The Nutritional Value of Protein Bars

Protein bars are called nutritional supplements and sold as such, so they have to be good for you. Right? This sort of idea can get you into trouble fast. Most protein bars do have some value as a supplement but some do not make the nutritional grade. Protein bars range from using quality complex carbs, healthy fats, and good proteins to being nothing but candy bars with fancy names.

Before you buy any protein bars do your research. A general search of protein bars or a search for the one you’re particularly interested in will give you lots of good information. Check the ingredients and nutrition profile. You should see high quality soy, milk, or whey protein or some sort of blend of these and it should be the very first ingredient on the list. This means it’s high in protein that is good quality and the amount of protein is also high.

Sugar is used to give protein bars their flavor and the amount varies by bar. It should be no more than one third of the bar’s total carbohydrate content. Some bars use sugar alcohols in order to add a sweet taste without sugar. Fats and oils make protein bars easier to eat with a smoother texture; they also help to hold the bars together. These fats need to be from unsaturated sources and have as little saturated fats as possible. Don’t eat bars that have trans fats.

How many calories a protein bar has depends on a few things. First, the total nutritional content. There more there is of each nutrient in a bar the more calories the bar will have. Carbs and proteins are about 4 calories to a gram and fat is about 9. You can get confused when sugar alcohols are used because these count towards the carb content, but they have very few, if any, calories.

It’s important to have good mineral and vitamin content in a bar if you are going to use it to replace meals, even if just once in a while. We can get all of our needed minerals and vitamins from the whole foods that we eat. When you start using supplements you actually lose minerals and vitamins. When you are looking for the perfect protein bar make sure to remember to check the content of minerals and vitamins in the bar.

When you need a quick meal on the run, there are many protein bars you can use to replace that meal. Look for bars that have a similar nutrient breakdown to what you normally would eat. For example, if you would eat a meal that has 20 percent fat, 30 percent protein, and 50 percent carbs you should find a protein bar that is as similar as possible to that. It may not be a perfect match, but you should try to find one that is as close as possible.

A bar used simply to get extra protein rather than as a replacement meal should have lower fats and carbohydrates, especially sugar. It should be much closer to a regular protein shake and should be a supplement a meal’s protein. You can also use them to get a protein boots in between your meals or even after a workout but don’t use them for meal replacements. While the extra amino acids will be good for your muscles, you won’t get all the nutrients your body needs.

Protein bars can be very nutritional depending on what you need it for and what the nutritional profile is. Make sure the bar you choose has a third or less of its carbohydrates from sugar, has quality proteins, and unsaturated fat sources. Once you know what you’re looking for, find one that tastes great. There are bars that fit all kinds of needs and tastes, so you’ll find something for you.  Check out the best protein bars.