Protein bars are a great way to ensure you’re getting enough protein in your diet and can serve as a between-meal snack or meal replacement. There are several factors you need to consider to ensure you get the right protein bars. Some of them are packed with artificial ingredients, added sugars, and fats, and may have more calories than you need or want. Before buying any protein bar, take a look at its contents and carefully evaluate these factors before making a decision:
– Sugar content
– happy fat
– Protein content
– calories
-Added ingredients
– Price and availability
sugar content
According to recent research, the average person consumes around 60 pounds of sugar each year and the average woman gets almost 335 more calories per day than just a few decades ago because of this. The new guidelines suggest that the total intake of sugars (other than those found in fruits) should not exceed 25 grams per day. (Source: Glamor Magazine, August 2010.)
When reading the labels on your protein bars, look for words that end with -ose, which indicates sugar. Other ingredients to watch out for include cane juice, corn syrup, and molasses. They are all likely to cause spikes in blood sugar and are also likely to increase the calorie count of protein bars more and more. The sugar content can be offset by having protein and fiber content, so protein bars that contain nuts and fruit can be a good choice. Both of these additions will decrease the rate of absorption of sugar in the body.
fat content
We all know that some fat is needed in many food products for them to bake properly and, more importantly, to taste good. However, fat content for the sake of fat and flavor is unhealthy and can also harm the nutritional value of well-intentioned protein bars. The grams of fat should not be higher than the amount of protein, for example. Protein should also not be listed as saturated fat or any of the sneaky keywords used to slip dangerous types of fat past the most vigilant of people.
protein content
There is a bit of confusion that can accompany the search for protein bars, mainly because there are those that are technically protein bars and then those that are energy bars that have some protein content. If you are looking to use a bar to supplement your protein intake throughout the day, it should be one of the first items mentioned on the label and should say “protein bar” instead of power bar.
Most energy bars have as little as two grams of protein per serving and can have as much as six grams, depending on the ingredients and the size of the bar. Protein bars, on the other hand, can have anywhere from 12 to 20 grams of protein per serving.
calories
Most protein bars come in two sizes. One is meant to be a snack and can be under 100 calories and the largest is meant to be a meal replacement and can be closer to 200 calories per serving. However, once you hit that calorie level, you need to consider whether the other ingredients are worth it because at this point you’re hitting the levels of most chocolate bars. If you can eat a candy bar and get the same level of protein and other ingredients for the same number of calories and about half the cost, it might not be a valid tradeoff to suggest that someone buy the “protein bar” just because of the label If the label can’t back up what it’s promised, look for a different brand.
Added Ingredients
Raisins, dried fruit, nuts, and even chia seeds (high in Omega 3 fatty acids) are good additions to protein bars, but additional ingredients like artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives are not. . Read labels carefully until you find a brand you know and trust. Even then, read the label from time to time to make sure they haven’t been added to the bar formulation you know and love. Protein bars often tweak ingredients and recipes from time to time to ensure they are creating the best tasting, longest lasting product that still gives them the proper gain.
Price and availability
The average chocolate bar costs just under a dollar these days. The average protein bar can range from $1.50 to $4 and more for a single unit. Buying protein bars in multipacks from online sources can bring the price down considerably; however, there are some exceptions to doing this. First, make sure you’ve found the right protein bars before you buy multiple ones. Not only do you have to make sure that it has all the right ingredients, but also that it has the most important factor of all: good taste. If you can’t tolerate the taste, you won’t eat it and it won’t matter what it’s made of.
Also, you need to make sure that you will be able to find the brand you are interested in. Some new companies come and go before the expiration date on their protein bars. Some have been in business for a long time, but they often drop flavors in a few stores or entire regions. It’s important to have a favorite bar along with several backup brands that you can fall back on if needed.
