7 THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR WHEN BUYING A BETTER PROTEIN BAR

 

1. GO BIGGER ON PROTEIN

Look for a bar that provides at least 10 grams of protein (that's more than an egg!) to satiate hunger for a longer period of time and aid with bicep development. This can originate from plant-based proteins like pea protein and almonds or from proteins derived from animals like whey or egg white.

2. KEEP CALORIES IN MIND

The calorie counts on bars can vary greatly, as you may have observed. Stick with bars that have 250 calories or fewer for between-meal snacks. Going all the way up to 400 calories may make more sense if you're doing so to replace a meal or as a post-workout snack.

3. SCAN THE SUGARS

Many bars border on desserts with flavours like salted caramel and fudge brownie. To put it another way, they might be sugar bombs, which is unhealthy for your ticker. According to a study published in the year 2023 in the medical journal BMC Medicine, total added sugar consumption was the best predictor of heart disease, not the total amount of carbohydrates in your diet. The ideal bar should contain no more than 8 grammes of added sugar, preferably from natural sources such dried fruits or less harmful low-calorie sweeteners like monk fruit, stevia, or erythritol. Fortunately, nutrition labels now have to include the amount of added sugar.

4. I.D. THE FATS

Instead of a product packed with undesirable sources like palm kernel oil or anything hydrogenated, you want a bar that is manufactured with healthier unsaturated fats from foods like nuts, seeds and nut butters.

5. KNOW YOUR GRAINS

If a protein bar contains any grains, they should be whole such as oats or quinoa. This will give you a bar with more essential micronutrients and fiber. 

 

6. FIGHT FOR FIBER

Fibre is crucial for maintaining gut health and helping you feel full, but few men consume enough of it. If you already consume plenty of high-fiber foods like vegetables and legumes in your diet, a protein bar with 3 grammes or more of fibre per serving may not be necessary. With the proviso that you should ease into bars that contain significant amounts of isolated fibres like chicory root or maize fibre if you're not used to consuming a lot of fibre at once to assist avoid potential digestive problems like gas and bloating.  

7. LESS IS MORE

To make sure your bar is a little less processed, it's also a good idea to search for a bar with a shorter ingredient list. A long list of unidentified substances should raise an alert.