Protein bars are a great way to ensure you’re getting enough protein in your diet and can serve as a snack between meals or as a meal replacement. There are several factors that you need to consider to ensure that you are getting the right protein bars. Some of them are packed with artificial ingredients, added sugars, and fat, and may have more calories than you need or want. Before you buy any protein bar, look at its contents and carefully evaluate these factors before making your decision:

– Sugar content

– happy fat man

– 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 it. 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 of 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 may be a good choice. Both additions will slow the rate of absorption of sugar into the body.

fat content

We all know that some fat is needed in many food products in order 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 hurt the nutritional value of the best-intentioned protein bars. The grams of fat should not be more than the amount of protein, for example. Protein should also not be listed as saturated fat or any of the sneaky keywords used to slide dangerous types of fat past the most attentive 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 listed on the label and should say “protein bar” instead of energy 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 close to 200 calories per serving. However, once you hit that calorie level, you have 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 amount of calories and about half the cost, it might not be a valid tradeoff to suggest 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 additional ingredients for 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, check 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 and longest lasting product that still gives them adequate gain.

Price and availability

The average candy bar costs just under a dollar these days. The average protein bar can range from $1.50 to $4 and up for a single unit. Buying multi-pack protein bars 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 buying multiple of them. Not only do you have to make sure it has all the right ingredients, but it also has the most important factor of all: great 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 often remove flavors in some stores or entire regions. It’s important to have a favorite bar along with several endorsement brands that you can turn to if necessary.