Protein Bars- Quick Fix or Bad Choice?

Even more of a quick fix idea than protein shakes are protein bars. Once again, it begins with a really great idea, a candy bar that gives you all the nutrition that you would get from a regular meal and it sounds absolutely fantastic. As a personal trainer many of my clients ask if they can have a Luna Bar or other protein bar as a breakfast replacement or as a meal when on the run and the answer is always no! Why not, you ask? Well to start do you think that a meal consists of whey protein, whey protein isolate, sugar, canola oil, cocoa processed with alkali, whey protein concentrate, milk protein isolate, organic brown rice syrup, soy protein isolate, glycerine, gelatin, soy crisps, lactose, tapioca starch, inulin, rolled oats, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, maltitol, palm kernel oil, oligofructose, high maltose corn syrup, cocoa butter, whey protein milk Concentrate, calcium caseinate, casein, nonfat yogurt powder, cocoa powder, maltodextrin, wheat Flour, soy lecithin, nitric oxide, glutamine, arginine, organic evaporated cane juice, dextrose, fish oils and water? Doesn’t sound too appetizing when listed that way, but those are the main ingredients of three of the top selling protein bars on the market.

My philosophy has always been that if you cannot pronounce the name on the ingredient list, then you probably shouldn’t be ingesting that food product as part of your diet, if staying healthy is your goal. In our microwave mentality world of needing a quick meal fix to suit hectic lives and schedules, the protein bars seem to offer a perfect solution to the dilemma of not having enough time to eat right. Unfortunately, as great an idea as this may sound really is not that fantastic. A quick look at the ingredient list will show that they use whey and soy protein as their primary sources, which may sound healthy, but are not. Whey protein is essentially a dairy product, and like so many other such products will cause a degree of bloating. Bodybuilders and fitness models usually restrict such proteins weeks before a contest or photo shoot when they want to look their best, and I recommend that if you are serious about looking your best that you never indulge in them. The soy based bars are even worse as soy, while touted (like whey protein) as being a healthy and natural food choice, soy is only edible after extensive processing and is not at all the staple of Asian cultures as the marketing behind it may have you believe. It is the bean with the highest phytic acid levels, which actually create nutrient deficiencies and isofavones, which are estrogen like plant hormones that among other things tend to promote fat retention.

The other ingredients of most protein bars are also suspect, most are high in sugars, contain high fructose corn syrup, salt and an host of almost unpronounceable ingredients. The first rule of healthy eating is always to eat food that is as minimally processed as possible, and protein bars are pretty much as processed as you can get. My suggestion is to work on changing your lifestyle to allow for proper meals (especially breakfast), and to use foods like salt free nuts and fruit as quick snacks instead of protein bars.Your body will thank you for it.

Information contained in this article is not meant to treat, diagnose illness, nor substitute for medical counsel and is intended for purposes of information and education only. Consult your physician before modifying your diet or starting any exercise program. Copyright 2009 by Kevin Richardson, Naturally Intense NYC Personal Trainer.

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Protein Bars- Quick Fix or Bad Choice? By Kevin Richardson, NYC Personal Trainer
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