Bai drinks use Erythritol combined with stevia as the sweetener. I checked up on erythritol, and was pleasantly surprised to find that, unlike sucralose, it does not have the usual major problems of fake sugars.
Sucralose, for example, is a chlorinated sugar that is partially accumulated in body tissues. The FDA has a suggested daily and lifetime limit for the amount of sucralose ingested. You can find this info on several websites, and I've given a short explanation on my review of the good-tasting, but sucralose-sweetened Sparkling Ice.
Erythritol, on the other hand, is a sugar alcohol. Although it has carbs (one bottle of Bai has 16 carbohydrate grams of erythritol), the carbs do not affect blood sugar because erythritol cannot be broken down by the digestive system. That is, its Glycemic Index is 0. No carbs digested means you get the sweet taste (though not as sweet as the same amount of sugar) but no calories and no effect on blood sugar. In other words, this drink looks like a great drink for a diabetic.
The drawback of being an indigestible carb is, unfortunately, that if you ingest a huge amount of erythritol at a time, you risk problems with gas, bloating and maybe nausea. Apparently, for the average adult, 50 grams at a time may be too much. Of the Bai flavors I've tried, one bottle has 16 grams of erythritol.
I'll give the carb breakdowns for each 18 oz bottle, including the net carbs. Net carbs means the amount of carbs that actually affects blood sugar and calorie count. The information on each bottle is per serving, and there's 2 servings per bottle. So I've doubled the amounts to show what is contained in 1 whole bottle of the Bai drink.
Bai drinks are gluten free, kosher, low glycemic, non-GMO, vegan and soy free. But they are not caffeine free.
As we have a Type 1 diabetic in the family, I am interested in how caffeine may affect a diabetic. From the MayoClinic(dot)org website:
"Some studies suggest that drinking coffee, caffeinated and decaffeinated, may actually reduce your risk of developing diabetes.
If you already have diabetes, however, the impact of caffeine on insulin action may be associated with higher or lower blood sugar levels. For some people with diabetes, about 200 milligrams of caffeine — or the equivalent of one to two 8-ounce cups (237 to 474 milliliters) of plain, brewed coffee — may cause this effect.
Caffeine affects every person differently. If you have diabetes or you're struggling to control your blood sugar levels, limiting the amount of caffeine in your diet may provide a benefit."
The Bai drinks I've tried have 70 mg of caffeine in one bottle. As Mayo says, each person is different, and each person would need to determine if drinking a bottle of Bai affects his/her blood sugar or makes it volatile.
Last, but not least, our family thinks Bai drinks taste good!
IPANEMA POMEGRANATE:
Contains 2% juice
Ingredients: Bai sweetener blend, pomegranate juice concentrate, natural flavors, coffeefruit extract, malic acid (naturally occurring acid that gives tartness to rhubarb and other fruits), citric acid (naturally occurring acid in lemons & limes and other fruits), fruit & vegetable juice for color, white tea extract, ascorbic acid (another antioxidant found in lemons & limes and other fruits), sodium citrate (this is a salt that helps regulate acidity).
Total calories 10.....fat 0g.....sodium 10 mg.....total carbs 18g.....carbs from sugar (stevia) 2g.....carbs from erythritol 16g....net carbs 2g.....protein 0g.....vitamin C 50mg.....caffeine 70 mg (about the same as two cups of green tea)
COSTA RICA CLEMENTINE
This is a bai5 drink. It contains 3% juice.
"A burning solar flare of flavor that will blow your rind!"
Ingredients: filtered water, Bai Natural Sweetener Blend, orange juice concentrate natural flavors, citric acid, organic coffeefruit beta carotene and vegetable juice (for color), white tea extract and ascorbic acid.
Total calories 10.....fat 0g.....sodium 10 mg.....total carbs 18g.....carbs from sugar (stevia) 2g.....carbs from erythritol 16g....net carbs 2g.....protein 0g.....vitamin C 50mg.....caffeine 70 mg (about the same as two cups of green tea)
CONGO PEAR
This is a bai5 drink. It contains 2% juice.
"A flavor experience that may evoke sounds better kept in the boudoir"
Ingredients: filtered water, Bai Natural Sweetener Blend, pear juice concentrate, natural flavors, citric acid, organic coffeefruit, white tea extract and ascorbic acid.
Total calories 10.....fat 0g.....sodium 10 mg.....total carbs 18g.....carbs from sugar (stevia) 2g.....carbs from erythritol 16g....net carbs 2g.....protein 0g.....vitamin C 50mg.....caffeine 70 mg (about the same as two cups of green tea)
BRASILIA BLUEBERRY
This is a bai5 drink. It contains 3% juice.
"Tastes like a rainforest just kissed you on the lips"
Ingredients: filtered water, Bai Natural Sweetener Blend, juice concentrates (blueberry, blackberry and strawberry), natural flavors, organic coffeefruit, malic acid, fruit and vegetable juice (for color), white tea extract and ascorbic acid.
Total calories 10.....fat 0g.....sodium 10 mg.....total carbs 18g.....carbs from sugar (stevia) 2g.....carbs from erythritol 16g....net carbs 2g.....protein 0g.....vitamin C 50mg.....caffeine 70 mg (about the same as two cups of green tea)
Happy Reader
I wish I could remember who got me to try Bai - we hates them forever, Preciousss! There is nothing else remotely like it right now (April 2018), and the insane pricing shows they know it. I can get a 12-pack of any soda for just 2 of these, but soda just wont do anymore. Not even you, Peach Fresca *sob*. If you have not tried this stuff in a flavor you like in nature (I can taste the freaking peel of the peach!), stay far away.
**Update December 2018. I can't rely on the age-quality working out with Amazon's delivery. My photo shows 3 bottles from 3 different shipments all received within 10 days. The oranger/lighter ones are not expired and are definitely drinkable, but they're a little off and not as good as the dark pink.
Love the fact that I can buy a whole case of the Dragonfruit. It has been my favorite flavor for the past year. Its has been part of my everyday since I have quit drinking those bad for your health energy drinks. I use this when I do my intermittent fasting. Since May 2017, I have lost 50 pounds with diet and exercise, and bai has been part of it everyday. I just ran my first 10k and in three weeks I will be running a half marathon. Bai was the start of my weight loss journey and continues to be part of my everyday routine. Thanks Bai!!!!!
Love this stuff! Doesn't affect blood sugar!
Update:
They raised the price on this pack. Now, like the rest, if you just wait for a special at your local gas station you’ll be able to get them cheaper. I’ll buy it all day at 15.99 but I won’t order a single case at 19.99... anyways, that’s just me.
Glad I found these sugar-safe beverages, they are surprisingly tasteful. And I don't even have to go to a store to look for them. Personally I have to take a break from them every so often as they all start tasting the same. I like mixing them with ice water, they last longer that way which is fine as they are rather expensive. Have found the bottles to be very useful, I reuse them for everything from homemade salad dressing to floor cleaner to shampoo; if they develop a weird smell they can be rinsed and tossed in recycling. Goes well with vodka, presumably due to the erythritol I can’t even taste it.
Feature Product
- FLAVORED WATER DRINKS - contains 3 bottles each of Brasilia Blueberry, Costa Rica Clementine, Malawi Mango, Sumatra Dragonfruit
- HEALTHY FLAVOR AND JUST 5 CALORIES - low calorie, shouldn't mean low flavor. Bai works to deliver low calorie, bold fruity flavor so that you don't have to sacrifice.
- FREE OF ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS - and made with just one gram of sugar per serving
- ANTIOXIDANT INFUSED - as well as gluten free, non GMO, vegan and kosher, with low glycemic index
- CAFFEINE - contains 30mg of caffeine per serving
Description
Bai Antioxidant Infused Beverages deliver delicious fruity refreshment without unwanted sugar and calories. Infused with antioxidants and made with no artificial sweeteners, each beverage in the Bai Rainforest Variety Pack has only 5 calories and 1 gram of sugar per serving for delicious hydration you can feel good about. Featuring tropical Costa Rica Clementine, Sumatra Dragonfruit, Brasilia Blueberry, and Malawi Mango flavors, the Bai Rainforest Variety Pack brings bold flavor into your life.
I've been trying to give up sugary drinks to no avail, then I discovered Bai. It's delicious, but may take some getting used to if you drink high fructose beverages because it's a lighter, almost iced tea like sweetness. Since switching, Bai has helped me shed 20 lbs by keeping my blood sugars stable and satisfying my sweet tooth.
I loved the clementine Bai. It is deliscious. I brought some homes and first my husband tried it and Some disappeared ‘cause he liked it then my mom tried it while visiting. She liked it so again more disappeared. Then my dad tried it and voila more disappeared. So now everyone in the house like it so I order it by the case. Yummy and low Calories. Awesome totally awesome. Try it you might like it also. Clementine is our favorite.
Great value. I wanted to try as many flavors as I could, and I must say that I like the Clementine the best. I love this drink and this sampler was a great price with my Prime delivery. These are seriously tasty for a low calorie drink. They do not leave any kind of an after taste which is the best part. I cannot stand the aftertaste of most diet or low calorie drinks, so finding a low calorie drink that is actually drinkable for me is a major win!
Oh, bai! This one's good, too! I buy my bai drinks by the case. It's one of the first drink products on the market to use Stevia as a sweetener. These drinks will not raise your glucose levels.
On Pintrest there are lots if recipes for bai rink smoothies, bai coctails, and even bai Italian ice. I think it's satisfying straight out of the bottle. mmmm........good!
Wait until it goes on sale for <$20 per 12 count case. I'd love to see them take a Queue from "Just Water" and make containers that are 90% recyclable. Can you say "Pacific Plastic Monstrosity"?? Cmon now. Dare to be better!!!
That it's one 10 cal for a two serving bottle (1 for me) I love that its only 10 calories. Just get with the better container deal and you'll get your fifth star!
Check out the software add-on "Honey" which monitors price breaks. There are often discounts that happen when you aren't paying attention.
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