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Supplements and Sports
Protein Bars
Protein Bars: Are they Healthy?
Protein Bars Defined
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!
Benefits of Protein Bars
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.
Ingredients of a Protein Bar
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
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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