Nutrition Bars Examined |
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Nutritional Bar Powers Activate! Form of a horse!
A Brief Guide on How To Choose a Nutrition Bar
As our schedules get busier (and people get Lazier like me) the popularity of nutrition bars has exploded. It is simply easier to reach for a prepackaged bar instead of having to worry about making breakfast or finding a snack. However, many of these nutrition bars are not exactly healthy choices. It is important to understand what goes into a nutrition bar and to carefully read the label before you automatically reach for it.
The first thing to look for on a nutrition bar label is the calorie, fat, and sugar content. Many of these nutrition bars, especially the breakfast ones, are actually loaded with sugar. That’s simply something that I don’t want out of my nutrition bar. For those that are trying to lose weight, consider the calorie count carefully. Fat content is also another problem in many nutrition bars. Although these are supposed to be good for you, several brands of nutrition bars are literally dripping with fat. In general, I like to look at the protein content and make sure that I’m getting a lot of that.
The sodium content of a nutrition bar is one area that many people neglect to learn more about. The average American tends to get far too much sodium and prepackaged foods are one of the biggest culprits. You would not think the nutrition bar that is mainly sweet would have a lot of sodium but the label may surprise you. If you are on a salt restricted diet it is even more important to check the labels on your nutrition bars.
Next up, let’s look at the ingredients commonly found in nutrition bars and see if there are any problem areas you need to avoid. While most of today’s nutrition bars will not have hydrogenated oils, it is still important to check to see if the fats used to make the bar are the good variety. Look for a nutrition bar that contains unsaturated fats for a good dietary choice. While most of these bars do use vegetable oil you’ll want to look to make sure that it is not hydrogenated oil.
Other common ingredients include wheat gluten which some people may want to avoid. Many of these bars also contain numerous chemicals that are not particularly healthy and may cause allergic reactions. Monosodium glutamate is a preservative that has been blamed for migraine headaches and even weight gain. If you see MSG on a label for a nutrition bar (as rare as it might be) you may want to find a healthier choice. I’ve heard that in some cases manufacturers may use the term yeast extract when in actuality it is MSG.
By making careful choices with your nutrition bars you can be assured that what you are eating is actually nutritious. Don’t automatically reach for one of these bars without first taking the time to carefully read the label. You may be surprised by just how much fat is in one of these bars and how many chemicals have been crammed into it.
There are many great nutrition bars out there and they do offer an easy alternative to preparing meals and snacks.
Photo Credit: kirihargie
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This post deals with:hydrogenated oils, nutrition bar, nutrition bars, protein, sodium, sugar
... and focuses on:Nutrition
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August 25th, 2008 at 8:00 am
informative post and so true.
I LOVE how some things are deemed PROTEIN BARS!! and have 5 grams of protein in em.
that said, I cant do bars.
I love them.
all of them.
ALL OF THEM.
never stopped at one.
August 25th, 2008 at 10:05 am
Yep. I avoid them like the plague as well. A bit too addictive!
August 25th, 2008 at 11:09 am
I just found out that my favorite protein/energy bars have high fructose corn syrup, so it looks like I won’t be getting those anymore. Sad.
August 25th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
I just found a great health bar from a company called nutriplex formulas. it is made with 78% dark chocolate, organic and has a whole food formula ingredient for energy and health. no artificial ingredients at all. i found them on the nutritionresearchcenter.org website. not sure if they are in stores or just online.
September 12th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
I want to introduce myself. I am the founder of Kardea Nutrition—and we seek to enable heart health and cholesterol management through natural, scientifically validated, therapeutic nutrition. Among our enabling products are our gourmet nutrition bar. 7g fiber, 7g protein, 1g plant sterols, low saturated fat, only 150 calories—-and these taste great and have great aroma. All four are vegetarian — utilizing no dairy and utlizing lower glycemic agave and brown rice syrup as the primary sweeteners. 2 are vegan (chai spice and banana nut). We would be glad to send you samples for trial.