As I was picking up produce at my local Dillon’s store the other day, I spotted these Bolthouse Farms products nestled among several other “healthy drinks”. Most of the other drinks on the shelf are laden with added sugar, so I normally skip on past them. However, I knew when I saw the word Keto, this product should be sugar free. I am not exactly a fan of Keto as I believe it is unnecessarily restrictive on carbohydrate consumption, but I do live my life entirely free of added sugars in my diet. Seeing this sugar free dark chocolate drink, I figured I would give it a try and report my findings to all my wonderful readers!

Taste

I really enjoyed the flavor of this drink. It was not too sweet and did not have any strong after tones you sometimes get with protein products. What I loved about this drink produced by Bolthouse Farms is it took me back to early childhood memories when my loving mother used to make us chocolate milk by using Hershey’s Cocoa Powder instead of store bought Nestles Quick. True to the name, this drink tastes like dark chocolate.

Viscosity/Texture

Besides a nice rich taste, this product has a silky smooth texture to it. This silky, smoothness would be derived from the coconut milk and coconut oil derived MCT oil. Yet, these ingredients do not impart any hint of coconut, thank God. I hate the flavor of coconut, however you can buy liquid coconut oils that have no flavor at all. I use a tablespoon of liquid coconut oil in my supplemental protein drinks on a daily basis.

What are MCT oils and why do I care?

MCT oil, is a medium chain triglyceride which has been shown to increase the release of two hormones that promote the feeling of fullness in the body: peptide YY and leptin. MCT oil has been found to even be better than coconut oil in keeping you full. One study found that people taking two tablespoons of MCT oil as part of their breakfast ended up eating less food for lunch compared to those taking coconut oil.

MCT oil has been dubbed a super fuel since your body absorbs MCTs more rapidly than long-chain triglycerides (LCTs), which contain more carbons in their fatty acid chains. Due to their shorter chain length, MCTs travel straight from the gut to the liver and do not require bile to break down like longer-chain fats do. In the liver, the fats are broken down to be either used as fuel or stored as body fat. Since MCTs easily enter your cells without being broken down, they can be used as an immediate source of energy.

MCT oil may reduce heart disease risk factors such as weight, cholesterol and inflammation. Adding it to your diet could help lower your risk of heart disease. I can say that since beginning the daily use of coconut oil which is a source of MCTs, my last three blood labs have come out with perfect readings. My cholesterol and triglycerides are all well within healthy levels and there is zero trace of inflammation in my 57 year old body.

Most people with type 2 diabetes are overweight or obese, which makes diabetes harder to manage. The use of MCT oil has been shown to help management of diabetes by reducing fat storage and increasing fat burning. It may also help you control your blood sugar.

It is important to note, this product contains 15 grams of protein and 280 calories with no added sugars. The 1 gram of sugar that is found is from the natural sugar within the ingredients. This amount is minimal to say the least.

Ingredients

Coconut Milk (Water, Coconut Cream), Milk Protein Isolate, Erythritol, Mct Oil (Medium Chain Triglycerides), Cocoa Powder (Processed With Alkali), Sunflower Lecithin, Natural Flavor, Dipotassium Phosphate, Carob Bean Gum, Gellan Gum, Sea Salt, Stevia Leaf Reb M.