Protein Bars – Are They Really Healthy?

We hear from a lot of patients that they grab a "protein" bar or drink for breakfast. They think there’s no time to have a "normal" breakfast. Bars and shakes are so quick and easy, and are marketed as a nutritionally sound alternative to a sit down meal. There are some good products out there in the bar and shake line, you just have to be careful and find the right ones. This means label reading.

With all of the mixed conceptions of "what’s healthy" it can be hard to tell if your protein bar is really as nutritious as it says it is. It’s sad to say, but most protein bars are just as unhealthy as candy bars. Most protein bars have vitamins, fiber, and protein, but are loaded with sugar, sugar alcohols, or coated in chocolate to make it taste good. Protein bars are convenient and that is why they are so popular. People can grab one and eat it on the way to work or "on the go" as a snack. This is what makes people think that protein bars are the greatest thing to come on to the food market – but in reality, they can cause your body health problems because of the sugar, preservatives, and artificial sweeteners.

When shopping for protein bars, make sure they do not contain high levels of fructose, corn syrup, juice concentrates, or hydrogenated oils.

Most often the only bars that are worthy of replacing real foods are found at a health food store. These stores sell products with very few ingredients and are minimally processed. The one catch will be that instead of adding sugar, the bars will contain fruit to give them their sweetness. For some people this is okay, but for Lion’s and Otters, they need to choose very carefully in order to not overdo it. Check for Luna and Lara bars, they are usually two pretty good brands when you really need to have a protein bar option!

Even though there are vitamins and protein in most of these bars, it is always healthier to make food for yourself. You need to eat the right foods to give your body the energy it deserves. When you go to the gas station, you have to make sure you put the right type of fuel in your car or it will break down - right? Our bodies are just the same! You don’t want to put the wrong fuel (foods) in your body, because it can make us breakdown. When you want to give yourself an energy boost, you’ll want to eat the right foods for your Diet Type that will give you long lasting energy, not foods that will make your body come crashing down an hour after you eat them. Many protein bars will only give you short term energy. Many of them contain artificially made sweeteners and preservatives that if consumed regularly could lead to other health problems.

First try eating a healthier breakfast by making something that’s quick to fix. Make up some hard boiled eggs at the beginning of the week so you can quickly grab one in the morning, whole wheat toast and oatmeal can be quick and even eaten once you get to work or school, or you can always have last night’s leftovers. If you have kitchen type facilities available at work or school you could always keep some breakfast food there to have when you get in. There are many meals that you can make that don’t take long to fix. Instead of eating protein bars as snacks or meal replacements, start eating real fresh foods. Your body will start feeling better and have more energy from natural healthy foods.