| Nowadays, everywhere you go you see different
variety’s of these bars being
sold. Protein bars have become
a popular meal replacement for
active people and serve as a healthier
snack for people looking to add
a few extra calories. Generally,
there are two types of these bars
out there and they are those that
contain a balance of protein,
carbohydrates and fat, and those
that contain mostly protein and
fat, with very little carbohydrate.
The bars that are balanced with
protein, fat and carbs are more
of an energy type bar and are
popular with active people. The
bars that are mostly protein and
fat are popular with people looking
to lose weight and who are following
a low carb diet. But, what are
the benefits or the drawbacks
of these bars and how can they
fit into your diet as part of
a healthy eating plan? ADVANTAGES
Energy bars have one main advantage,
they are very convenient. They
fit into your briefcase, purse
or pocket making them easy to
take with you anywhere and to
eat anytime. A lot of them do
have a good amount of protein
without the high cholesterol and
saturated fat contained in other
protein sources. They are usually
fortified with vitamins and minerals
as well making them a healthier
choice than a fast food option
or a convenient store meal. DISADVANTAGES
Despite popular beliefs, energy
bars do not take the place of
a well balanced, nutritious meal.
While a lot of these bars are
fortified with vitamins and minerals
commonly found in fruits and vegetables,
they don’t contain the phytochemicals,
bioflavonoids and fiber fruits
and vegetables have so their benefits
are not quite the same. A lot
of these bars also contain hydrogenated
or partially hydrogenated palm
oil, meaning that the saturated
fat content of these bars can
be as much as 50% of the fat content.
SOME POINTS TO KEEP IN MIND You
are better off with one of these
bars verses a trip to the nearest
fast food place, but they still
don’t have the same health benefits
as fresh fruits and vegetables
and other whole foods. If you
do like to use these bars, you
can make them part of a healthier
meal by adding a piece of fruit
or a raw vegetable, as opposed
to making the bar itself the meal.
They are alright by themselves
as a pre or post workout snack
but always try to keep in mind
that they should be considered
a snack rather than a meal. Look
at the labels and choose bars
that are low in saturated fat
and have no palm oil or any hydrogenated
fats or at least have very little
of these fats. Look for bars that
contain vitamins and minerals
if you are using them for meal
replacements from time to time
to keep some of the nutrients
sacrificed from the meal you are
replacing in tact. Protein bars
are indeed a good thing if you
choose the right ones and you
always keep them in mind as a
healthy snack more than an actual
meal. When you use them as a snack,
remember that a lot of them do
pack a good amount of calories
so be careful if you are trying
to lose weight. Jim O'Neill gives
you tons of valuable information
on the subjects of weight loss,
fitness, and nutrition to make
it easy for you to live a healthy
lifestyle. Sign up now for his
free 7 part mini e-course at:
http://www.mrgymfitness.com/minicourse.php
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