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Nutrition bars were originallydesigned for serious athletes but are now perceived as healthy, nutritious snacks or mealreplacements by consumers. They may be better choices, but theyare not necessarily good choices. Most contain hiddensugars, low-quality protein and a lot of additional ingredients that may not be healthy ifconsumed regularly. The fact that protein bars are extremely convenient is agodsend for active people who are looking for something to tide them over between workoutsand meals. With sales of nutrition bars skyrocketing tenfold to $1.7 billion over the pastdecade, there are literally thousands of brands to choose from. As long as they are eatenoccasionally, they can be beneficial to your fitness goals.But eat too many of the poor-quality bars, and they might actually sabotage your efforts.Here’s what to look for.Make sure it’s a protein bar
To be called a “protein” bar, it should have at least 15 grams ofprotein per bar. Although carb content is variable, you should choose a bar that isrelatively low in carbs to avoid blood and insulin spikes that will hinder your fat-loss efforts.Energy bars are at the other end of the spectrum: high-carb, low-protein. Energy bars suchas PowerBars® or Clif® Bars are useful for intense aerobic exercise that lastsmore than an hour. Meal replacement bars like Balance® Bar, orNutribar® have a more balanced ratio of carbs, proteins and fats, and usually containmore calories than other types of bars. Despite what they sound like, these can neverreplace a properly balanced meal. Organic and raw bars like Lärabar® provideenergy in as natural a method as possible. They are made with whole foods and are devoidof artificial sweeteners and inserted protein. They are, nevertheless, relatively high insugars and low in protein.Look at the source of protein
Most protein bars will have a “propriety protein blend” as one ofthe first things listed in the ingredients list. Choose bars that use high-quality sourcesof protein, such as hydrolyzed whey, whey isolates and micellar casein. Whey or soyconcentrates are fine but are frequently used as fillers and shouldn’t be listed toohigh on the ingredients list. Gelatin (or collagen) is often added to protein bars toimprove texture. Since it is a type of protein, it contributes to the total number ofgrams in the bar. Careful, though: It’s a low-quality protein, and some unscrupulousbrands use it to artificially boost their protein content. Check the ingredients andensure that gelatin and collagen are not listed too high up on the list.Look at the carbs
Just because a bar is high in protein doesn’t mean it’s low incarbs. First off, avoid protein bars that list refined sugars, such as sucrose, cornsyrup, high-fructose corn syrup and chocolate, as the first or second ingredient. Theseare no better than candy bars. To make a protein taste good without using too much refinedsugars, manufacturers often add artificial sweeteners (acesulfame potassium) and sugaralcohols (or polyols) such as xylitol, maltitol, sorbitol, glycerol or glycerine. Sugaralcohols should be listed along with sugars and dietary fiber under the total carbohydratelisting on the nutrition label. These are hydrogenated forms of carbohydrate that arecolorless and odorless, and give the bar a pleasing moist texture. They are not as sweetas sucrose, have fewer calories and don’t cause tooth decay. However, they may causebloating and intestinal discomfort in some people since they are not completely absorbedby the gut. They do contribute calories and affect blood-sugar levels, so they need to beaccounted for by the low-carb dieter.Nutrition bars are not subjected to anyquality testing prior to marketing. In 2001, the supplement-testing group ConsumerLab.comanalyzed 30 brands of energy bars and found that 60% failed to meet their labeling claims.Among the highest failure rates were protein bars (92% failed), often because they wereunder-reporting the amount of carbs and sodium contained in the bar. So even ifyou’re super-skilled in reading nutrition labels and ingredient lists, you may notactually be consuming what you think you’re consuming.Look at the fat
Ever since manufacturers were pressured to remove trans fats from their products,they’ve replaced them with palm oil and palm kernel oil. Although not all saturatedfats are associated with an increased risk of heart disease, palm oil is. Be careful notto consume too much of it. Modified triacylglycerol (SALATRIM, brand name: Benefat®
is appearing as a lower-calorie fat replacer in many products. SALATRIM is approved by theAmerican Dietetic Association and the FDA. It has no known side effects and it does notaffect blood-cholesterol levels or absorption of fat-soluble vitamins or othernutrients.Afterevaluating more than 30 brands for their macronutrient composition, quality of nutrientsand taste, I’ve come up with the 10 best protein bars(with No. 1 considered the best) on the market. Continue Reading http://www.askmen.com/top_10/fitness_top_ten/29_fitness_list.html ]More...[/url]
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