Are Protein Bars Good For Us?

In a category filled with all different types of bars, to be considered the "Best of the Best" is quite an honor. As most of you reading already know, "Protein" bars are often not only unHealthy, but are also loaded up with all different disguised sugars, fats and processed forms of protein. It hasn't been easy for companies to come up with truly healthy, organic, sugar free protein bars because in order to insure a shelf life they often feel the need to add in all sorts of extra, un-necessary, un-healthy ingredients. Did you know that the average protein bar has over 30 grams of sugar!!! That's as much or more than an average candy bar! Here are the ingredients and dietary information from a popular protein bar:


Supplement Facts
Serving Size1Bar(75g)
Servings Per Container12
Amount/Serving % DV*
Calories 280
Fat Cal 50
Total Fat 5g 8%
Saturated Fat 3g 15%
Trans Fat 0g
Cholest. 5mg 2%
Sodium 210mg 9%
Total Carb 38g 13%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Sugars 28g
Protein 20g 40%
Potassium 200mg 6%
Vitamin A 25%
Vitamin C 25%
Calcium 20%
Iron 35%
Vitamin E 25%
Riboflavin 25%
Vitamin B6 25%
Vitamin B12 25%
Pantothenic Acid 25%
Iodine 25%
Zinc 25%
Thiamine 25%
Niacin 25%
Folic Acid 25%
Biotin 25%
Phosphorus 35%
Magnesium 25%
Copper 25%
L-Glutamine 100mg
L-Leucine 100mg
L-Isoleucine 25mg
L-Valine 25mg
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Ingredients
Protein Blend (Whey Protein Concentrate, Calcium Caseinate, Hydrolyzed Whey Protein Concentrate, L-Glutamine, L-Leucine, L-Isoleucine, L-Valine), High Fructose Corn Syrup, Corn Syrup, Non GMO Soy Protein Isolate, Yogurt Coating [Sugar, Fractionated Palm Kernel Oil, Nonfat Dry Milk, Yogurt Powder (Cultured Whey Protein Concentrate, Cultured Skim Milk, Yogurt Culture), Artificial Color, Soy Lecithin, Salt, Natural Flavor], Cookies (Enriched Wheat Flour, Sugar, Partially Hydrogenated Soybean And/Or Cottonseed Oil, Cocoa, Salt, Sodium Bicarbonate), Dutch Processed Cocoa, Canola Oil, Peanut Butter, Guar Gum, Oat Fiber, Non GMO Soy Fiber, Beet Fiber., Vitamins & Minerals: Dicalcium Phosphate, Magnesium Oxide, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin E Acetate, Ferrous Fumarate, Niacinamide, Zinc Oxide, Copper Gluconate, Vitamin A Palmitate, Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Thiamine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Biotin, Potassium Iodide, Cyanocobalamin

I will have a break down on the side bar very soon so that you can see just what these ingredients really are, and what they do to our bodies once we ingest them. There is no doubt that we all need protein, however these bars are one of the worst ways to get it! No one should ever eat corn syrup, much less high fructose corn syrup, one of the biggest reasons for America's obesity epidemic. Then when you get into partially hydrogenated anything, you're getting into very un-healthy fats and oils that your body doesn't process well. Throw in all different forms of dairy which most people are naturally allergic to, and the health value just drops down to a negative! I can't stress enough how un-healthy the typical protein or meal replacement bar is for you. They aren't health food, and they aren't good for you and they aren't any replacement for a healthy meal or un-processed snack.

Read above about a fantastic alternative snack, Fruit & Nut Bars!