I've been on a quest recently for a refreshing summer drink that doesn't have a lot of added sugar or calories. As luck would have it, a promo came past my desk for a product called LO. I requested a sample, received them today, and I have to say the product is pretty darn good.
LO features beverages that are low in calories (most about 40 calories for a 10 ounce bottle), low glycemic index (see chart below) and 70-86% organic.
The chart below shows a comparison of the glycemic index of several other popular beverages.
The flavors we have to sample include:
I tasted the Pomegranate first. I actually said WOW, because it was tart, refreshing and not overly sweet. I don't mind some sweetness in a beverage but I don't want it to taste like sugar water. This particular beverage has 10% fruit juice and is sweetened with agave nectar and a little bit of Stevia. Ok, so don't get upset about the Stevia if you are not a fan (and I'm not). The company managed to formulate drink with just enough Stevia to bump up the sweetness but not enough to provide that annoying bitter aftertaste that so often comes with this sweetener.
As for the other flavors, I found the Pomegranate hard to beat. Our two other tasters liked the Mango Mojito; they found the hint of mint and lime thirst quenching. One taster suggested adding a splash of rum to make it a REAL Mojito and while we didn't try it (yet) I'm pretty sure it would have been pretty darn tasty.
We all thought the Acai Mojito just tasted too much like non-alcohol wine but it did have a satisfying tartness.
I will buy the pomegranate and the Acai Blue beverages but most likely none of the "mojito" flavors. I'd like to see a pure mango product in the future too. I think the LO product line is definitely a step up from most the sweet beverages on the market today. Dieters and low-carb eaters will appreciate the 8-10 grams of carb per bottle as well as the low glycemic load.
You can purchase this product at select Walgreens and RiteAid stores as well as H-E-B Markets.
Read author Russ Klettke blog A Guy's Gotta Eat where he keeps us up to date good nutrition and simple meals for a guy on the move.