, make up almost 70% of the carb content.

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