Review of Zola Coconut Water

Zola Coconut Water were provided by Zola free of charge in exchange for a review. I was not paid for my review.  The opinions contained in this review are mine and based on my experience, and do not reflect the opinions of Zola or anyone else.

Recently I was given the chance to review some Zola Coconut Water through the love ladies who run the Sweat Pink community. Now, I’m not normally a huge fan of coconut water (it tastes a little too sweet to me)–but I’ve love adding it to my smoothies. However, I loved Zola’s Natural Coconut Water.

Coconut water has the following benefits according to Zola:

Coco-Hydration™ Each Sip Offers:

Natural hydration

Essential electrolytes: sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium

100% Natural & Delicious

Gluten and GMO Free, 100% Vegan

Coco-can

It was extremely refreshing, unlike the Vita Coco that I bought from the local grocery store here in Philadelphia. To my surprise, I drank almost an entire can after ballet class. They also sell Acai Juice (which I enjoyed although it tasted a little grainy–I’m not sure I would get it again) and Coconut Water with Pulp. The Coconut Water with pulp was definitely not for me (I’m a pulp-free OJ girl too)–the pieces of coconut were weird and it tasted more milky to me. But I loved their regular coconut water and I’m hoping I can find it in a store near me soon (you can see if you can see if you can find it using a their store locator).

The only downside is that it the 17.5 ounce version comes in a can and it’s not as easy to keep in your fridge if you don’t finish it all–but to fix this I just poured the can into one of my many reusable water bottles. They also sell it in a liter size that is resealable.

Zola Coconut Water were provided by Zola free of charge in exchange for a review. I was not paid for my review.  The opinions contained in this review are mine and based on my experience, and do not reflect the opinions of Zola or anyone else.

Am I meant to be #poweredbybits?

EnergyBits were provided by Bits of Health free of charge in exchange for a review. I was not paid for my review.  The opinions contained in this review are mine and based on my experience, and do not reflect the opinions of Energy Bits or anyone else.

eblogoI had heard a lot of buzz about energy bits around the twitterspere and was highly intrigued by them. Little green “bits” that are only a calorie per bit (adding up to roughly 30 calories per serving). So I decided to give them a shot when their brand manager, Jonathan Levitt, agreed to send me a sample.

They’re made of 100% Spirulina algae–their website says “Spirulina is nature’s equivalent to an energy drink – but its even better because it’s 100% natural, 100% green, is carbon neutral, has only ONE calorie per tab and contains no sugar, no caffeine, no chemicals, no gluten and no soy.” Sounds pretty good. I’ve had Spirulina before in Real Food Barres (which are pretty great) so I decided would be pretty great too.

I first tried them roughly 15 minutes before I headed out the door for ballet last Thursday (it seems all I do lately is run out the door to class at the last-minute–it’s that crazy time at the end of a college semester). Since I don’t really like swallowing pill (who does?) I decided to mix them into yogurt like is mentioned on their how to take page here–BAD idea. I ended up with a nasty mouth full of green, most of it sticking to my teeth–it was like it had become a paste in my mouth. I had to quick chew a piece of gum and scrub brush my teeth before I finally left the house.

BUT, I did have more energy than usual (and a pain-free ballet night).

Since I had enough for a second go around, I decided to take some this morning before my run as a replacement for my normal morning protein bar (which I’m out of currently since I haven’t been shopping in forever).

EnergyBits recommends that newbies swallow their bits so that’s what I tried this second time around. I ended up taking about 5 at a time and  even that seemed like to swallow at once for me. I’ve read in other reviews that people usually swallow about 15 at a time–that didn’t work for me.

I don’t think EnergyBits really suit me–I couldn’t find a way I liked eating them–but I do think they’d be a great energy source and replacement for protein drinks and bars if you can handle swallowing them.

EDIT: @Energybits on Twitter pointed out to me that there’s a Pinterest board with some more recipes to try out, I think I’m going to try the smoothie one with my remaining bits.

If you’ve tried them before, how do you like to eat them?

EnergyBits is offering 10% off to my readers using the code BLOG, or you can help out the ONE Fund for Boston Marathon victims using the code BOSTONSTRONG at the checkout and they’ll donate $26.20 of your purchase to the fund.

EnergyBits were provided by Bits of Health free of charge in exchange for a review. I was not paid for my review.  The opinions contained in this review are mine and based on my experience, and do not reflect the opinions of Energy Bits or anyone else.