Q: Are Protein Bars Healthy
A: You already probably know the answer to this one! There is never a better substitute than a real plate of home cooked, clean, nutritious food but protein bars are convenient, and if you choose the right one, they can still have health benefits. You need to very carefully check the list of ingredients to make sure that you protein bar is not full of added sugar, additives, trans-fats, sweeteners or other nasties that you couldnt possibly pronounce. If you dont know what it is and its not a real, clean food source, then chances are its not going to be that good for you.
The Definition Of A Protein Bar
So, what is a protein bar and how does it differ from a candy bar? Protein bars are smallish food bars that, unsurprisingly, contain high amounts of protein. You will find a multitude of varieties on the shelves, including different types and flavors, all of which will give you lots of options to fit in with your taste and diet.
For non-vegan bars, the protein added will generally come from milk or whey, whereas dairy-free protein bars will commonly use pea, brown rice, or soy protein. These proteins are largely added in powdered form, which allows manufacturers to pack in a whole lot of protein into one tiny little bar of goodness.
The idea behind the manufacturing of these snacks is simple to produce a product that gives people a easy way to increase their protein intake. This is definitely a product of convenience for those that would prefer to grab a quick snack instead of making a protein-rich smoothie or cook something from scratch, but thats okay.
After all, we all need a little help at times, right?
Who Should Buy Vega Protein Bars
- Athletes who want a bar with a higher protein content will love that these bars have 20 grams of protein per bar.
- If you like your protein to come from a variety of sources, these bars have pea protein, brown rice protein, and protein from nuts.
- Plant-based eaters who want a vegan protein bar will appreciate these.
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Look For Certified Gluten
This should be obvious, but not all brands will be certified gluten-free. In that case, they may not state they are gluten-free due to potential cross-contamination in the warehouse.
However, if you dont have a severe gluten allergy or Celiac disease, then you can likely get away with buying non-certified gluten-free bars so long as all the individual ingredients dont have gluten in them.
Most of the bars on this list are certified, but there are a couple that have gluten-free ingredient lists, so they should be fine for most folks who arent avoiding gluten for medical reasons.
Luna Bar Caramel Walnut Brownie
Luna bars are a quality, plant-based protein bar with soy protein isolate, roasted soybeans, soy flour, and as a protein grain blend. Rolled oats and a blend of sugars make up the carbohydrates.
There are no artificial flavors or high-fructose corn syrup and you cant go wrong with any of the flavors. But, caramel walnut brownie is a definite favorite!
Nutrition facts: 200 calories, 8g of protein, 26g of carbs, 8g of fat, 0mg of cholesterol, 3g of fiber, and 10g of sugar which may be a bit much for some people.
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Luna Bar
Luna Bar is a whole nutrition bar, which contains 8g of protein, gluten-free, non-GMO, low glycemic index. No high fructose corn syrup and artificial flavors.
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Do Protein Bars Have Gluten
Some protein bars contain gluten, but some dont. Whether a protein bar contains gluten or not should be written on the label.
Gluten is a protein that is found in a variety of different grains, including wheat, rye, barley, or oats if they werent grown separately from gluten-containing grains. You might see these ingredients on the ingredients list of the nutrient label instead of the word gluten itself.
You may also see derivatives of these grains on the label as well, such as malt .
Raw Rev Glo Creamy Peanut Butter & Sea Salt
Ever eat nut butter by the spoonful and get frustrated that you just can’t stop? Raw Rev Glo has got you covered. Not only are the bars vegan, gluten-free, and non-GMO, but each bar includes raw-sprouted superfoods! These bars hold little-to-no sugar, and they have 15 grams of belly-filling fiber! Not to mention its taste and texture resemble peanut butter at its prime!
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What Are The Best Gluten
Finding the best gluten-free and dairy-free protein bar brands is like looking for a needle in a haystack. If there is one thing that keeps people who suffer from celiac disease or gluten intolerance from enjoying their favorite snack foods, its protein bars. There are hundreds of different brands on the market, but most dont do much to help those with these dietary requirements. Some contain gluten, which is bad for people who need to avoid wheat. Others use ingredients that contain fillers and stabilizers, which are unhealthy for those with lactose or other intolerances.5
The best way to find gluten-free and dairy-free protein bars is to make your own. Homemade food provides much more variety than the pre-packaged varieties, as it contains ingredients that are freshly made and not frozen. If you choose to make your own food, you should look for brands that are made entirely from whole foods like vegetables, fruits, legumes, and grains, which are known to be allergenic. These are the best options for those who need to avoid gluten, but who still want to enjoy tasty snack foods.
Vega 20g Protein Bar *
290 calories | 20g protein | 27g carbs
Of the 3 Vega bars I tested, this was the best overall. Note that all 3 have palm oil ingredients in them. This bar has a mix of pea and brown rice protein, and a considerable amount of added sugar.
Heres how it scored:
- Protein content With just under 28% of calories coming from protein, Vegas 20g bar is right around average.
- Taste score As you would hope for a bar with 18 grams of sugar, it tastes really good, just like a dark chocolate candy bar. You can probably tell just from the picture above.
- Cost The individual bars are very expensive, but if you look at the cost on a per gram of protein basis, its more reasonable, and about average.
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Vive Natural Protein Peanut Butter Snack Bar
Grams of protein per serving: 10gCalories per serving: 215 kcalsType of protein: peanuts, pea protein, rice proteinType of sweetener: cane sugar
Best all-natural vegan protein bar
As self-confessed peanut butter fanatics, we had a very good feeling about this one it didn’t disappoint. The first thing to note is the lovely smooth coating, made using 74% Belgian dark chocolate, which makes the bar feel like a real treat. The filling is densely packed and very rich full of chunky peanuts, crispy protein bites, cocoa butter and of course, smooth peanut butter.
With 11g per serving, it is higher in sugar than some other offerings, as organic cane sugar is used in place of sweetener but its a good choice if youd rather avoid sweeteners. Vive have focused on natural ingredients in their bars, and the ingredients list is reassuringly recognisable.
A box of 12 bars costs £16 working out at £1.34 per bar.
Available from:
Q: How Often Should You Eat Protein Bars
A: Following on from the above, if you are working out regularly and using a protein bar to re-fuel after strenuous exercise or to give you a quick boost before you start an intense session, then use them in line with your workouts. After training your body is depleted of amino acids and many other essential nutrients so if you need to get a quick protein hit to boost your muscles before fatigue and depletion set in, grab for your bar.
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Larabar Gluten Free Bar
Larabar believes in using only simple and real ingredients that are delightfully delicious.
While these are not exactly protein bars per se, they are extremely popular with vegans who want a minimal bar that fills a hole after a light workout.
The Larabar Gluten Free Bar is made from just four ingredients: peanuts, dates, sea salt, and chocolate chips, making this one of the most straightforward vegan bars on our lists.
Each one has 6g of protein and 3g of dietary fiber. The sugar count is high in these, though, so be aware of that if you are trying to control your weight.
Not only are the ingredients simple with a Larabar, their packaging fits with an environmental lifestyle too. The company has teamed up with TerraCycle, which means that their wrappers can be both recycled and upcycled, reducing the waste commonly associated with individual packaging.
Naturally, if you are performing strenuous workouts, or simply want a more nutritious bar with greater amounts of protein, these will not be for you.
However, if you want a quick meal replacement bar with very few ingredients, you cant go far wrong with Larabar.
LIKES
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The Homemade Protein Bars Were Better Than Packaged
My kids couldnt get enough of these bars. They had even gotten good enough that my husband mentioned them out of the blue one day.
You know, those protein bars were really good. Thats high praise for him.
My kids had started asking, Are those bars hard to make? Thats code for please make them again.
They have the soft texture of a brownie, and theyre not too sweet. For something more cookie-like, give my classic protein cookies or my peanut butter protein cookies a try. 🙂
I also get are these bars good for you? Thats also code for can I eat them all day every day and be healthy? I also get the same sort of questions when I make my protein pancakes!
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No Cow Bar Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip
It’s time for all other vegan bars to MOOve over! This delicious vegan bar surpassed every expectation of oursregardless of what flavor you choose. This bar has no artificial sweeteners. In fact, it only has one gram of sugar. This bar is as nutritionally stellar as they comelow in sugar, high in fiber, even higher in proteina true triple threat.
What Does It Mean To Be Dairy
Being allergic to dairy means that you have an intolerance to dairy products such as milk, ice cream, yogurt, and cheese. The symptoms can include a runny nose, swelling of the lips, throat, and eyes, itchiness, rashes, hives, vomiting, diarrhea, gas, bloating, cramps, and more. The list goes on. This allergic disease is very difficult to live with due to the many adverse effects dairy has on the body, but there is hope, and that hope comes in the form of dairy-free foods.3
There are several diet plans and supplements on the market that are dairy-free. Many people dont like to make a lifestyle change, so they try a dairy-free diet for a short period of time to see if it helps their symptoms or not. If after trying a dairy-free diet for a period of time you still have symptoms, then you may have to make a permanent change in your eating habits and lifestyle.
You should avoid any type of dairy product during your period of symptoms. These dairy products contain hormones and artificial flavoring that can harm your body. It is important to know that you dont have to give up eating all of your favorite dairy products, but you do need to read the labels.4 If there is a dairy product that you are unsure about, you should contact your doctor or health food store and ask them for information. They are there for your needs!
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Gluten Free Homemade Protein Bar Recipes
If you want to make your own gluten free protein bars at home, you might be searching for some healthy recipes to follow.
Store-bought products always carry a risk of being cross-contaminated in the factory. By baking your own protein bars, you can control which ingredients you use and ensure that the bars are completely gluten free.
I searched the internet and found two of the best recipes for homemade gluten free protein bars that you can follow. Both recipes take minimal time to prepare and create delicious protein bars that are guaranteed to be 100% gluten free.
Our #1 Vegan Protein Bar Is
A lot of vegan brands are dedicated to creating products that make the vegan lifestyle more convenient. And in the plant-based protein bar category, Nuzest Clean Lean Protein Bar has set the bar high .
Clean Lean delivers high quality plant-based protein your body needs to ramp up your workouts.
I consider this as one of my favorite vegan bards because its delicious, contains the nutrients your aching body needs to repair and rebuild, and they’re allergen-free.
Its literally my healthy post-workout protein dessert. And it can be the perfect vegan gift for your vegan friend trying to build that muscle too.
Which vegan protein bar is your favorite?
- Contains 10g protein, 20g carbs, 5g sugar per serving
- Provides quick energy boost during pre workout
- Vegan friendly and gluten, soy, lactose-free
- Great tasting and affordable
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When To Eat Protein Low
The most common time of day to eat a snack would be before or after exercise.
When they are consumed pre-exercise , they will help to boost energy, meaning that you can perform better and for longer during your exercise.
When they are consumed post-exercise, they will help to repair the muscles which were broken down during the exercise to help speed up recovery.
Detour Lower Sugar Whey Protein Bar Caramel Peanut
If you like sending your taste buds to heaven while fulfilling your protein requirements then stop right here
Caramel peanut is the delectable protein bar youve been searching for but with only 170 calories, 15g of whey protein, and 3g of sugar, you dont have to feel guilty!
Each bar is loaded with muscle-building amino acids and its also great for really active people. Detour caramel peanut bars consist of peanuts coated in a low sugar caramel coating, which are covered in a low sugar chocolate coating.
So its like your favorite candy bar but healthier!
Nutrition facts: 170 calories, 15g of protein, 17g carbs , 5g of fat, 5mg cholesterol, 2g of fiber, and 3g of sugar .
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Detour Whey Protein Bar
Detour Whey Protein Bar contains 15g of protein, rich in branched chain amino acids, low in sugar and provides serious nutrition to athletes.
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