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Protein Bars
Protein Bars: Are they Healthy?
What are protein bars? Protein bars, also known as “diet” bars, are just one of the nutrition bars widely available nowadays. They are a replacement meal especially made for weightlifters as well as dieters who are exceptionally conscious with their figure, weight and shape.
These bars contain high levels of protein and low carbohydrate content to help one build muscle and at the same time lose fat when training. Some major companies famous for making energy and dietary supplements would define protein bars as “a healthy, low-calorie pre- or post-workout snack.”
For some obvious reasons, different brands on the market vary with taste. Some are not at all tasty while others are very delectable to eat. Chocolate, however, is one of the most popular flavors. Are you now thinking about its delightful flavor plus the high protein and low carb diet it promotes? Can you resist eating it? I don’t think so!
How can protein bars be beneficial? Protein bars are beneficial in such a way that they allow busy people, who are not able to complete their meals, to get protein nutrition in a day. They are very convenient and tasty for some, though not all people find them yummy. They facilitate total nutrition while giving key nutrients to the body. Key nutrients are needed to further improve health and physical performance. Protein bars also support many chemical processes in the body as they contain a blend of vitamins and minerals.
Protein Bars: A High Protein Diet
Weight conscious people claim that they need a low carb and a high protein diet for them to immediately burn fat without getting starved. How true is this claim? What does high protein diet mean? Is it healthy?
This kind of diet simply means receiving excess proteins of up to 15% in the body. This diet recommends about 30% of calories from proteins as opposed to the normal protein recommendation of only 10-15%. In reality, this diet is often high in total fat. However, nutritionists and especially bodybuilders, often suggest this high protein diet as it easily helps build muscle and lose fat.
Usually, protein bars are made with artificial sweeteners like Maltitol and sucralose, as well as reduced-calorie fats like Salatrim. One brand would include 320 calories (chocolate chip flavor), 29 grams of carbohydrates, about 11 grams of sugar and 8 grams of fat. Yes it contains fat and sugars. Thus, it cannot be considered as a non-calorie supplement.
Protein bars are, in fact, a high protein supplement as they contain about 34 grams of protein. Too much protein contained in a bar? They say that high protein content is necessary to promote muscle growth? Yes it does, but too much of it is detrimental.
Bad Effects fo Protein Bars
Protein, in its purest form, is a very important nutrient, essential to health. It is very indispensable and helps in the formation and replacement of new tissues in the body. It helps transport oxygen and nutrients in cells and blood and thus normalizes acid and water balance in the body. It also aids in the production of essential antibodies.
Statistics show that an average American consumes approximately twice as much protein than what is essentially required. This can be very dangerous.
But can we know how much protein we really need? The National Institutes of Health says that the required amount of protein for adults is about 50-60g. However, infants, children, pregnant as well as nursing women would call for more protein requirements.
There is a high risk of getting addicted to protein bars since they promote a high protein diet. Many desperate people jeopardize their health by eating too much protein thinking that it will help them lose weight easier. This is a fallacy! Too much protein consumption leads to stroke, kidney stones and heart disease. Furthermore, high protein intake results in leaching of calcium in the bones that eventually leads to osteoporosis.
Do protein bars provide the right protein requirements? Let’s look at the nutritional information on the back of the wrappers and analyze a little. Let’s check with the nutritionist regarding our nutritional requirements. Then we will know if protein bars would really work for us.
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If diabetes isn? t a concern and you have no hypoglycemic symptoms, there is one more reason to consider managing your blood sugar levels. Recent government studies indicate that over 50% of all adult Americans are now over weight. Contrary to popular belief, weight gain is not merely the result of consuming more calories than we burn up in activity. Excess weight, particularly the stubborn kind that doesn? t respond to increased exercise, is often the result of elevated blood sugar and insulin levels. When…
i am soo addicted to rptoein bars.
its 90% of my diet
&i eat like 60g of prtoein a day or more
&about 4 bars a day plus shakes.
crap!!
Me too Cole! I had 5 today
grrr