When it's rainy and snowy and slushy and yucky outside, I numb the pain with coconut.
The winter blues is real. I'm one of those people that is most definitely a happier person in the spring and summer. Maybe it's because I don't ski or maybe it's because I don't celebrate Christmas, but I've come to believe that I'm mildly allergic to winter. I'm convinced that my body is ten degrees colder than everyone else's this time of year. Like why am I the only one shivering up in here?! Wrap me up in a plaid scarf and ship me off to Hawaii PUH-LEASE.
I may not be able to delete the winter season, but I sure as hell can dump tropical coconut and hot coffee into everything in sight. So when the healthy hedonists over at Bai5 offered to send me some of their all natural antioxidant-infused drinks to try (one of which was Molokai Coconut), I was all ears.
Bai is made with natural fruit juices, white tea extract, vitamin C, coffeefruit extract, organic stevia, and erythritol. Erythritol is a natural, low-glycemic, low-calorie sugar alcohol that's nearly as sweet as sugar but won't raise your blood sugar. Winning! Stevia is super sweet and can actually be pretty bitter if used in excess, so erythritol helps balance out that overwhelming sweetness. Per serving, Bai has 35 mg of caffeine, which is about the same as a cup of green tea. It's just enough to make you do laundry but not enough to make you write a ten-page paper, ya dig?
So what the heck is coffeefruit? It's actually the juicy red fruit surrounding the coffee bean. This little fella happens to be pretty potent in disease-fighting antioxidants.
Do you mind if I step on my nutrition soap box for a hot second? "Antioxidant" has become quite the buzzword in the health community, so let's delve into that a bit. Molecules called free radicals are formed by simply living and breathing, but also via exercise, stress, pollution, x-rays, and smoking. While free radicals are natural for the body, high concentrations can damage our cells and DN.
This accumulation over time leads to the development of chronic diseases, including cancer, diabetes, inflammatory disorders, heart disease, and neurological disorders like Alzheimer's. Antioxidants found in fruits, veggies, spices, cacao, coffee, etc. help neutralize these free radicals and prevent the damage that accumulates as we age. Moral of the story: eat your fruits and veggies!!
With five calories (ahem, Bai5) and one gram of sugar per serving, Bai is a great alternative for those hooked on toxic energy drinks loaded with artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. I of course love that it's sweetened with stevia, but I also appreciate that the caffeine content isn't off the wall. The thought here is that the antioxidant blend will give you a natural energy boost that won't have you wired all day. Did you know that Bai’s use of the coffeefruit has also created sustainable jobs and economic opportunities through the direct relationship they have with hundreds of farmers in Indonesia? Dreamy.
This smoothie is like caffeinated paradise. It's totally creamy from the frozen nanners and coconut, plus it has a super unique coffee flavor that pairs perfectly with the banana. Is this not the easiest smoothie of all time?! Finally, you can have your coffee and banana and eat them, too.
GIVEAWAY: The folks over at Bai5 are giving one lucky ready an entire case (twelve 18-oz bottles) of Bai5! To enter, simply use the Rafflecopter below (it may take a few seconds to load). Log-in using Facebook or an email adress, and then leave a comment telling me what antioxidant-packed snack is your favorite. Leaving a comment is mandatory to enter. To gain additional entries, follow the prompts.
This giveaway is open to everyone and will end Monday, December 15th at 12am EST. The winner will be notified via email. The winner will also be listed in this post on December 15th. Good luck!
PrintCoconut Coffee Smoothie
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Total Time: 5 mins
- Yield: 1 1x
- Category: Smoothie
Ingredients
- 2 frozen bananas (overripe and pre-sliced)
- 2 tbsp unsweetened shredded coconut
- ½ cup brewed coffee
- ½ cup Bai5 Molokai Coconut
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Bai5. Thanks for supporting Hummusapien!
mary says
Pomegranate seeds are definitely my favorite antioxidant packed snack!! So much work but so worth it.
mary says
Pomegranate seeds are definitely my favorite antioxidant packed snack!! So much work but so worth it.
S says
Coconut and coffee are a good combo!
S says
Coconut and coffee are a good combo!
Leslie B says
I love healthy frozen berry smoothies and throw in tart cherries for inflammation as well!
Leslie B says
I love healthy frozen berry smoothies and throw in tart cherries for inflammation as well!
Carly Jor says
Blueberrys, no question! 🙂
Carly Jor says
Blueberrys, no question! 🙂
Caylin says
berries! love me some coffee too 🙂
Caylin says
berries! love me some coffee too 🙂
annie R says
I love anything coconut! My favorite snack lately has been raspberries.
annie R says
I love anything coconut! My favorite snack lately has been raspberries.
Prasert says
bananas and strawberry.
Prasert says
bananas and strawberry.
nadya kotik says
pomegranates are the best!
nadya kotik says
pomegranates are the best!
Julie says
Kale and cheese is wonderful.
Julie says
Kale and cheese is wonderful.
Marie says
I love oranges and bananas! 🙂
Marie says
I love oranges and bananas! 🙂
Margot C says
Mango/Blueberry/Oatmeal smoothie
★★★★
Margot C says
Mango/Blueberry/Oatmeal smoothie
★★★★
Vivian says
I love blueberries! Eat them frozen with sweetened almond milk. Let it sit for a few minutes then it's a delicious slush
Vivian says
I love blueberries! Eat them frozen with sweetened almond milk. Let it sit for a few minutes then it's a delicious slush
Donna says
I love my mangoes and carrots!
Donna says
I love my mangoes and carrots!
Brittany Koelmel says
I love pomegranates...they are also so pretty!
Brittany Koelmel says
I love pomegranates...they are also so pretty!
rachel says
i LOVE bai! any with with berries are my favorite 😉
rachel says
i LOVE bai! any with with berries are my favorite 😉
Molly M says
I love me some pomegranates!
Molly M says
I love me some pomegranates!
Cassie says
Blueberries are totally my favorite antioxidant snack 🙂
Cassie says
Blueberries are totally my favorite antioxidant snack 🙂
Christina @ The Beautiful Balance says
I absolutely love goji berries and often just eat them by themselves when I'm not putting them in smoothies, oatmeal, or granola!
Christina @ The Beautiful Balance says
I absolutely love goji berries and often just eat them by themselves when I'm not putting them in smoothies, oatmeal, or granola!
Courtney W. says
Homemade granola.
Courtney W. says
Homemade granola.
Meghan says
dark chocolate and berries!!
Meghan says
dark chocolate and berries!!
Mary @ Fit and Fed says
The smoothie does look easy, and I too am a fan of coconut in smoothies! I hear ya about winter, though for me it's more the lack of light that gets to me. Sunset is at 4:18 here every day for the next week! I can deal with that on a day like today that has high clouds, but when it's low clouds and rain it's tough. I do use a light box and that helps a lot. Anyway, good luck getting through winter!
Mary @ Fit and Fed says
The smoothie does look easy, and I too am a fan of coconut in smoothies! I hear ya about winter, though for me it's more the lack of light that gets to me. Sunset is at 4:18 here every day for the next week! I can deal with that on a day like today that has high clouds, but when it's low clouds and rain it's tough. I do use a light box and that helps a lot. Anyway, good luck getting through winter!
Georgie says
Yay! This recipe looks incredible I can't wait to make some. I love coconut with everything so this is a dream.
Georgie says
Yay! This recipe looks incredible I can't wait to make some. I love coconut with everything so this is a dream.
Kayla says
The coconut is actually my favorite flavor! YUM! It's better than coconut water, in my opinion.
Kayla says
The coconut is actually my favorite flavor! YUM! It's better than coconut water, in my opinion.