What are Natural Flavors?
Natural flavors are derived from plants or animals. To be clear, “natural flavor” doesn’t usually refer to a single ingredient. Instead, it’s more like a cocktail — and what’s in this cocktail is largely up to the food manufacturer.
Keto Status?
Debatable
Why?
Many companies use synthetic solvents and preservatives in their flavor cocktails. The FDA is fairly lenient on this point, allowing an army of strange chemicals to lurk, unlisted, on the ingredient label. The health effects of these synthetic solvents and preservatives aren’t well understood. Also, flavor extracts derived from genetically modified organisms (GMOs) can also be listed as “natural flavors” on the label.
Possible Side Effect From Ingesting Natural Flavors?
It’s impossible to say, as we don’t know what is in the flavor cocktail. Better guidelines are needed from the FDA.
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PLEASE NOTE – I Heart Keto Mart will add more sources and up-to-date research articles as they come to our attention. We welcome any of our viewers to send us any information/research/articles that you think would be of interest to our rating decision. Keep in mind – we are not rating ingredients solely on their general health benefits or side effects. To see our rating process, click on the link below.
I Heart Keto Mart Rating Guide
I Heart Keto Mart rates all ingredients through a “keto diet” & “low carb diet” lens. As an example, peas would be rated as “Acceptable” on a non-keto healthy diet; however, due to their carbohydrate level, we rate them “Objectionable”. We also rate all sweeteners that typically cause a rise in blood sugar and insulin levels as “Objectionable”. If you prefer a natural sweetener, like honey, over a sugar alcohol like erythritol, you may not agree with our “Objectionable” rating. I Heart Keto Mart rates all ingredients based first and foremost for those that have a sugar/carbohydrate addiction. Ingredients are rated for those who must moderate if not completely abstain from any sugars. If you have questions about this, please refer to this article: Why Some Whole Foods Are Not Keto Friendly
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I Heart Keto Mart is not a health care provider. We are an online keto educational site that shares keto approved products and low carb products and defines and rates their ingredients. I Heart Keto Mart’s hope is that our viewers will educate themselves on “all things ingredients” so they can easily identify keto approved ingredients and eliminate or greatly restrict unacceptable keto ingredients. I Heart Keto Mart is the best online keto store and online low carb store with 1000s of products and an informative blog that shares keto articles and keto recipes, interviews keto coaches and keto product manufacturers and so much more. We are keto affiliates and each of the keto approved products we rate is linked to the vendor’s site where the product may be purchased. I Heart Keto Mart may earn a small commission from these sales. Amazon is one of these affiliates.