Can Protein Bars Help you Lose Weight?

October 22, 2011

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Yes protein bars can help you lose weight and live a healthy lifestyle if you choose the right bar!

Are you unwrapping a convenient, nutrient-packed snack, or candy in disguise? Find out now!

Protein bars (also known as nutrition or energy bars) appear to let you have your cake and eat it too: They pack belly-flattening ingredients, they help tide you over when you can’t get to real food, and many taste like dessert .

But a lot of so-called nutrition bars can harbor stealth ingredients like hydrogentated oils, saturated fat, and sugar or sugar alcohols, and some have more calories than a brick of chocolate.

So how can you tell if your bar is healthy or harmful?

Choose one that has 100 to 200 calories and contains the following good for you ingredients.

What Ingredients Should You Look for in a Protein Bar:

Protein

Many bars are formulated for athletes as a quick way to deliver the protein they need to build muscle, which is why this super-nutrient is the star ingredient in most brands. It also feeds the calorie-burning furnace known as your metabolism and hushes between meals hunger pangs because it’s digested more slowly than other nutrients.

Look for:
At least six grams of protein. Emerging research indicated that whey, a dairy-derived protein, may have a slight advantage over other forms of protein when it comes to body sculpting. And according to a study that was published in the Journal of Nutrition earlier this year, whey can also help blast belly fat and reduce overall body weight.

Carbohydrates

Don’t be afraid of them! Carbs provide you with quick energy and replenish lost glycogen (stored sugar that fuels exercise) after a tough workout, and they also play a role in insulin secretion, which helps your muscles soak up the amino acids they need in order to repair and rebuild themselves.

Look For:
Whole grains and dried fruit (35 grams or less of total carbs, of which no more than 19 grams should be from sugar). Steer clear of tough to digest sugar alcohols that can lead to rather unpleasant tummy issues.

Fat

If you want your thighs to be fat-free, your bar shouldn’t be. A little healthy fat is what helps boost bar flavor, and it helps keep you full too.

Look For:
Heart healthy unsaturated fats that come from nuts, seeds, and peanut (eight grams or less). They satisfy your stomach without clogging your arteries the way many saturated fats, such as palm oil, do.

Fiber

Considering that most of us get only about 15 of the 25 grams of fiber we need each day, sneaking in a few extra grams can help fill the void – and your tummy. Because your body can’t digest fiber, it helps you feel full, and studies have linked a high fiber diet to a longer life span, reduce risk for breast cancer, and other health benefits.

Look For:
Up to five grams of any kind. Most bars don’t identify the type of fiber they contain, but many have some combo of insoluble fiber, both of which take up space in your digestive tract to keep you full.

Vitamins and Minerals

The back of a wrapper can read much like the label on a bottle of multivitamins: many bars are rich in antioxidants and contain important nutrients like potassium, iron, folate, and vitamins A, C, and D.

Look For:
Calcium. This essential mineral is critical for bone health and muscle function, so it can enhance your workout and may help torch fat and prevent stress fractures. People have a tough time getting enough C from food alone, so it’s a bonus to have it in your bar.

The Top Protein Bar Choices:

1. Pure Organic Cranberry Orange Bar.

Who says a bar can’t taste as good as real food? This minimally processed one is made from all organic ingredients, including dates, cranberries, cashews, and almonds.

Shop Now: Pure Organic Raw Fruit & Nut Bars (Pack of 12).

190 calories, 8 grams of fat, 27 grams carbs, 19 grams of sugar, 5 mg sodium, 3 grams fiber, 6 grams protein.

2. Smart for Life Green Tea Protein Bar.

This slim pick delivers more protein than a lot of other low-calorie bars. And as a bonus, it contains green tea extract, which studies have shown can boost your calorie burn.

180 calories, 4 grams of fat, 18 grams carbs, 10 grams of sugar, 160 mg sodium, 2 grams fiber, 18 grams protein.

3. Honey Stinger Dark Chocolate Cherry Almond Protein Bar.

Unwrap a hearty helping of vitamins and minerals covered in decadent, dessert like chocolate.

190 calories, 8 grams of fat, 19 grams carbs, 16 grams of sugar, 26 mg sodium, 2 grams fiber, 10 grams protein.

Shop Now for Honey Stinger Protein Bar -10g -15 Pack.

4. Balance Bar Gold S’mores

All the Chocolate, graham-cracker, and marshmallowy goodness of your favorite campfire treat, plus a dose of vitamin D, which is an essential nutrient for bone health and muscle strength.

200 calories, 7 grams of fat, 23 grams carbs, 14 grams of sugar, 220 mg sodium, 3 grams fiber, 14 grams protein.

Shop Now for Balance Nutritional Bars Gold Smores Bar.

5.Kashi GoLean Peanut Butter and Chocolate Protein and Fiber Bar

It tastes like a peanut chew but has about as much fiber as two cups of broccoli.

200 calories, 5 grams of fat, 32 grams carbs, 17 grams of sugar, 180 mg sodium, 5 grams fiber, 10 grams protein.

Shop Now for Kashi GOLEAN Bar Crunchy! Chocolate Peanut (1.76-Ounce), 4-Count Bars (Pack of 6).

6. Luna Bars

Luna Bars are nutritionally designed by women, for women. Enriched with 22 vitamins and minerals and a good source of protein. Created by the makers of the Clif Bar.