Are Nutrition Bars Really Nutritious?

Not too long ago, there were very only a few types of nutrition bars on the market and the primary consumers were serious athletes who needed to make sure that they were getting enough protein or carbs in their diet. Nowadays, grocery stores and health food stores are full of protein bars, energy bars, low carb bars, granola bars, breakfast bars, meal replacement bars and women-only bars. But are these bars really nutritious?

There's a lot of marketing hype about how healthy nutrition bars are, but the reality is that they vary quite a bit in quality and nutritional value. Some bars are a good way to get a quick nutritional fix, while others are nothing more than candy bars in disguise. It's also important to understand that even the higher quality bars are still processed foods and, as a general rule, you should always choose whole foods when you have a choice.

The way to determine if a nutrition bar is worth eating or not is to read the nutritional label. Here's what you need to look for.

Sugar Content - Some nutrition bars are loaded with sugar. To determine the quantity of sugar in a bar, divide the number of sugar grams by four. This will give you the number of teaspoons of sugar in the bar. Try to choose a bar that has less than two teaspoons of sugar.

Fat Content - You need to look at the total amount of fat that a nutrition bar contains and what type of fat it is. Try to choose a nutrition bar with a low to moderate amount of fat (1-6 grams per bar) where the majority of the fat is healthy unsaturated fat. A small amount of saturated fat (1-2 grams per bar) is not a problem, but avoid bars that contain trans fat.

Number of Calories - Some nutrition bars are quite high in calories. If the bar is going to serve as a snack, look for a bar with less calories. If the bar is going to serve as a meal replacement, the bar can contain more calories.

Fiber Content - Fiber gives you a full feeling, helps keep your blood sugar stable, and helps keep your digestive tract healthy. Try to choose a nutrition bar with at least three grams of fiber.

Protein Content - Protein gives you a full feeling and is an important macronutrient. Choosing a nutrition bar with a good amount of protein (15-30 grams per bar) gives you more nutritional bang for your buck.

Serving Size - Many people assume that the sugar content, fat content, number of calories etc. listed on the nutritional label is for the entire bar, but sometimes a single bar can consist of two or more servings. If there are two servings in a bar and you plan on eating the entire bar at one time, multiply sugar content, fat content, number of calories etc. by two.

In conclusion, a nutrition bar can be a healthy choice when you don't have time for a regular meal, but nutrition bars should not replace whole foods as your primary source of nutrition.

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