These days, a lot of people have used a low carbohydrate diet plan, particularly the world renowned Atkins diet. Certainly, this four-phase Atkins diet is 1 of the most well-liked diet plans throughout the entire world, tried and tested even by stars such as Actress Elizabeth Roehm (Law and Order) and Jennifer Aniston. Atkins has […]
Bars & Snacks
Welcome to our Diet Bars section. We provide valuable online nutrition advice such as diet tips, fitness guides, and general health information.
Snacks Bars And Snacks – The Pros and Cons
We live in an age of convenience and there is nothing more convenient than the humble snack bar. However, there are snack bars and there are snack bars!
Snack bars certainly have their advantages. On the other hand, they also have their disadvantages! The sugar riddled, calorie laden, fat filled products are little more than candy bars by another name. Consuming these will do very little for your health, or your weight! Low carb protein bars on the other hand may have benefits if you’re snacking to lose weight or using them as part of a body-building program.
Protein – We Can’t Live Without It
We all need protein. It’s an indispensable macronutrient. All our major bodily structures are built from proteins. Proteins are used to build, and repair, our body tissues – muscle, skin, bone, cartilage, hair etc. We need protein to manufacture body chemicals such as hormones and enzymes. Our blood and our brain require protein. So without proteins, we simply wouldn’t exist. Period!
Protein Bars As An Alternative Source Of Protein
Most people consume enough protein in a normal healthy balanced diet and this is certainly the best way to get it. Protein is found in meat, eggs, nuts, fish and many other foods. If you’re eating enough of these, you’ll be getting more than enough protein. If you’re not, and vegans may fall into this category unless they’re eating foods like soy or hemp products, protein bars are certainly an option.
Dieting And Snack Bars
Some weight loss plans rely on specially manufactured snack bars to replace meals or unhealthy snacks. These snack bars, like Atkins low carb protein bars for example, are generally loaded with fiber, proteins, vitamins and minerals. They’re designed to fill you up so you eat less overall ie consume fewer calories, as well as provide essential proteins and other nutrients.
Whilst they definitely have their place in a well-rounded weight-loss diet, relying on bars and snacks alone is not recommended! Even the best of them do not contain nearly enough nutrients and antioxidants. To get these, you need to eat fresh fruit, vegetables and whole grains as well.
Between Meals Bars And Snacks
If you find you get peckish in between meals, a healthy snack or protein bar is a healthy alternative to filling up on junk food. For those with a sweet tooth, there are even snack bars in flavors that will provide your ‘sweet’ fix minus the sugar that causes blood sugar spikes. Excessive sugar intake eventually leads to weight gain because blood sugar that is not converted to energy is stored as body fat instead.
Bars And Snacks Can Help With Workouts
If you work out or exercise strenuously, you may need additional nutrients and protein. A protein snack bar can be an ideal way to get these. When eaten prior to working out, they provide a steady source of energy that helps support your body during exercise. After your workout, the protein in them provides the raw materials your body needs to repair damaged muscle tissues.
Ah The Convenience Of Bars And Snacks
And last not but not least, snack bars are convenient. They can be stashed in your handbag or on your person somewhere for convenient snacking when required. They’re ideal for the busy person who doesn’t have time for intensive meal planning. They come complete and ready to eat, requiring no mixing or measuring. Just grab and go!
The Cons Of Snacks And Bars
Convenient as they are, health snacks and bars should never be allowed to become the predominant contributor to any diet or meal program. A well-balanced diet needs far more than what even the best and healthiest snack bars can provide! There are also a myriad of unhealthy snack bar choices to be mindful of. And even some healthy ones that will push your daily sugar intake over the limit when consumed in conjunction with other sources of sugar ie fruit.
For more unbiased information about making informed choices around healthy snack and bar choices, check the Planet Supplement Health Portal & Blog.
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Low Carb Protein Bars
Low Carb Protein Bars are the favorite of those who are very much concerned about their growing weight. These energy bars can help them to maintain a good and slim figure without facing the problem of running out of protein or energy. Low Carb Protein Bars provide supplement of protein to our body as sometime […]
Diets – Snacking to Lose Weight
We like snacks. They can’t make you fat—unless you eat them when you aren’t hungry or overeat them. Selecting what foods to eat for a snack can be tricky. Most snacks available in convenience stores and coffee shops are unbalanced—they contain too many cards or too much fat to give you a healthy lean body. […]