When you are on the keto diet, drinking sugar-filled drinks such as soda, energy drinks or ice teas, are a thing of the past. But, that doesn’t mean that the cravings aren’t there. Sometimes we all want a refreshing drink after a long day.
So, for the times when plain old water, unsweetened coffee, and tea are just not cutting it, and Bai Brands are becoming an increasingly popular low-calorie option and their drinks might be something you are considering. But, can you drink it on the keto diet?
Keep on reading to find out.
What Is Bai Brands?
Bai Brands is a beverage company that was founded in August 2009. The company was founded in Princeton, New Jersey, by coffee industry pioneer and entrepreneur Ben Weiss, who found out about coffee fruit and decided to make beverages using it.
The company produces low-calorie soft beverages with natural flavors, and natural sweeteners and no artificial sweeteners, they are energized with coffee fruit and infused with antioxidants. Their products are gluten-free, artificial sweetener-free, kosher and vegan.
Bai has steadily grown over the years, and in 2014 it has spread internationally with an agreement with Dr. Pepper Snapple Group and in 2016 it was in the “America’s Most Promising Companies of 2015” list by Forbes.
What is the meaning of the word Bai?
Bai is an unusual and unique name, but it serves a purpose. In the Mandarin Chinese language, bai means “pure” which fits the company’s goal. It also stands for “botanical antioxidant infusions”.
How many lines does Bai have?
Bai Brands have 5 lines and those are Bai 5- their 5 original tastes, Bai Bubbles (sparkling antioxidant infusion), Bai Cocofusions, Bai Supertea, and Bai Antioxidant Water.
What flavors does Bai have in each line?
In each of their line Bai has these flavors:
Bai 5: Brasilia Blueberry, Ipanema Pomegranate, Burundi Blueberry Lemonade, Costa Rica Clementine, Kula Watermelon, Limu Lemonade, Malawi Mango, Panama Peach, São Paulo, Strawberry Lemonade, Sumatra Dragonfruit;
Bai Bubbles: Bolivia Black Cherry, Gimbi Pink Grapefruit, Guatemala Guava, Indonesia Nashi Pear, Jamaica Blood Orange, Peru Pineapple, and Waikiki Coconut;
Bai Cocofusions: Andes Coconut Lime, Molokai Coconut, Madagascar Coconut Mango, Puna Coconut Pineapple;
Bai Supertea: Rio Raspberry Tea, Socorro Sweet Tea, Nariño Peach Tea, Tanzania Lemon Tea;
Nutrition Facts
Here are the nutritional facts of a serving size of 8 fl oz or (237 ml) of Bai Brands’ most popular products. One bottle contains 2 servings. The Bubble product is 11.5 fl oz because it is in a can.
| Product | Calories | Fat | Protein | Total Carbs | Fiber | Net Carbs | Erythritol |
| Sumatra Dragonfruit | 5 kcal | 0 grams | 0 grams | 9 grams | 0 grams | 1 gram | 8 grams |
| Nariño Peach Tea | 5 kcal | 0 grams | 0 grams | 9 grams | 0 grams | 1 gram | 8 grams |
| Puna Coconut Pineapple | 5 kcal | 0 grams | 0 grams | 9 grams | 0 grams | 1 gram | 8 grams |
| Brasilia Blueberry | 5 kcal | 0 grams | 0grams | 6 grams | 0 grams | 1 gram | 5 grams |
| Tanzania Lemon Tea | 5 kcal | 0 grams | 0 grams | 9 grams | 0 grams | 1 gram | 8 grams |
| Rio Raspberry Tea | 5 kcal | 0 grams | 0 grams | 9 grams | 0 grams | 1 gram | 8 grams |
| Bogota Blackberry Lime* | 5 kcal | 0 grams | 0 grams | 8 grams | 0 grams | 1 gram | 7 grams |
What Is In Bai Brands Drinks?
If you are wondering what makes Bai’s drinks special and not like any other- it is their “not-so-secret” superfruit that is filled with antioxidants- the coffee fruit.
Coffee fruit, or often called coffee cherries or coffee berries, is the fruit of the Coffea plant. They are round, and red or purple in color. The coffee fruit, just like cherries, is a stone-fruit because inside it there are the coffee beans or coffee seeds that are used to make coffee. Most of the time inside one coffee fruit there are 2 coffee seeds.
The coffee fruit that is used by Bai comes from Indonesia and they support long-term economic opportunities for coffee producers in remote and relatively poor regions. They also help lessen the botanical waste.
So, why coffee fruit? That is because the coffee fruit is rich in free-radical fighting antioxidants.
What exactly are antioxidants?
Antioxidants are chemical substances that can slow or prevent damage to cells caused by free-radicals. Free-radicals are unstable molecules that are produced by the body as a result of environmental or other pressure.
Antioxidants work by inhibiting the oxidation. Oxidation is the chemical reaction that produces free-radicals, and this leads to chain reactions that can damage the cells. The antioxidants are breaking these chain reactions and therefore they are preventing the cell damage. (*)
What sweeteners are used in Bai products?
As we can see from the table above, Bai products have very little carbs and sugars in comparison to other similar products on the market. But, you may ask yourself, how is that possible?
The sweeteners that are used in Bai products are stevia and erythritol, both natural and plant-based sweeteners.
Stevia is derived from the leaves of the plant Stevia rebaudiana and has been used for hundreds of years by Paraguayans. Stevia gets its sweetness from its active compounds called steviol glycosides, which the body cannot metabolize and therefore stevia has 0 calories. (*)
Erythritol is a natural sugar alcohol, normally found in some fruits. It is used as a substitute for common sugar and as a texture-enhancing food additive.
Erythritol behaves very uniquely and it is different from other sugar alcohols. In the body, it acts like a fiber, and it just passes through, so even though it technically does have calories, it cannot be absorbed. (*)
Are Bai Brands Drinks Healthy?
The antioxidant-infused drinks that Bai produces are a better choice when compared to other beverages on the market that are filled with sugar, artificial sweeteners, and artificial flavors and colors. They are energizing and low-calorie, so if you are looking for a substitute for a traditional soft drink- they are a healthier choice.
But, that being said, make sure to consume them in moderation and do not substitute water or whole foods with Bai drinks.
Can You Drink Bai Drinks On The Keto Diet?
All Bai products are low in calories and low in carbs. But, even with 1 gram of net carbs per serving, because they are a drink, you can easily drink more and waste more of your daily carbs than you’d want to.
And, they are still processed, so if you are on a strict keto diet, you may want to avoid them.
If you are not on strict keto and you want to enjoy a refreshing drink, then Bai drinks are okay to consume and they can be incorporated in the daily carbs, just make sure to control how much you drink.
Where To Buy?
You can find Bai drinks in common grocery stores as well as specialty stores and in growing numbers of airports in the United States. You can also order their products online on Amazon and Fresh Direct.
Bottom Line
Bai drinks are very low-carb, but they are not keto-friendly since they are processed and contain 1 gram of net carb per serving. They should be avoided by those who are following a strict keto diet. However, they are okay for a low-carb diet.
In one serving there is only 1 gram of net carbs. In one bottle there are 2 servings.
Conclusion
If you are following a diet that allows a little room for processed drinks and food that are still healthier than most on the market. Also if you are on a low-carb, lazy keto or dirty keto, then you may be able to fit Bai drinks in your daily carb intake and enjoy a refreshing Bai drink if you want.
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