While most people who start a keto diet find that their indigestion heartburn dramatically eases, many keto beginners struggle for the first few weeks as their body gets into ketosis.
But if you have heartburn, are TUMS and other antacids allowed on a keto diet?
How Many Carbs Are In TUMS?
Well, the good news is that there are not many carbs in TUMS.
TUMS have between 0.5 and 1.45 grams of carbs in a single tablet. The lowest carb TUMS is the sugar-free type, and the highest carb TUMS is the larger ultra strength variety.
I created a table of the various types of TUMS below with their corresponding carbs per tablet.
| TUMS Type | Carbs/Tablet |
|---|---|
| TUMS Regular Strength 500 | 0.75 grams |
| TUMS Extra Strength 750 | 1.1 grams |
| TUMS Extra Strength Sugar-Free | 0.5 grams |
| TUMS Smoothies Extra Strength | 1.45 grams |
| TUMS Ultra Strength 1000 | 1.45 grams |
Is There Sugar In TUMS?
Some people find that even small amounts of sugar can trigger sweet cravings when they are starting a keto diet.
For this reason, I recommend that you completely avoid sugar for the first three weeks of keto.
All varieties of TUMS have one or more types of sugar, except for the TUMS Extra Strength Sugar-Free variety which has no sugar though it still has 0.5 grams of carbohydrates.
Are TUMS Gluten Free?
Gluten is another ingredient that can trigger cravings in some keto beginners. However, I have good news regarding TUMS.
All varieties of TUMS are Gluten Free.
Are TUMS Keto Friendly?
When we consider all of the facts about TUMS that we just learned we can come to a final decision about the product.
TUMS are keto friendly because they are very low carb. However, they most verities do contain small quantities of sugar which you may want to avoid when starting a keto diet. TUMS Sugar-Free is your best choice when on a keto diet.
Alternatives To TUMS And Other AntAcids?
In our house, we do keep TUMS around, but they are not our go-to solution for heartburn.
Instead we go a bit more old-school and natural.
Apple Cider Vinegar For Heartburn
I’m not going to sugar coat this…taking a shot of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) hurts. It burns like shooting bad booze.
However, it is the fastest and surest way I’ve found to douse heartburn. Within moments, my pain is gone regardless of what poor eating choice I made.
If you want to find out more about cheating on Keto, check out this article I wrote: Cheating On Keto & Getting Back Into Ketosis.
~Angela
You have a few options when taking ACV for heartburn.
#1 – Take A Shot Of Apple Cider Vinegar
This is the fastest and hardest method. But It works fast.
#2 – Water Apple Cider Vinegar Down And Shoot It
This makes it easier to get down, because it doesn’t burn as bad. However, it takes at least twice the shots to get a good amount and the relieve comes slower.
#3 – Add Apple Cider Vinegar To Water Or Tea
This is the easiest way and delivers the slowest relief from heartburn.
~Angela
