Intermittent fasting is one of the most popular diets at the moment. You can use it for weight loss, blood sugar management, autophagy, and more. Water, unsweetened tea, and black coffee are the 3 most common drinks that are completely safe while fasting. But let’s face it, sometimes you need a little extra boost of energy. You may find yourself looking at energy drinks and supplements, like Probiotics. Some contain sugar, some don’t, others have vitamins, others don’t. One such drink is Zipfizz. Will Zipfizz break a fast?
The answer depends on your fasting method and how many calories you can have during your fast. Most methods will ask you to stay below 1 calorie, others allow you to go up to 5 calories. There are other styles of fasting that look only at the number of carbs, requiring you to stay below 1-2 carbs during the fast. Zipfizz has 20 calories and 2 grams per serving. So for some of these methods, the number of calories will be way too high. Those that only look at carbs or the insulin response, could be more permissive.
Let’s take a closer look at Zipfizz, its effects on fasting, and when you can have it.
What is Zipfizz?
Zipfizz is a low-calorie energy powdered mix. It acts very quickly, giving you an energy boost in just 15-20 minutes from taking it. It also contains a lot of vitamins, that way you can easily reach and even go beyond your daily recommended values.
Its most famous form is the powdered mix, but it is also available in the form of a ‘shot’. Nutrition-wise, both forms are fairly similar. The shot is perceived as easier to take when you’re on the go, whereas the powder needs to be mixed with a bit of water.
One serving has 100 mg of caffeine. It also contains guarana seed extract, green tea leaf extract, grape seed extract and green coffee bean extract. In terms of vitamins and minerals, B12 is the main ingredient. You’ll also find vitamin A, C, E, magnesium, selenium, calcium, and zinc.
Will Zipfizz break a fast?
One Zipfizz serving has 20 kcals, 2 grams of carbs, and no sugar. So the first question you need to ask yourself is: does my fasting method allow me to have 20 kcals and 2 grams of carbs during a fast? If you answer no, then you have your answer. If calories aren’t such a big concern or if you are dirty fasting, then ZipFizz is ok.
If you’re fasting for autophagy or even gut rest, there’s sadly little research to give you a definitive answer. Coffee and vitamins are usually safe, but for some people, they stimulate the gut, so they would break a fast.
Remember that during a fast your body should be resting. Sure, this doesn’t mean you will be sleeping, you may be working or exercising, going about your day-to-day activities. What it does mean is that you should avoid over-stimulating it with energy drinks. One or two cups of coffee are ok but don’t make caffeine a staple. Same with energy drinks and supplements: do not make them a daily thing, you risk to be doing your body a disservice in the long run.
Does Zipfizz spike insulin?
Zipfizz is sweetened with Sucralose, an artificial sweetener with a glycemic index of zero. The glycemic index tells you how much impact a food will have on your blood sugar and insulin levels. Sucralose is at zero, so it should be good, right? Research is, sadly, mixed.
Some studies say Sucralose has no impact on blood sugar and insulin levels. Others, however, claim there is an undeniable impact. The conclusion to be drawn is that Sucralose does spike insulin in some people, but not in everyone. If you want to be on the safe side, avoid Zipfizz while fasting. Alternatively, you can try to monitor your levels at home before and after drinking it, to see the effect it has on your body.
Alternatives of Zipfizz while intermittent fasting
The main benefits people see when looking at Zipfizz are the caffeine, or the energy boost, the vitamins and minerals, and the electrolytes. The healthiest alternative, one that will not break your fast, is to have them all separately. Black coffee, which you can sweeten with a natural sweetener like stevia for instance, with a simple supplement of vitamins and minerals (like BCAA) will give you a healthy boost of energy.
Remember to stay hydrated, more than usual, to help your body get through the fast easier. Dehydration can often be perceived as hunger, but it can also come with fatigue and difficulty concentrating. Before reaching for an energy supplement, thinking you need a huge boost, make sure you’re truly hydrated!
When you need extra-hydration, for example after an intense workout, you can choose electrolytes, in a simple, unsweetened form, that won’t break your fast.
Effects of Zipfizz during a fast
Assuming your fasting method allows you to have the 20 kcals that come with Zipfizz, you’re probably wondering about its impacts. Zipfizz will certainly give you the energy boost it promises. Is that all beneficial? That varies from person to person.
Fasting puts your digestive tract in a more restful state, but it could also make you more sensitive to stimulants. That means that there’s a risk you’ll experience side effects like feeling restless and jittery. You may also experience increased anxiety and nervousness.
Will it curb your appetite? It might, but this isn’t its primary goal, so there’s no guarantee. It will certainly help you reach your daily recommended values for most vitamins, but because of the high values, it contains, the dose may prove to be too much in some rare cases.
The bottom line
Will Zipfizz break a fast? Yes, under most intermittent fasting methods it will, because one serving has 20 kcals and 2 grams of carbs. Even if your method allows it, remember energy supplements may not be the best during your fast, as they could make you restless, jittery, anxious, and even cause headaches. Water, 1-2 cups of black coffee or tea, and some vitamins are better replacements, with less artificial ingredients, and fewer calories.
For more information, make sure to watch this great video about ZipFizz:
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