#hwc: issue 4

[bardic-tales]

9.18.2024: HCW: Issue #4: General & Romantic: Bianca Moore

I wanted to do one more post for Headcanon Wednesday. This is just a post that has a collection of headcanons that I kind of thought of along the years. These have been living rent free in my head.

I'm going to tag @sliceoflifeshepard for some Bianca general headcanons. @prehistoric-creatures for Sephiroth and Bia. :)

5 General Headcanons for Bianca Moore

Bianca often retreats into dreamscapes she creates, where she connects with lost souls and seeks guidance. These interactions ground her amidst the emotional chaos she experiences due to her corrupted powers.

Bianca's career as a romance novelist serves as a therapeutic outlet, helping her process the trauma of Shinra's experiments. Her stories are infused with themes of eternal love, and loss, mirroring her own journey with Sephiroth.

Bianca sees herself as an avenging force, compelled to deliver swift retribution against those who have betrayed her. Her relentless pursuit of vengeance intertwines with her devotion to Sephiroth, prioritizing power over compassion. For her, justice is about reclaiming control, punishing the deserving, rather than protecting the innocent.

Because of her celestial empathy, Bianca is highly sensitive to the emotions of others, which can overwhelm her. She’s learned to set emotional boundaries to avoid being consumed by the despair of others, but this also makes her appear distant or cold.

Bianca often gazes at the stars, feeling a profound connection to her lost home in the Celestial Realm. Each star represents a memory or a loved one she left behind, fueling her longing to return but also reminding her of the love she has for Sephiroth.

5 General Headcanons for Bianca and Sephiroth’s Relationship:

In combat, their synergy is flawless. Bianca’s spatial and reality-bending abilities complement Sephiroth’s prowess with the Masamune, creating a terrifying force that few can withstand. They rarely need to speak, understanding each other’s movements instinctively

While Bianca respects Sephiroth's authority and leadership, there are moments when her need for independence causes friction. She occasionally challenges his decisions, especially when she feels they harm their shared destiny.

Both Bianca and Sephiroth share the influence of Jenova, which strengthens a bond between them, but not their soul-bond. However, this shared connection can make their relationship volatile, as Jenova’s manipulations sometimes amplify their darker traits.

Trust is a core element in their relationship. Bianca gives Sephiroth control in many aspects of their lives together, but she draws the line when it comes to her autonomy, insisting on keeping her independence despite their deep connection.

While Bianca sees herself as an angel of retribution for Sephiroth, he has an unspoken need to protect her from harm, especially from those who might seek to manipulate or hurt her. Despite his cold demeanor, Sephiroth feels a deep responsibility to keep Bianca safe, even from herself at times.

They both share a sense of awe at each other’s power. While their relationship is founded on deep emotional ties, they find it thrilling to witness each other in combat or using their respective abilities. There’s a mutual admiration for the strength they bring out in one another.

5 Cute Headcanons for Bianca and Sephiroth:

One of their most cherished moments together is stargazing. Bianca enjoys using her celestial awareness to teach Sephiroth about the stars, creating constellations that represent their intertwined fates.

Sephiroth, with his long silver hair, often allows Bianca to braid it after a long day. It’s a quiet, intimate moment that allows her to express her affection in a tender, caring way.

Despite their often serious and intense relationship, Sephiroth has a special nickname for Bianca — “Dove” — a nod to her celestial origins. In turn, she calls him “her Silvered god.”

Bianca tries to cook for Sephiroth as a way of showing her love, though she’s not the best in the kitchen. The results are often hilariously bad, with Sephiroth giving a rare smirk as she apologizes for burning their meals.

After their battles or moments of intense emotion, Sephiroth will silently reach for Bianca’s hand, and they’ll spend hours just sitting together, feeling each other's presence. It’s one of the few times they can let their guard down and simply be vulnerable with one another.

For more Headcanon Wednesday answers centered on Fantasy Worlds Collide, please see the tag hcw: fwc.

[handlewithcarezine]

HANDLE WITH CARE VOL. 3 — CALL FOR ARTISTS

Handle With Care zine is now seeking artists for the next volume! We are looking for about 20 artists for this edition.

Important information, boundaries, and legal stuff:

Submission deadline for Vol 3. is January 8th, 2025. If you are accepted but unable to make the deadline for whatever reason, please communicate with us! We are more than willing to be accommodating and figure something out.

The zine's physical dimension will be 6 inches wide, 8 inches tall (15,24 cm by 20,32 cm). Submissions should be in 300 DPI.

The loose theming of Vol 3. is Advertisements and posters. This theme is not strict and does not affect piece submission, but it will guide how we structure the zine as well as guide the aesthetics of the front cover and non-submission pages such as the table of contents and credits section. Feel free to go big and go bold with this theme, if you choose to engage with it! Show off your love, make the piece you would love to hang on your apartment walls!

Visual artists are welcome to submit an additional one-page written accompaniment to their visual artwork if they would like. Fully written works are currently capped to a maximum of five pages, though this may be adjusted once we have a rough idea what people are submitting.

Handle With Care is meant to celebrate raw objectum emotion and experiences, and meant to give these emotions a physical place in the world. We do not have a minimum skill level as a result.

However, we reserve the right to reject or ask for revisions on any submissions that make us uncomfortable, including any romantic depiction of an object that resembles a realistic feral animal or a human child. This zine is printed through a government-owned printing press. If your submission can be misconstrued as something far more concerning than just objectum sexuality by people who are not familiar with the community, it will be rejected for the peace of mind of everyone involved.

HWC is also strictly safe for work. Non-sexual nudity is allowed, although if it crosses a line we may ask for revisions.

All participants must be at least 18. Legal issues with using a minor's work and all that. Minors will be booted off the HWC discord, sorry! You are welcome to enter when you'll be legally an adult.

AI-generated submissions are also currently not allowed. We want to see work straight from objectum artists, not an objectum middleman commissioning ChatGPT for free and taking the credit.

HWC is non-profit. Physical copies are sold only to break even on printing and shipping. Any profit from donations will be re-invested in the zine or split evenly between all contributors.

Artists will retain all rights to their individual work, including copyright and being able to resell it. The zine owner (Ross Gillesby, in this case) is allowed to sell the pieces only in the bundle of the entire zine and not individually, and will not own any copyright to those pieces.

Zine organization and communication is done through a Discord server. If you are interested in submitting something for Handle With Care Vol. 3, please DM this tumblr or email gillesbyross@gmail.com with:

What are you thinking of submitting? If it's a written work, how many pages do you estimate you'll need?

2. Social media or some other way to verify you are not a troll

We already have a cover artist. We currently have an artist maximum of 20 to 25. If there is no more room by the time you send in an application, we will put you on a priority list for Vol. 4.

We're very excited to work on a third volume of the zine!

-Ross and Crispy

[thewomenswellnesscoach041]

7 Simple Secrets to Totally Rocking Your pregnancy and postnatal

Examine This Report on Wellness Coaching - Skidmore College

Training accreditations highlight a trio of skillsin behavioral, dietary and physical trainingthat can holistically treat those struggling with bad health. Why do experts believe health training can help, and how does it connect to you as an existing or aspiring physical fitness pro? Health coaches and coaching specialists share their perspectives.

Bryant, PhD, FACSM, primary science officer for the American Council on Workout, who is based in Redmond, Washington. "There's a shift in focus from, 'I'm the expert to resolve issues' to, 'Let's you and I go on the journey together to assist you change your life.'"Richard Cotton, MA, nationwide director of accreditation and pc registry programs for the American College of Sports Medication, thinks that wellness training is an essential new occupation.

"Training includes support techniques into. services that depend on behavior change in order to attain positive results."Health coaching is really not new. For example, considering that 2002 Wellcoaches School of Coaching has actually been focused on assisting health professionals find out master coaching skills in collaboration with the American College of Sports Medication and now the American College of Way of life Medication, states Kate Larsen, MCC, a veteran physical fitness professional and executive coach in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, who is a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC), and a professor for Wellcoaches.

"I believe you're visiting growing acceptance of behavior-change interventionists (i.e., health coaches) as part of the healthcare team," says Bryant. Leigh-Ann Webster, the executive director of the International Consortium for Health & Wellness Coaching, agrees. "With the arrival of National Board Accreditation for Health & Wellness Coaches, I prepare for substantial growth over the next 45 years in the variety of certified people who supply health and wellness training services."The number of coaches exist currently? Bryant approximates there are almost 6,000 ACE-certified health coaches.

Wellness Coaching - Riverview Health Things To Know Before You Get This

Over 1,000 health and wellness coaches just passed the brand-new National Board Accreditation for Health & Wellness Coaches. Health coaching helps customers attain health-related objectives, with a focus on areas such as habits change, exercise and nutrition, according to Natalie Digate Muth, MD, Miles Per Hour, RD, FAAP, a neighborhood pediatrician, registered dietitian and ACE senior consultant for healthcare solutions, in the San Diego location.

For example, the ACE Health Coach accreditation consists of subjects such as training psychology, weight management psychology, the physiology of obesity, methods for way of life coaching, and advancement of workout programs. Topics in the Wellcoaches training program consist of core training abilities like favorable psychology, mindfulness, active listening, open inquiry and observant reflections; transtheoretical modeling in coaching; coaching systems of action (including neurobiology); and coaching practice.

With a background in exercise understanding and shown capability to work with customers, fitness prosespecially personal trainersare a natural fit to become health coaches. We understand people need health coaches to aid with behavior modification, but why would you want to end up being a health coach? "Health and wellness training is a natural career for fitness instructors 45 and older," states Moore.

Most customers of health coaches are over 40. It's more difficult for a more youthful individual to navigate the complexity of the life of fully grown clients."Moore states fitness pros who end up being health coaches can get jobs in places like business wellness, clinical settings, neighborhood settings, health spas and gym. Or they can enter into private practice.

Working At Wellness Coaches: Employee Reviews - Indeed.com Can Be Fun For Everyone

"Individual trainers can broaden their current service with their own clients," Bryant states. "In addition to offering personal training, they can likewise satisfy with their folks personally or on the phone to concentrate on the broader health-coaching activities. So they can work more frequently within their existing client base." The regularly you link with your client base, the greater your chances of retention, he states.

Package also work well, states Sue D'Alonso, ACSM-certified individual fitness instructor and ACE-certified health coach. "Numerous brand-new customers want both services," states D'Alonso, owner of SueD-Fit, in Pinole, California. "I provide 30 minutes of training and 15 minutes of health coaching. I typically work on health training with customers for 1225 weeks, depending on the requirements, commitment and stage of preparedness." Ellen Goldman, Medication, a National Board Licensed Health and Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC) and Wellcoaches-certified professional health and wellness coach, developed a worker wellness program for a small-sized corporation, where she works 4 times a year cycling all the staff members through coaching, in addition to present Lunch & Learns four times a year.

Health coaching can occur by phone, permitting you to reach clients beyond your own area. For instance, Lee Jordan, ACE-certified health coach, individual fitness instructor and co-owner of Fullest Residing in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, works with overweight customers as a health coach. "They pay a monthly charge, and I link with them via phone and text messaging," he states.

[iasshikshalove]

Daily Current Affairs 06th April 2020

Today’s  Important  Topic’s  For UPSC Preparation

1.  TESTS, TREATMENT FREE UNDER AYUSHMAN BHARAT.2. LOOK INTO ISSUE OF PAROLE FOR PSA CASES: J&K HC.3. INDIA BANS EXPORT OF HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE.4. PENCH TIGER DEATH RAISES COVID FEARS.5. NEWYORK ZOO TIGER TESTS POSITIVE FOR VIRUS.

TESTS, TREATMENT FREE UNDER AYUSHMAN BHARATAyushman Bharat Scheme:

The Ayushman Bharat Scheme was launched in 2018 to address health issues at all levels – primary, secondary and tertiary. It has two components:

Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), earlier known as the National Health Protection Scheme (NHPS)

Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs)

Ayushman Bharat is National Health Protection Scheme, which will cover over 10 crore poor and vulnerable families (approximately 50 crore beneficiaries).

Providing coverage upto 5 lakh rupees per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization.

Ayushman Bharat – National Health Protection Mission will subsume the on-going centrally sponsored schemes –

Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) and

The Senior Citizen Health Insurance Scheme (SCHIS).

Salient Features:

Benefits of the scheme are portable across the country and a beneficiary covered under the scheme will be allowed to take cashless benefits from any public/private empanelled hospitals across the country.

The beneficiaries can avail benefits in both public and empanelled private facilities.

To control costs, the payments for treatment will be done on package rate (to be defined by the Government in advance) basis.

One of the core principles of Ayushman Bharat – National Health Protection Mission is to co-operative federalism and flexibility to states.

For giving policy directions and fostering coordination between Centre and States, it is proposed to set up Ayushman Bharat National Health Protection Mission Council (AB-NHPMC) at apex level Chaired by Union Health and Family Welfare Minister.

States would need to have State Health Agency (SHA) to implement the scheme.

To ensure that the funds reach SHA on time, the transfer of funds from Central Government through Ayushman Bharat – National Health Protection Mission to State Health Agencies may be done through an escrow account directly.

In partnership with NITI Aayog, a robust, modular, scalable and interoperable IT platform will be made operational which will entail a paperless, cashless transaction.

Major Impact:

Ayushman Bharat – National Health Protection Mission will have major impact on reduction of Out of Pocket (OOP) expenditure on ground of:

Increased benefit cover to nearly 40% of the population, (the poorest & the vulnerable)

Covering almost all secondary and many tertiary hospitalizations. (except a negative list)

Coverage of 5 lakh for each family, (no restriction of family size)

This will lead to increased access to quality health and medication.

In addition, the unmet needs of the population which remained hidden due to lack of financial resources will be catered to.

STATES/DISTRICTS COVERED:

Ayushman Bharat – National Health Protection Mission will be rolled out across all States/UTs in all districts with an objective to cover all the targeted beneficiaries.

Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY):

It was launched as the National Health Protection Mission and renamed later.

It is the largest government-funded health insurance scheme in the world.

The scheme offers eligible families an insurance cover of Rs. 5 lakh per annum per family.

This amount is intended to cover all secondary and most tertiary care expenditure incurred.

There is no cap on family size and age under the scheme, to ensure that nobody is left behind.

The cover will include pre and post hospitalisation expenses. It will also cover all pre-existing conditions.

Components of treatment covered under the scheme:

The beneficiary will also receive a defined transport allowance per hospital.

3 days of pre-hospitalisation and 15 days of post-hospitalisation like medicines and diagnostics are covered.

Medical examination, consultation and treatment

Medical consumables and medicines

Intensive and non-intensive care services

Medical implant services

Lab and diagnostic investigations

Complications arising out of treatment

Accommodation benefits and food services

Why in News?

The Central government has decided to provide free testing and treatment of COVID-19 under the Ayushman Bharat Scheme.

This, it notes, will help more than 50 crore Ayushman beneficiaries to get free testing and treatment in designated private hospitals across India.

Confirming this, Indu Bhushan, CEO of Ayushman Bharat, said this would allow beneficiaries to get timely and standard treatment.

Giving details, Dr. Bhushan said: “The empanelled hospitals can use their own authorised testing facilities or tie up with an authorised testing facility for the scheme.

These tests would be carried out as per the protocol set by Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) and by private labs approved/registered by the ICMR.

Similarly, treatment of COVID-19 by private hospitals will be covered under AB-PMJAY.”

Private Sector:

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said that “in this unprecedented crisis we have to very actively involve the private sector as a key partner and stakeholder in the fight against COVID-19.

Making testing and treatment available under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY will significantly expand our capacities by including private sector hospitals and labs and mitigate the adverse impact of this catastrophic illness on the poor.

He added that States were in the process of enlisting private sector hospitals that could be converted into COVID-19 only hospitals.

LOOK INTO ISSUE OF PAROLE FOR PSA CASES: J&K HC

The J&K High Court has asked the High Powered Committee (HPC), convened to de-congest jails by releasing prisoners on parole in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, to examine the allegations that no detainee booked under the Public Safety Act (PSA) was being considered for any parole.

Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Rajnesh Oswal passed these orders on Saturday while hearing a Public Interest Litigation on the COVID-19 outbreak and the response given by the J&K administration.

“Let the rules be urgently implemented and steps for grant of special parole to prisoners as is envisaged therein be taken on priority,” observed the division Bench.

The direction came after advocate Pirzada informed the court that the HPC has overlooked the aspect of detenus who have been detained under the PSA.

“The order of the Supreme Court makes a reference only to prisoners without specifying the provision of law under which they may have been imprisoned.”

In his letter, Mr. Pirzada said, “There were indications that there was vulnerability [of catching the virus] in jails in the context of health, hygiene and sanitation.

There is a sizeable number of detainees detained under the PSA and are equally exposed to the hazards of the viral disease in J&K and outside jails.”

Public Safety Act:

The Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act, 1978(PSA) is a preventive detention law under which a person is taken into custody to prevent them from acting harmfully against “the security of the state or the maintenance of the public order” in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir (now a union territory).

The Public Safety Act, 1978 of Jammu and Kashmir is a defensive detention law that allows taking a person into custody to prevent him or her from acting in any matter that is prejudicial to “the security of the state or the maintenance of the public order”.

Under the act, a person can be held for 2 years without trial and they need not be produced before a court.  

A similar act called the National Security Act (NSA) is used by the other state governments for preventive detention.

Any person can be booked under PSA when an administrative order passed either by Divisional Commissioner (DC) or the District Magistrate (DM).

Any detention under this act can’t be made under the order by police based on specific allegations or for a specific violation of laws.

[healthyeating43-blog]

Keto Myths, My Starbucks Keto Iced Coffee & Maltodextrin Hype vs Truth

New Post has been published on https://dietguideto.com/awesome/keto-myths-my-starbucks-keto-iced-coffee-maltodextrin-hype-vs-truth/

Keto Myths, My Starbucks Keto Iced Coffee & Maltodextrin Hype vs Truth

Every time I share a picture of my Starbucks keto iced coffee, there’s a flurry of “that’s not keto!” comments mixed with concerned questions…

Specifically about the maltodextrin in (some) Starbucks sugar free syrups, and whether that kicks you out of ketosis or spikes your insulin worse than sugar.

Today I want to clear that up.

Keto Myths & Maltodextrin Hype

There are many “keto myths” floating around the web, getting repeated countless times without any real proof. People speak on keto like this or that is a hard fact, without anything to back it up other than “I heard…”

Then there’s also the source they heard it from, and the facts (truths) – as well as the facts that are NOT shared in those sources.

I’ll share an example on that so you can see what I mean, which should help you make more informed decisions (and do further research yourself) in the future.

For this post I’m using maltodextrin and my Starbucks order as an example as just one of many common “keto scares.” But what you’ll learn here can help you understand (or better research) similar “hot topics” in the keto community.

The big thing you’ll always hear about anything that contains maltodextrin (and thats A LOT of things!) is that it’s glycemic index is almost twice as high as sugar, and that it will spike your blood sugar through the roof.

You’ll learn what maltodextrin IS and reasons you may want to avoid it, which of the Starbucks sugar-free syrups have maltodextrin and which do not, why people say maltodextrin is “not keto” and more.

You’ll also get to see my blood sugar results – where I tested it on myself.

I’ll give you everything you need to know to decide for yourself…

What IS Maltodextrin?

Maltodextrin is basically just an additive. It’s used as a preservative, a thickener and a filler. It’s also used as a carrier, to add other ingredients to products.

It’s in A LOT of products such as: vitamins, baby formula, beer, beef jerky, medicines, protein bars & shakes, dressings, electrolyte drink mixes, sodas, you name it – you’ll often find it in STEVIA even.

You’ve been consuming and using maltodextrin ALL your life, so it’s nothing new since you went keto. It’s even in personal care products like lotion, shampoo, etc.

There are plenty of reasons NOT to love Maltodextrin but you should make your decision based on ALL the facts. And that decision can be personal to you.

It truly is JUST a preference, not a “keto rule.”

What you’ll often hear in keto communities is maltodextrin is “worse than sugar” – meaning the glycemic index is higher than sugar. The last part is true.

Dr. Eric Berg says maltodextrin is “very severe on your blood sugar” in this video. In another video he says “so if it’s that high on the glycemic index, it’s creating a MASSIVE SURGE in your blood sugar when you consume it.”

I don’t disagree with most of the points in his video, only two of them. First, maltodextrin IS gluten free even when it’s made from wheat: “the processing that wheat starches undergo in the creation of maltodextrin renders it gluten-free.” –source

I also disagree with his comment: “so if it’s that high on the glycemic index, it’s creating a MASSIVE SURGE in your blood sugar when you consume it.”

I’ll explain why. Because I love Dr. Berg and his work.

I’m not saying Maltodextrin is great or even good or that there aren’t reasons you may choose to avoid foods that contain it.

I’ll share all the details with you, then that’s a decision you can make for yourself.

Maltodextrin vs Sugar

(The BIG Point Nobody Mentions!)

The fact that most people are leaving out of their argument that maltodextrin IS THE DEVIL is that there is such a SMALL amount of it in any one serving or any one food or drink you may consume – so you are NOT consuming equal amounts of sugar and maltodextrin, EVER.

That is the (huge) point nobody ever explains.

You simply cannot compare maltodextrin and sugar in that way, as if they are equal, because it would be a highly RARE case that you are consuming more than a TINY amount of maltodextrin – a trace amount, really.

Consider drinking a Starbucks iced coffee with regular vanilla syrup vs sugar-free vanilla syrup. The grams of sugar in a regular sweetened iced coffee vs the grams of maltodextrin in a sugar-free iced coffee are not even comparable.

Let’s look at a real-life example…

Starbucks Iced Coffee is served “lightly sweetened” by default, but is not AT ALL sweet so you would never know it. The classic syrup (sugar water) they add by default has 30 grams of sugar in a 24oz Venti Iced Coffee.

If you add 4 pumps of regular vanilla syrup (not sugar free) to your iced coffee, that’s 20 grams of sugar per tbsp – assuming a pump is a tbsp. When you include the Classic Syrup (30 grams of sugar) you have a total of 110 grams of sugar in a Venti iced coffee with 4 pumps of vanilla syrup.

We’ll use this comparison because the Starbucks sugar-free vanilla syrup has maltodextrin in it.

Compare that to what I would order: a Venti iced coffee with “no classic syrup” (without the sugar water) and 4 pumps of sugar-free vanilla syrup.

Even if you counted 1 carb per pump (some people do, some don’t), that comes to 4 carbs vs 110 carbs.

Again: 20 grams of sugar per pump of regular vanilla syrup, or 20 carbs vs 1 carb per pump of sugar-free vanilla syrup.

See the difference?!

Obviously you are NOT consuming equal amounts of sugar and maltodextrin.

That’s the point no one mentions when they say maltodextrin has a higher glycemic index than sugar. I can’t personally think of a situation on a keto diet where you would consume more than a tiny amount of maltodextrin – and certainly never comparable to the amount of sugar in a high carb version of the same food or drink.

Further down you’ll see that Starbucks lists their sugar free syrups as ZERO carbs per 2 TBSP serving on the nutrition facts label. So I’m not sure who started the rumor that they were 1 carb per pump. Or maybe it’s a round up / round down issue. I have no idea. But I doubt the total carb count of the sugar free syrup (whatever it is) is from the maltodextrin alone, which again – is a trace amount.

Still, in that tiny amount…

Does maltodextrin cause a “MASSIVE SURGE” in your blood sugar?

That’s what I set out to test…

My Starbucks Keto Iced Coffee Order

The photo above was an iced coffee I had from Starbucks this week. I had two actually because I was in the city several days this week. I only have them now and then, it’s not a daily thing just a treat, because I don’t have a Starbucks where I live.

First, you should know: my coffee order is SWEET and it’s HUGE.

I sip on it most of the day and rarely ever finish one in a day. I’ll stick it in the refrigerator and finish it the next day most of the time, even.

That amount of heavy cream usually makes me feel full too, so I eat less on the days I have it. It almost serves as a meal replacement! It has about the same amount of calories as a BPC or fatty coffee, depending on the amount of cream you ask for.

Here’s what I order – and this is how I say it:

Trenta Iced Coffee no classic syrup 5 pumps of sugar free cinnamon dolce 4 pumps of sugar free vanilla and heavy whipping cream – only about 1/3 cup please

I usually say that with my fingers showing I mean 1/3 cup – not one third of THE cup. If I don’t specify the 1/3 cup of heavy cream, I log it as at least half a cup. They can get pretty heavy handed with the cream for my taste.

I’ll show you how I log it (carb count, etc) further down too…

For the purpose of my blood glucose / blood ketone test on this Starbucks iced coffee order (to see if it’s REALLY keto friendly), I ordered a smaller size (24oz vs 31oz) with the same amount of ingredients:

I did that because I wanted to be able to drink the entire thing in under an hour, like I would guess most people do – instead of sipping on it throughout the day.

I’ve been drinking that same Starbucks order over the last year with NO problem, and with my ketone levels holding steady, but for this test I wanted to consume it all at once.

I got one and stuck it in the fridge so I could do this testing at home the next day.

Let me just say… THIS tasted super sweet, more like a milkshake.

I would not normally get this much sweetener in a smaller iced coffee like this, but I wanted to really put this “maltodextrin” issue in the sugar free vanilla to the test.

If that iced coffee had NOT been ordered sugar free and with no classic syrup, it would have been 210 grams of sugar – plus 3.2 carbs for the heavy cream – for a total of 213.2 carbs.

I didn’t order this coffee, a friend brought it to me so I could do this test, so I definitely logged this one with half a cup of HWC (3.2 carbs) vs my usual 1/3 cup request (2.1 carbs).

Again, I’ll show you how I log it below, but even if you DID count 1 carb per pump of sugar free vanilla (the one with maltodextrin), that would come to 4 + 3.2 for a total of 7.2 carbs. I don’t log the syrups because they have zero nutritional value (no carbs, no calories), so I only log the HWC in my daily macro tracking.

On the high end, for the people DO that log EVERY pump as one carb, my order would be 12.2 carbs. Still nowhere near the 213.2 carbs for a NON sugar free version, or the 210 grams of sugar.

Let’s dive into the test results…

Does Maltodextrin REALLY Spike Your Blood Sugar?

The image above is my starting numbers for this test: my glucose and ketone levels before I drank the keto Starbucks iced coffee.

My glucose seemed a little high to start at 99. My baseline is around 85. My ketone levels were my normal level (1.3) for that time of day.

I use the Keto Mojo Blood Glucose & Ketone Testing Kit and that link will get you 15% off. If you want to learn more about it, here’s where I did a VERY enlightening video interview with the founder of Keto Mojo.

For the purpose of this “keto test” I drank the ENTIRE 24 ounce Starbucks iced coffee within 30 minutes.

This one was sweeter than my usual order (a smaller cup with the same amount of cream & sugar free syrups) – so it basically tasted like a MILKSHAKE.

I wanted to really put that “maltodextrin creates a MASSIVE SURGE in your blood sugar when you consume it” comment to the test.

30 minutes after drinking the entire coffee, I tested again:

As you can see, my blood sugar actually came DOWN.

My ketone levels dropped slightly too, but that’s not unusual as they fluctuate throughout the day and before/after you eat. I was still IN KETOSIS at 0.9 and my blood sugar did NOT spike. The opposite actually.

I tested again one full hour after having the coffee:

The result…

The Starbucks Iced Coffee is keto friendly. No question.

4 full pumps of sugar free vanilla syrup with maltodextrin did NOTHING to my blood sugar levels. Zilch – no impact.

So there ya go.

You may still want to avoid maltodextrin for your own personal reasons, which is totally fine. I did a little homework for you – so you know which syrups to NOT choose at Starbucks if that’s your preference…

Starbucks Sugar Free Syrups & Maltodextrin

Starbucks used to offer more sugar free syrup flavors, but right now it seems that at most locations you can only get sugar free vanilla or sugar free cinnamon dolce.

The sugar free vanilla DOES contain maltodextrin, and the sugar free cinnamon dolce does NOT.

Here are the Sugar Free Syrups that are currently available year round:

Sugar Free Vanilla contains maltodextrin Sugar Free Hazelnut contains maltodextrin Sugar Free Cinnamon Dolce does NOT contain maltodextrin

If you click each link, you can view the labels and nutrition facts.

ALL of them say ZERO carbs per 2 TBSP serving.

I think they’ve discontinued the sugar-free hazelnut and caramel syrups, as well as the sugar free peppermint syrup which used to be available during the holidays.

NOTE: their “whipped cream” HAS SUGAR IN IT so you definitely want to avoid that and use heavy cream or half & half in your Starbucks orders instead.

How I Log My Starbucks Keto Friendly Iced Coffee in MyFitnessPal

Some people say the syrups are 1 carb per pump. They don’t affect me and the labels say ZERO on the bottles you buy to use at home, so I don’t log them – but that’s a personal choice (too).

I log the amount of HWC (heavy whipping cream) I ask for which is usually 1/3 cup – or if I don’t specify or it looks lighter than usual, I log it as 1/2 cup (half a cup) to be safe.

Heavy Whipping Cream is 0.4 per tbsp, regardless of what your label says.

When it comes to labeling, they are able to round up or round down.

Anything less than half a carb can be labeled as zero, which is why most heavy whipping cream labels say zero carbs.

That can really add up on you in recipes though!

There are 16 TBSPs in a cup, making HWC 6.4 carbs per cup…

You simply want to find an entry in MyFitnessPal, or the tracker you use, that counts heavy whipping cream (HWC) as 1 carb for 2 TBSP. It’s also 50 calories per TBSP if you’re counting calories.

~

Individual Results May Vary

It’s worth noting that everyone may respond differently to various types of sugar free sweeteners or foods/products. It’s also worth noting that most people DO NOT properly do clean testing like I do, so their results may be skewed or diluted.

I do a full six day clean test on any new food or ingredient. That means I eat super simple known/tested foods (eggs, pecans, beef, etc) and often mono meals (single ingredient meals) for 72 hours prior to a glucose/ketone test.

I do this to get my body to baseline numbers, or optimal ketone/glucose levels, and so that there are NO other factors affecting my test.

I then test a single new food or ingredient (or Starbucks order), and follow that with another 72 hours of clean eating. I do that because it can take up to 72 hours to fully metabolize anything you consume – and longer if you drink alcohol.

I mentioned all of this in my recent sugar free chocolate chips keto test post & video.

I said then and I’ll say again: I don’t trust anyone else’s results.

That’s for two reasons. First because we are all different. And second because I don’t know ANYONE that does a full 6-day CLEAN test, and doesn’t take a single bite of anything else questionable.

This is a matter of comparing avocados to avocados – instead of avocados to apples.

Back to maltodextrin which is apparently “THE KETO DEVIL” according to keto communities and self-proclaimed keto gurus… I found it very interesting that the whole craze is based solely on a glycemic index comparison ONLY.

It’s simply not a fair comparison, as I demonstrated.

A trace amount, and that’s what it is: a TRACE amount, of maltodextrin is not at all the same as a serving of sugar – in any food or in any situation. Unless you’re testing a full TBSP of each side by side, which is just silly.

As for me, I’m going to continue enjoying my keto-friendly Starbucks iced coffees.

It’s really such a minor thing to cause such a HUGE stir across keto communities, in my opinion anyway.

I’m sure I’ve been consuming maltodextrin pretty much all my life, way before I went keto, and in more foods and products than I even care to know about.

I just can’t be bothered to scrutinize every little ingredient ALL the time, or to cut out something so ENJOYABLE as my sugar free iced coffee – which is a treat, by the way, not a daily thing but an occasional indulgence.

I also don’t gulp down the entire thing but rather sip on it and usually drink maybe half, then stick it in the refrigerator and finish the rest of it the next day.

I think at the point that I would get THAT picky about every single ingredient and trace additive in any food or ingredient or bottle of shampoo… I’d also have to question taking my next breath…

You can’t possibly believe the AIR is clean on this polluted planet we live on.

But that’s just me. I want to live freely and enjoy my life, and enjoy the widest range of flavors and foods and experiences, while staying in nutritional ketosis. Simple!

Like I said, it’s a personal preference. My coffee date friend prefers NOT to consume maltodextrin. He also doesn’t eat beef or pork. All personal choices, and all fine by me. He orders the iced coffee with heavy cream and sugar free cinnamon dolce syrup, then adds a packet of stevia from his pocket.

Just between you and I, his stevia packets list dextrose as the first ingredient – which is pretty much the same thing as maltodextrin (proof). Shhhh!!

Dextrose and maltodextrin are very similar. Something to Google if you’re interested. Also, anytime it says “natural flavors” maltodextrin may be used as the carrier for those. I always find it sketchy when “natural flavors” is listed as an ingredient – with no explanation of what those are exactly.

But again, if it tastes good and tests good – I’ll probably eat it.

Thoughts or Questions on Keto Starbucks or Maltodextrin?

Leave a comment and let’s chat!

Best, Lynn Terry, aka @LowCarbTraveler

p.s. This is the kind of thing I absolutely LOVE to dig into and research/test. While I’m sipping my Starbucks coffee full of maltodextrin, of course…

This is the reason you need to do your own testing though, in all seriousness. Don’t just blindly believe everything you read or watch online, or heard somewhere.

It’s all about knowing how YOUR body responds to certain foods or ingredients, your bio-individuality, and not giving in to hype and sensationalism and silly arguments or scare tactics – but testing for the TRUTH.

Here is our 15% off discount link for the Keto Mojo Testing Kit

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