If you are thinking of buying healthy protein bars, then you should know what the red flags are. Health and nutrition bars are not as simple as they look. You will need to learn a few things in order to find one that will suit your needs and taste. Most people think that all health bars are the same and are made up of basically just protein powder and fiber, which is simply not the case as there are so many things that you should be aware of before making your purchase.
You should start off by reading the label. Many protein bars will have a lot of empty calories and things like sugar, which are added to make them taste better. The sugar is usually disguised as artificial sweeteners, which are also referred to as “partially hydrogenated oils” which should give you a clue.1 If it says “nutritious bars” on the label then you can be pretty sure that it is not going to have any nutrients in it.
A healthy diet should consist of eating plenty of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and drinking lots of water. All of these things will help you feel full and keep you regular. If you are ever interested in finding a healthy product to add to your diet, then it is important that you look for a label that states that it is “cholesterol-free.”2 Just by reading this simple statement alone, you will be able to tell if a product is truly healthy or not. Just remember that there are healthy options out there, so you shouldn’t let your guard down just yet.
What Things That Make Protein Bars Unhealthy?
When you start trying to make healthy food choices, you will quickly learn that there are many things that make protein bars unhealthy. If you want to stay away from these items you need to be able to watch out for them. This is the only way to be able to make sure that you are eating nutritious bars without worrying about the high amounts of sugar, fat, and other unhealthy ingredients.
One of the things that make protein bars unhealthy is excess sugar. Even low-carb protein bars sometimes have a large amount of sugar in them. You will find that just about all types of bars have some amount of sugar in them. It is not uncommon for protein bars to have up to fifty percent of their carbohydrates contained in sugar. If you have ever eaten something that has a lot of sugar, you know that it can be hard to avoid temptation.
Fat is another problem with most protein bars. Most people will eat a lot of fat when they are eating out at a restaurant or even a quick snack at the office. There is really no excuse for these kinds of food items if you want to be healthier. Fat is not only unhealthy but can lead to weight gain and a body that is not healthy in any way.
Another thing that makes a protein bar unhealthy is a high level of fillers. These are usually made from soy, flour, or corn syrup. While these ingredients are commonly used to help boost the taste of the bars, they do not have any nutritional benefit at all. If you do not feel like eating the bar because there are lots of unhealthy ingredients, then you are not getting any nutrition from it. You need to watch for these kinds of ingredients as much as possible to avoid bad things happening to your body.
These are all things that make protein bars unhealthy. There are many ways that you can keep these items out of your diet and many ways that you can get them into your diet easily. The easiest way is to use whole food protein supplements that have been specifically formulated to be as healthy as possible. By choosing these types of supplements, you can get protein into your body without worrying about things that make protein bars unhealthy. Protein supplements that are free from harmful ingredients are the best option for your body, as they will help you build muscle and keep your immune system strong.
Why Vegetable Glycerin in Protein Bars Can Be Unhealthy
One question that is asked a lot, is regarding why Vegetable Glycerin in protein bars is unhealthy. You see, many people do not know that Glycerin is actually a by-product of sugar cane. In general, it’s untrue that the sugar cane industry is bad, and that something to be frowned upon, because Glycerin is a natural ingredient. It is derived from plants and not animals or processed foods.3 So why does Vegetable Glycerin in protein bars look unhealthy?
The main reason why Vegetable Glycerin in a protein supplement bar may look unhealthy is due to the amount of fat that is found within the bars.4 There are many people that love the taste of these bars, but there are others that cannot withstand the amount of fat that is commonly found in these types of products. While there are healthy fats that can be found in some meats and dairy products, there are unhealthy fats as well. Some of the most unhealthy fats are called trans fats, and they should be avoided at all costs.
Trans fats are man-made fats that are made by using hydrogen peroxide as an additive. These types of fats are a type of “bad fats” that cause the body to have a high level of cholesterol.5 Also these bad fats have a tendency to accumulate in the fatty areas of the body. If these fats are left in the body for a long period of time, they can cause the levels of cholesterol to increase to unhealthy levels.
The build-up of fat in the body is unhealthy for a variety of reasons. Firstly, the excess fat interferes with the production of testosterone. Testosterone is essential for a healthy immune system. Also, high levels of testosterone in the body have been associated with aggression, obesity, and increased body mass index. Lastly, when the body has a high amount of testosterone there is an increased ability to burn off calories and fat. However, once the fat builds up it is difficult for the body to burn it off and so weight gain occurs.6
Vegetable glycerin provides the body with a natural source of fat. This fat is called omega 3 fatty acids. This fat helps to reduce cholesterol levels and it also helps to improve cardiovascular health. However, when the body has too much fat there is an increased chance of having high blood pressure and heart problems. As well, high levels of cholesterol have been linked to cancers of the colon, bladder, and rectum.
In conclusion, while the consumption of vegetable glycerin in protein bars is often healthier than other sources of protein, it can still be a source of unhealthy fats if the person consumes a lot of fat. Additionally, the fat levels from vegetable glycerin tend to be fairly consistent across all products, but it is important to read the labels of products that claim to contain the ingredient “natural” or “vegetal”. These products should not be consumed if you are trying to lose weight as they will often include unhealthy fats.
Why Sugar Alcohol Is Unhealthy in Protein Bars?
If you want to know the truth about why sugar is bad for your body you have come to the right place. It can be absorbed by many parts of the body including the skin, blood vessels, organs, and cells, as well as the nerves. Its absorption rate is extremely high in the body due to its high sugar content, and this means it can quickly enter the bloodstream where it will do damage in just minutes.
However, not all sugar in food is bad for you. It can actually be used as a fuel source for the body. The main problem with using sugar as a fuel source though is that it can cause unpleasant side effects such as headaches, nausea, dizziness, and excessive sweating.
When looking at why sugar is bad for you in food, you should look at the possible toxins it contains. Sugar alcohols contain ethyl alcohol, which is a highly toxic substance known as tannic acid. It is a by-product of fermentation, and when consumed in excessive amounts can cause serious problems with the liver, and kidneys. Ethyl alcohols can also cause a disruption of hormonal balance in the body, which can contribute to the onset of diabetes.7 It is also a strong oxidant that can cause oxidative stress in the body.
When combined with protein, sugar can have the opposite effect on the body, promoting rapid weight gain and dehydration. If you are a person who likes their protein in high quantities, this may mean that you need to be careful about the nutritional content of your protein products. Any sugar alcohols will negate any benefits you may have had from eating a high protein diet.
The sugars will simply replace more healthy nutrients. The worst part is that sugar substitutes commonly used in protein bars often contain as much as twenty percent sugar, making them extremely unhealthy. This may seem like a lot of sugar to put into a bar but it is really only about a third of the calories in the bar. What you may not realize is that the sugars are replacing nutrients that your body is better able to burn for energy. In a healthy diet, this would not be an issue, but when you’re eating sugary bars, you are likely not getting enough nutrients.
As with many things in life, there is a right and a wrong way to use sugar. We should all strive to avoid it but it can sometimes be beneficial to our health. If you notice that you have trouble controlling your cravings, try cutting back on the number of sugary drinks and food items you consume. You’ll find that over time, you’ll notice a huge difference in the way you feel and in how you look at sugar.
Why Cheap Fiber and Fillers Are Unhealthy in Protein Bars?
There are many positives that make us want to buy cheap protein bars. We love the taste and the variety, and the price is right. But are they healthy or not? Many health experts say yes, but others claim that there are a few negatives that make them unhealthy. The answers lie between the flavor and the nutritional content – and the fillers in protein bars
Cheap protein can be bad in a number of ways. First of all, cheap protein tends to lack protein – which is necessary for building muscle. If you don’t take in enough protein when you eat foods high in protein like meat, cheese, beans, and nuts then your body won’t have the necessary amino acids to build new muscles. Protein should make up about 40% of your diet, so just buying cheap protein bars isn’t going to provide you with enough of it.8
Another issue with cheap protein is that it’s usually made from unhealthy filler. Most protein-filled foods like wheat bread, rice, cookies, and cakes have some filler that is either sugar or flour. While both are good for providing carbohydrates, both also contain calories and fat. You really don’t want to overindulge with cheap protein bars – as much as possible, try to get your protein from foods that are high in protein, like fish, chicken, and eggs.
Another negative of cheap protein bars is that they tend to lack essential fats. While it is important to get the proper amounts of fats from fish, nuts, and olives, you don’t need all of those extra calories. A great alternative for protein bars is a bean protein bar – because it has all of the protein you need without the excess baggage of fat. The natural fiber of a bean protein bar provides the energy you need to keep your body energized while adding the healthy fats that you need. In fact, it’s better for you than expensive protein powders and bars, since most protein powders and bars are loaded with unhealthy fillers.
Finally, there are two big issues with protein fillers. The first is that they can change the taste of your food, and some people cannot handle the taste. Many protein bars use fillers like sugar or flour, to give them more taste. For this reason, many vegetarians and vegans find protein bars very difficult to eat, since they cannot tell the difference between an actual meat product and food filled with fillers.
As you can see, cheap protein can be a bad choice. If you’re going to buy cheap fiber and filler, make sure you’re buying the kind that will actually provide you with the protein you need. There are several brands on the market today that will help you get the protein you need without sacrificing your diet.
How to Find Healthy Protein Bars?
There is no shortage of healthy protein bars out there and finding them can be a challenge. It used to be that protein was something you just had to go to a health food store to get and then never knew what was in there or how much it was. This used to make people very limited in their protein intake, which was bad because we all need protein in our diets. So, how to find healthy protein bars has become an issue for many people, especially those that want to increase the amount of protein in their diet.9
One way to get healthy protein bars is to go online to the nutrition information for specific products. For example, if you look for a protein powder in any of the major retailers like Whole Foods or Publix, you should be able to find it. These types of stores sell various types of protein bars, including whey protein. If you can’t find one that you like at your local store, you may want to try a website that sells them. Here, you can search specifically for protein bars or look for all of the categories of protein that are available.
Homemade protein bars are a great alternative to the store-bought variety and can be quite tasty as well. While protein powder is not necessary, you do want something there that will taste good and provide you with plenty of energy. If you don’t like the taste of the powder, you can use vanilla extract instead or choose another flavor, such as green tea or almond butter. You can even add flavorings to the mix if you wish. You can also get protein bars that are made with egg whites, which is better for those who might have heart problems or are on other diets.
Image Credits
Cooking Light / January 11, 2018
Seven Minerals / 2021
Limitless Training / December 26, 2017
Henry Ford Health System / September 24, 2018
1 “Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil: Uses, Downsides, and Food Sources.” 25 Sep. 2019, https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/hydrogenated-vegetable-oil Accessed 11 May. 2021.
2 “Healthy diet – WHO | World Health Organization.” 29 Apr. 2020, https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/healthy-diet Accessed 11 May. 2021.
3 “What Is Glycerin? – Food Insight.” 28 Apr. 2020, https://foodinsight.org/what-is-glycerin/ Accessed 11 May. 2021.
4 “What Is Vegetable Glycerin? Uses, Benefits and Side Effects.” 19 Dec. 2018, https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/vegetable-glycerin Accessed 11 May. 2021.
5 “Edible Glycerin Uses, Benefits, Safety, Side Effects.” https://www.nutrientsreview.com/carbs/edible-glycerin.html Accessed 11 May. 2021.
6 “Bigger, Faster, Stronger? 6 Benefits of Testosterone – Healthline.” https://www.healthline.com/health/benefits-testosterone Accessed 11 May. 2021.
7 “Early Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes: How To Tell if You Have It.” 12 Jun. 2019, http://www.webmd.com/diabetes/guide/understanding-diabetes-symptoms? Accessed 11 May. 2021.
8 “Protein Intake — How Much Protein Should You Eat per Day?.” https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/how-much-protein-per-day Accessed 11 May. 2021.
9 “10 Science-Backed Reasons to Eat More Protein – Healthline.” 8 Mar. 2019, https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-reasons-to-eat-more-protein Accessed 11 May. 2021.
