Is Tamale Keto-Friendly?

No, tamale is not keto-friendly. You’re best to cross this high-carbohydrate dish off your list of keto meals if you want to remain in the fat-burning state of ketosis. There are plenty of other keto-friendly dishes you can eat without spoiling your weight loss efforts.

Not Keto-Friendly

• Tamale is a traditional Mesoamerican dish made from corn. The high number of carbs immediately makes tamale unsuitable for your ketogenic diet. 100g of tamale has 23.5g of net carbs. Some people eat no more than 20g of net carbs throughout the day when following keto.
• Consuming high-carb foods will stall weight loss as it stops your body from burning fat. Carbs end the metabolic state of ketosis – the driver of fat loss.
• Low-carb foods are better options because you don’t have to worry about breaking ketosis.  

Moderate Amount of Fat

• Tamale has a fair amount of fat, with 7.21 grams per 100 grams. The fat content is a combination of saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fats. 
• These are good amounts of fat to include in your diet. The mono and polyunsaturated varieties can strengthen your heart health as they reduce levels of bad cholesterol in your bloodstream.
• Tamale’s fat content is not significant enough to fuel your body in ketosis. Moreover, the carb content is not worth the amount of fat it delivers. 
• You need to eat more low-carb, healthy fats like avocado, eggs, salmon, nuts, and chia seeds.

High in Carbs

• Tamale is a starchy dish because it is made from corn. The carbohydrate content further increases when you add ingredients like chili and refried black beans. 
• Skip the tamale on keto and prioritize cooking low-carb meals with good amounts of unsaturated fats and moderate protein.