I’m not sure if you know this, but protein bars are one of the most
popular “on the go” foods today.
And what’s interesting is most protein bars aren’t very healthy for
you. In fact, with some of them, it’s really no different than
eating a candy bar.
So today I want to give you some tips on what to look for in a
protein bar.
First, check the label. You are going to want to avoid the
following ingredients if you want a healthy protein bar:
- High fructose corn syrup
- High amounts of sugar
- Artificial sweeteners
- Chemical additives
- Soy protein
- Artificial vitamins
Most protein bars have one or more of the following above, so pay
attention and try to find a bar with as few of this list as
possible.
Now let’s go over a few things to look for in a healthy protein bar:
- Make sure there is zero soy protein. Why? Because soy protein
and soy products the most genetically modified of any crop out
there. They are also one of the most contaminated crops with
pesticide and herbicide residues. Instead of soy protein, look for
whey protein. - With a healthy protein bar, you don’t want artificial
sweeteners. So if the protein bar has aspartame, sucralose, or any
of the other artificial sweeteners, then the bar isn’t that healthy. - Next is the total carbohydrates and fiber. You want a good
fiber to carbohydrate ratio. For example, if a bar has 10 grams of
fiber and 50 carbohydrates, that’s 20% fiber content from the
carbs. So look for bars with a higher percentage of fiber. - The next thing to look at is the protein content . You
generally want a protein bar that has 10 to 15 more grams of
protein than carbohydrates. - Also look for a bar that has healthy fats. These would be from
nuts, seeds, coconut oil, or something like almond butter. Try to
find a bar with 8 to 15 grams of healthy fats. - Last, and this one if a little harder to find so think of it
more as a bonus, is superfoods or greens. There are plenty of good
protein bars that don’t contain greens or superfoods, but if you
find one that does, it’s going to be an extremely good protein bar.
In our fast paced lives, having a couple protein bars on hand at
home or work is a great idea. And the information above will help
you navigate through the dozens of options out there so you are
eating healthy.
Thanks and have a great day!
Dr. Justin Trosclair
