How To Make a Healthier Lemonade or Limeade
Summary
Dr. Berg demonstrates how to make a keto-friendly lemonade or limeade using simple, low-sugar ingredients. The recipe replaces conventional sugar-sweetened lemonade with a healthier combination of real lemon or lime juice, water, and stevia. This drink is highlighted as particularly beneficial for those following a ketogenic diet who want to avoid kidney stones or gout.
Key Takeaways
- Skip the sugar — traditional lemonade made with sugar is the “wrong kind” and should be avoided
- Use real lemon or lime juice — organic options, including bottled organic juices, work well
- Sweeten with stevia — use liquid stevia (plain or lemon-flavored) instead of sugar
- Carbonated water is optional — sparkling water like Pellegrino or Perrier can be used, or simply filtered still water
- Lemon juice may help buffer oxalate formation — beneficial for reducing the risk of kidney stones and gout
- Compatible with ketogenic diet — this drink fits within a low-carb, keto lifestyle
Details
The Base Ingredients
Dr. Berg recommends building the drink from three core components:
- Water — either still filtered water or carbonated options like Pellegrino or Perrier
- Lemon or lime juice — he uses Italian Volcano organic lemon juice and organic lime juice sourced from a health food store; regular organic lemon juice also works
- Liquid stevia — clear unflavored or lemon-flavored liquid stevia drops
Preparation
- Add approximately 1–3 ounces of lemon or lime juice per serving, adjusting to taste (Dr. Berg personally prefers a stronger lemon flavor)
- Squeeze the stevia dropper in about halfway — roughly a moderate amount of drops
- Mix and serve — the result is a refreshing limeade or lemonade
Health Benefits
The drink is noted as especially useful for people on a ketogenic diet for two specific concerns:
- Kidney stones — lemon juice may help buffer and reduce the formation of oxalate stones, a known risk in some people following keto
- Gout — lemon and lime juice can help counteract this condition, which may also be a concern on a high-protein or ketogenic dietary approach
Context
The recipe was requested by a viewer from the South, where high-sugar lemonade consumption is common. The goal is to replicate the familiar lemonade experience without the harmful effects of added sugar.