If you haven’t been living under a rock for the past decade, you’re likely familiar with Bai. Created by entrepreneur Ben Weiss in a basement in 2009, the Bai line of beverages has been promoted as a healthier alternative to traditional sugary and calorie-laden sodas (according to Harvard Business School Club). The brand quickly gained popularity, leading to its acquisition for a hefty $1.7 billion in 2016 by the Dr. Pepper Snapple Group. But what exactly makes these drinks appealing, and are these supposed “healthy alternatives” actually beneficial for you?
The nutritional composition of Bai drinks is fairly consistent. They incorporate coffee fruit (the berry-like fruit enclosing a coffee bean) and white tea extract, both containing potent antioxidants known as polyphenols, as mentioned on the Bai website. According to Healthline, polyphenols are believed to enhance brain health, aid in digestion, and provide protection against several severe diseases, including certain types of cancer.
Bai contains erythritol
Each bottle of Bai’s antioxidant-infused drinks also offers 15% of the daily recommended intake of another potent antioxidant, vitamin C. Rather than using artificial colors and flavors, juice concentrates are employed to deliver enticing color and flavor (as noted on the Bai website).
Bai drinks are typically low in calories yet remain quite sweet. They use a sweetener blend made up of just two components: erythritol and stevia leaf extract. Erythritol is classified under sugar alcohols, which are derived through fermentation. The Center for Science in the Public Interest, an organization advocating for nutrition and food safety, deems erythritol safe. It resembles sugar in taste and look but contains only a small fraction of the calories (according to WebMD). Stevia leaf extract, a plant-based sweetener, is roughly 200 times sweeter than sugar. Like erythritol, stevia leaf extract is generally considered safe, though further research is needed (as stated by CSPI).
While Bai drinks shouldn’t entirely replace pure water in your diet, they do offer a significant improvement over regular sodas, marking a considerable step towards healthier choices.
