Truly lemonade is a popular brand of flavored lemonade that is marketed as having no sugar. With the rise in popularity of low sugar and sugar-free beverages, many consumers are curious about whether Truly lemonade contains any sugar at all. In this 5000 word article, we will dive into the ingredients, nutrition facts, and sugar content of Truly lemonade to definitively answer the question: does Truly lemonade have sugar?
Truly Lemonade Ingredients
To understand if Truly lemonade contains sugar, we first need to look at the ingredients listed on the bottle. The main ingredients in Truly lemonade are:
- Filtered carbonated water
- Organic lemon juice concentrate
- Natural flavors
- Stevia leaf extract
- Citric acid
- Ascorbic acid
- Potassium citrate
- Potassium sorbate
- Niacin
The key ingredient to note is the stevia leaf extract. Stevia is a natural, plant-based sweetener that contains no sugar or calories. Truly uses stevia leaf extract to provide a sweet taste to the lemonade without adding any sugar.
Other sweetener ingredients like cane sugar, high fructose corn syrup, sucrose, dextrose, or maltose are noticeably absent. This analysis of the ingredients suggests that Truly lemonade does not contain added sugars. But we still need to look at the nutrition facts to get the full picture.
Truly Lemonade Nutrition Facts
Here are the nutrition facts for a 12 oz bottle of Truly Lemonade, according to the company’s website:
| Serving Size | 12 oz (355 ml) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 20 |
| Total Fat | 0 g |
| Sodium | 25 mg |
| Total Carbohydrates | 2 g |
| Total Sugars | 0 g |
| Protein | 0 g |
The key line here is that a 12 oz serving of Truly Lemonade contains 0g of sugar. This confirms that there are no added sugars like sucrose, glucose, dextrose, maltose, etc. in Truly Lemonade.
So how does it taste sweet if there is no sugar? The answer lies in the stevia leaf extract. Stevia provides a natural, sweet taste without any sugar or carbohydrates. This allows Truly Lemonade to be sweetened without affect its sugar and carb content.
Sugar Substitutes in Truly Lemonade
Since Truly Lemonade contains no added sugars, let’s take a closer look at the sugar substitute they use:
Stevia Leaf Extract
Stevia is extracted from the leaves of the stevia plant. It contains compounds called steviol glycosides that provide a sweet flavor 200-300 times sweeter than sugar. Stevia has been used for centuries as a natural sweetener in South America. Today, refined stevia extracts are commonly used as zero-calorie commercial sweeteners in beverages and foods.
Compared to other popular sugar substitutes like aspartame and sucralose, stevia is unique because it is derived from a plant rather than artificially created in a lab. It also does not break down at high temperatures, making it suitable for use in baked goods and cooking.
Stevia does not affect blood glucose levels and contains zero calories, so it has no effect on insulin or blood sugar. This makes stevia an ideal sugar substitute for diabetics and those following low-carb diets.
Overall, stevia provides Truly Lemonade with a sweet, sugar-like taste without adding any sugar, carbs, or calories. Stevia allows Truly to achieve the sweet lemonade flavor consumers love while keeping sugar content at zero.
Does Truly Lemonade Contain Natural Sugars?
Aside from added sugars like sucrose, high fructose corn syrup, etc., some beverages contain naturally occurring sugars from fruit juices and other ingredients. So does Truly Lemonade contain any naturally occurring sugars?
Let’s re-examine the nutrition facts:
| Total Carbohydrates | 2 g |
|---|---|
| Total Sugars | 0 g |
There are 2 grams of total carbohydrates but 0 grams of total sugar. This means there are trace amounts of naturally occurring sugars from the lemon juice concentrate, but not enough to register as 1 gram of sugar per serving.
These trace sugars from the lemon juice are included in the total carb count but do not provide a noticeable amount of sweetness. The stevia extract is responsible for making Truly Lemonade taste sweet.
So while there may be miniscule, residual natural sugars from the real lemon juice, they are present in non-detectable amounts that do not impact the zero-sugar claim. For all intents and purposes, Truly Lemonade contains no added or natural sugars.
Does Truly Lemonade Contain Artificial Sweeteners Besides Stevia?
Some consumers may be wary of artificial sweeteners like aspartame, sucralose, acesulfame potassium, etc. The good news is Truly Lemonade does not contain any artificial sweeteners other than stevia leaf extract.
Stevia leaf extract is the only sweetening ingredient. Truly does not use aspartame, sucralose, saccharin, neotame, or any other artificial sweetener to flavor their lemonade. They rely entirely on natural stevia to provide sweetness without sugar.
This makes Truly Lemonade a good option for those looking to avoid artificial sweeteners for health or dietary reasons. The stevia leaf extract offers natural, plant-based sweetness instead of synthetic chemical sweeteners.
Truly Lemonade Flavor Options
Truly Lemonade comes in a variety of delicious flavors, all sweetened with stevia instead of sugar. Here is an overview of the different Truly Lemonade flavors available:
Regular Lemonade
The classic lemonade option, made with real lemon juice and stevia for a sweetened lemon flavor. Each 12 oz serving contains just 20 calories and 0g sugar.
Blueberry Lemonade
Combines the sweet, tart lemonade taste with hints of blueberry. Thanks to stevia, it has only 20 calories and 0g of sugar per 12 oz.
Strawberry Lemonade
The perfect balance of sweet strawberry and zesty lemon flavors. Stevia allows for the sameNutrition Facts as regular Truly Lemonade.
Black Cherry Lemonade
A refreshing twist on lemonade with notes of ripe black cherry. The stevia leaf extract provides sweetness with no added cherry or sugar.
Mango Lemonade
Tropical mango flavor blended with traditional lemonade tartness. The mango adds natural fruit flavor while stevia sweetens it.
Raspberry Lemonade
Bursting with sweet, juicy raspberry taste and lemon zing. Thanks to stevia, it has zero sugar per serving.
Peach Lemonade
Sweet peach coupled with lemon makes this a sunny, summery flavor. Stevia allows the peach richness without added sugars.
So no matter which mouthwatering Truly Lemonade variety you choose, you can enjoy the sweet taste knowing it’s sweetened with stevia, not sugar.
Is Truly Lemonade Keto-Friendly?
The keto diet involves limiting carb intake to achieve ketosis for weight loss. Keto dieters must restrict sources of sugar and carbohydrates. This makes choosing beverages tricky since many contain hidden sugars.
With zero sugar and just 2 grams of total carbs, Truly Lemonade can fit into a keto eating plan. The small amount of carbs come from trace amounts of fruit juice rather than added sugars.
Here is a breakdown of why Truly Lemonade is keto-friendly:
- No added sugars or artificial sweeteners besides stevia
- Only 2 grams of carbs and 20 calories per serving
- Sweetened with stevia instead of high carb sweeteners
- Allows variety and flavor from fruit juices without added sugars
- Perfect for hydration and refreshment on a low-carb, low-sugar keto plan
Of course, moderation and accountability to daily macros are still important on keto. But Truly Lemonade can be an occasional low-carb, low-sugar beverage option for keto dieters.
Is Truly Lemonade Vegan?
For those following a vegan diet, it is important to ensure beverages do not contain any animal-derived ingredients. Since Truly Lemonade is sweetened with stevia instead of honey, it is 100% plant-based and aligned with a vegan lifestyle.
Here are the key reasons Truly Lemonade fits into a vegan diet:
- Only plant-based ingredients – no dairy, eggs, or animal products
- Stevia leaf extract instead of honey for sweetener
- No artificial colors or flavors that contain animal derivatives
- Free of any ingredients sourced from animals
- Provides flavor variety for vegans avoiding dairy products
- Perfectly aligned with a vegan, plant-based way of eating
Vegans can enjoy the many delicious Truly Lemonade flavors confidently knowing the entire product aligns with values of compassion for animals.
Truly Lemonade Certifications
Truly Lemonade meets several respected food certification standards related to its sugar-free, vegan, and non-GMO status:
- Certified Vegan – Truly Lemonade is certified vegan by BeVeg, meaning it contains absolutely no animal derived ingredients
- Non-GMO Project Verified – Truly Lemonade has third-party verification that its ingredients contain no genetically modified organisms (GMOs)
- Kosher – Truly Lemonade has kosher supervision to ensure it adheres to Jewish dietary regulations
- Gluten-Free – Truly Lemonade is certified gluten-free, making it safe for those with celiac disease or gluten intolerance
These certifications provide assurance that Truly Lemonade meets key dietary restrictions related to sugar, animal products, GMOs, religious needs, and allergies.
Truly Lemonade Sugar Content FAQs
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about the sugar content and sweetness of Truly Lemonade:
Does Truly Lemonade have added sugars?
No, Truly Lemonade does not contain any added sugars like sucrose, high fructose corn syrup, etc. It relies entirely on stevia leaf extract for a sweet taste.
Is Truly Lemonade naturally sugar free?
Yes, Truly Lemonade is naturally sugar free, thanks to its use of stevia leaf extract instead of added sugars. The stevia plant provides sweetness without sugar or calories.
Is stevia sugar free and calorie free?
Yes, stevia provides zero sugar or calories. It is 200-300 times sweeter than sugar thanks to its steviol glycosides but does not affect blood glucose.
Does Truly Lemonade have artificial sweeteners?
No artificial sweeteners besides stevia, which is plant-derived. Truly Lemonade has no chemical sweeteners like aspartame, acesulfame K, etc.
What makes Truly Lemonade sweet?
Stevia leaf extract provides the sweetness in Truly Lemonade without adding sugar or calories.
Is lemonade supposed to have sugar?
Traditional lemonade recipes do contain added sugar. But Truly Lemonade is sweetened instead with stevia leaf extract, allowing the sweet lemonade taste without sugar.
Is Truly Lemonade good for diabetics?
Yes, Truly Lemonade is an excellent choice for diabetics thanks to its zero sugar and low carb content. Stevia does not impact blood glucose, so Truly can be enjoyed without spiking blood sugar levels.
The Bottom Line – Truly Lemonade Has No Sugar
After reviewing the ingredients, nutrition facts, sweeteners, and certifications, we can definitively conclude that Truly Lemonade contains absolutely no sugar.
By using stevia leaf extract instead of added sugars or artificial sweeteners, Truly Lemonade achieves a delicious sweet lemonade taste with zero sugar, making it keto-friendly, vegan, low-calorie, and low-carb.
So for those looking to reduce sugar without sacrificing the flavor of refreshing lemonade, Truly Lemonade provides the perfect guilt-free, sugar-free solution. Thanks to stevia, you can have your lemonade and drink it too – without the added sugars!
