Features of choosing protein bars and cookies
Many people are skeptical about such snacks and wonder if protein bars can be eaten. A high-quality product will really benefit the body, but for this you need to objectively evaluate the pros and cons of food, and take a responsible approach to its choice.
The benefits of protein bars are truly enormous:
- This is a completely ready-to-eat product that is ideal for a quick snack.
- The bars don't take up much space and are convenient to always have on hand. This will be useful for those who are often on the road or very busy at work and do not have enough time for a full meal.
- Protein bars are also suitable for weight loss, because they do not contain sugar. At the same time, the taste of the product is sweet and pleasant, so you can safely eat them without worrying about your figure.
It is important to remember that even the best protein bars and cookies will not replace a full meal. They are suitable for snacking, but should not be used as the mainstay of the diet.
When determining which protein bars are the best, you need to carefully study the composition of the product. Many unscrupulous manufacturers simply disguise ordinary sweets as protein bars. The product should not contain sugar, flavorings or preservatives, but only natural ingredients. Attention is also paid to the calorie content of the product; it should not be high. Otherwise, the bar turns into an ordinary harmful sweet.
Protein bars
Protein bars are the general name for all bars in sports nutrition. Protein bars come in several types:
- High protein. Used during a low-carb diet, temporary cessation of exercise, or when gaining weight.
- High carb. Used for weight gain. Very high in calories.
- Cereals. Used during a diet. Contains few calories and l-carnitine.
Features of the bars
A protein bar is a compressed protein with added carbohydrates, flavorings and covered in chocolate. They also necessarily contain sugar and fat. Differences in the composition of the bars are determined only by the amount of protein (15-50%) and fat (5-15%) contained. The weight of the bar generally reaches 100 grams. The more protein a protein bar contains, the more of it will enter the body, and the minimum amount of fat and carbohydrates.
When and who should use the bars?
- For those who are losing weight. You need to eat bars with 40% protein and 10% fat. And they must be consumed at a strictly defined time, namely after training. Because the bars are very high in calories. And to lose weight you need to eat food with fewer calories.
- For those who are gaining muscle mass. You can use the bars at any time and in any quantity. The protein and fat content in this case is not particularly important.
Every protein bar contains sugar or a sugar substitute. There are artificial and natural substitutes. Let's take a closer look. The following components may be used in bars containing natural or natural sweeteners:
- Fructose. The most famous sweetener. The calorie content is equal to regular sugar. Penetrates into the cells of body tissues without the help of insulin. If consumed in excess, it can cause obesity. Can increase blood sugar levels.
- Xylitol. Refers to polyhydric alcohols. The level of sweetness is equal to sugar. Does not affect sugar levels. It has a choleretic and laxative effect. The daily norm is 40 g.
- Sorbitol. Also refers to polyhydric alcohols. It enters the body when eating fruits. It has 2 times less sweetness than glucose. The daily norm is 35 g. Can cause intestinal upset and abdominal pain.
- Stevia extract. A sweet plant growing in South America. Helps normalize immunity, blood pressure, heal ulcers and wounds, increases insulin production, improves digestion. In addition, stevia extract has antifungal and antimicrobial effects. Removes toxins, metabolic products and heavy metal salts from the body. Can be consumed every day.
Bars with synthetic sweeteners. The sweeteners contained are produced in laboratories, have no nutritional value and are not absorbed by the body. They may contain the following components:
- Aspartame. Release form: 18 g tablets. the sweetness disappears after heat treatment. The daily norm is 40 g. Chronic use can change the sensitivity threshold and reduce serotonin reserves. Causes panic, anger, depression.
- Sucralose. Does not cause harm when consumed. Has no energy value. Reduces the acidity of coffee and fruit juices. Harmless for pregnant women and children.
- Saccharin. The most famous of the synthetic sugar substitutes. The daily intake is 4 tablets. Does not collapse during heat treatment.
- Cyclamate. If you use cyclamate constantly, allergic reactions may occur. It is forbidden for pregnant women and children to take it.
Protein bars are not a substitute for protein.
What to pay attention to
When deciding which protein bar to choose, you need to consider the following criteria:
- Calorie content. You need to meet your daily calorie requirement!
- We carefully check the ratio of components. Sometimes, in order to promote a product, advertising about it may indicate incorrect proportions. So we always read the ingredients on the label.
- A good bar should have at least 10 g of protein.
- Checking the amount of fat. We are looking for a bar that contains no more than 5 g of fat.
- We make sure that the composition does not contain sugar syrup, corn syrup, glucose or sweeteners. If you buy a bar with sugar, it should be less than 15 g per 100 g of product.
- We carefully study the information about the vitamins included in the composition. Their amount should be around 1-2% of the total mass. They are needed to be absorbed by our body.
Efficiency
As you know, the best protein bars are those that help fill the gaps in your meals. Along the way, they contribute to the achievement of your goal, be it gaining muscle mass or losing weight.
Many people ask, “What is the best protein bar?” The answer depends on your goal:
- To achieve a balanced, healthy diet, cereal bars can be included in your daily diet.
- If you need to build sculpted muscles, add high-protein bars to your diet.
- Losing weight requires eating low-calorie, high-protein bars.
- To gain weight, eat high-carbohydrate desserts, which contain about 3 times more carbohydrates than proteins.
To be sure that the bar will really bring benefits, you need to remember that it should be based on natural sources of protein. Sources of healthy fats, such as nuts, can also be used.
Competent protein nutrition - simple and convenient
To stabilize weight (gain or lose it), it is very important to correctly plan your daily diet. To do this, it must contain high-quality protein. It is necessary if you play sports, build muscle mass, adjust your weight, or simply do not eat meat. A protein bar can easily and simply replace one of your meals if you are on a diet. Protein is an essential component for the growth and maintenance of muscle mass, as well as for strong bones. It can be obtained by eating meat, eggs, and cottage cheese daily. You can also use special protein shakes. The third option is to eat delicious protein bars.
A protein bar is a real “mobile protein”, since there is no need to eat it in a specific place, and a snack does not take much time and does not require special preparations for the process.
Nuances of use
Despite all the usefulness of such a dessert, you should not abuse protein bars. Everything is good in moderation. In case of an overdose, even the most useful substance becomes dangerous to health.
Carbohydrate-free protein bars have 3-5 times fewer calories than their regular chocolate counterparts. Therefore, you don’t have to be afraid of gaining excess weight if you eat them wisely. For example, in the morning, if you don’t have time to prepare yourself breakfast, or immediately after training, when you don’t need to eat a lot right away, but you need to make up for the lack of strength.
Sugar-free, carb-free protein bars are great to eat between meals. If you really want to eat, you can eat such a bar after dinner. The protein in this product will allow a person to survive until morning breakfast without any problems.
The absence of harmful chemical compounds, palm oil and sugar, makes the bars an ideal product for diabetics, lovers of low-calorie foods, and girls watching their figure.
Benefits of bars
Many athletes, while cutting, or girls who want to lose extra pounds, use low-carb protein bars and note positive results.
Benefit:
- convenient for snacking;
- satisfy appetite due to proteins and fiber;
- do not provoke the production of glucose in excessive quantities;
- a balanced composition will compensate for the lack of protein, vitamins and minerals;
- help relieve fatigue after heavy physical exertion;
- can be used to prepare delicious homemade desserts.
Low-carb (or no-carb) protein bars are designed to replace chocolates, candies, cookies and other goodies. They are recommended for those who are on a diet or counting their calorie intake.
Purpose
When dried, protein bars contain a lot of grains, as well as healthy L-carnitine. But they cannot be called an alternative to nutritious food. Athletes have success using high protein bars. They often practice this snack after an intense workout in order to gain the necessary muscle mass. The effect is achieved due to the fact that 25% of the bar’s composition is carbohydrates. But when drying, it is better to refuse this option. Uncontrolled intake of carbohydrates is fraught with sudden weight gain. True, the bars help saturate the body after heavy physical exertion. For stable functioning, the body needs glucose, which can be obtained from protein products.
