Is Your Protein Bar Healthy? Part 1
Depends on the protein bar, actually. Get-Fit Guy explains how to make sure your post-workout snack doesn’t include ingredients that are bad for you.
Ben Greenfield
In the episode Do Muscle Building Supplements Work? you learn that one very effective way to add muscle is to supplement your diet with protein.
But protein can also be good for satiating your appetite, helping you recover more quickly from workouts, and potentially even losing weight!
However, as I will be discussing in a podcast episode next week, there are some things at a gym that may sabotage your health, and protein bars are one of them. If you look at the label of the average protein bar, you may see items such as:
-
High fructose corn syrup
-
Fractionated palm kernel oil, canola oil, and hydrogenated fats
-
Artificial sweeteners (sucralose, acesulfame potassium)
-
Wheat, rice, or other refined sugars such as cane syrup
-
Sugar alcohols such as maltitol syrup, xylitol, sorbitol, lactitol, mannitol, and erythritol
As Nutrition Diva will agree, none of these will help you lose weight or make you feel very good after you eat them.
See also: The Pros and Cons of Artificial Sweeteners
A better choice would be bars that use natural ingredients and minimal sweeteners. Or simply make your own shake with a healthy protein powder instead, since protein powders can have fewer fillers and sweeteners. Just choose your protein powder wisely.
If you have questions about whether your protein bar is healthy, then ask away the Get-Fit Guy Facebook page.
Protein bars photo from Shutterstock
About the Author
Ben Greenfield received bachelor’s and master’s degrees from University of Idaho in sports science and exercise physiology; personal training and strength and conditioning certifications from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA); a sports nutrition certification from the International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN), an advanced bicycle fitting certification from Serotta. He has over 11 years’ experience in coaching professional, collegiate, and recreational athletes from all sports, and as helped hundreds of clients achieve weight loss and fitness success.