Energy Bars: Compare Energy Bars

written by: Andrew Harrison

June 25, 2006

POWER BARs for the active person
_______________________________________ energy bar reviews

Energy bars are just what they say they are: food bars that tightly compact energy and nutrients needed for morning exercise to weight lifting and beyond. The thing that should be thrown out there right off the bat is that energy bars are for extra energy not a meal replacement, no matter what the commercials say, food is still an essential part of the human psyche and body. This extra energy helps you keep going, and is essential when working hard and there is no time to stop and eat (even though one should eventually do so).

Energy bars are foods that have been fortified and include protein, carbohydrates, fat, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and other essential nutrients. The primary source of protein in most energy bars is usually provided by soy or milk, and grain, nuts, oats, and other sources provides the majority of the compare_energy_bars

fiber in the bar. Energy bars can be consumed before, during, and after athletic or stressful events in order to ensure there is a sufficient amount of energy for the body to not shut down. However, they should never be taken instead of a meal. Meals are important even though the energy bars give you all the essential materials to keep going, they won't give you enough. Think of it this way, energy bars pump you up for a while, but meals keep you satisfied and help you run all day long. Energy bars are just for when you need a special boost.

Though some may argue about the "flavored" energy bars, in reality, the "flavor" actually gives more energy. Not only are the nutrients there to give you energy, but so is the chocolate or peanut butter or whatever flavor is chosen. When choosing a bar, one must consider what it is for. If it is for strenuous exercise and athletic events, than the sugar coat would not really hurt because the calories are needed in order for maximum performance. If one is just snaking, then maybe an organic, non sugar covered, and a couple of fresh fruit is the better choice. Most energy bars have the same amount of calories as a candy bar, so if one is just snacking then it is just like eating a candy bar with nutrients that could be obtained during the meal. The point of energy bars is once again, to boost energy. With nutrients and the sugar coating, the amount of energy is immense, however, if one just plans on sitting, that it is not that much healthier than eating a Hershey's bar.

what not tips

• Choose a bar appropriate for the activity being done. If muscle growth is desired than the bar with the most protein should be the one preferred. If improving metabolism is a must, than the bar with the most fiber is a must. More energy implies that the bar with the highest carbohydrates is the best bet. So on and so forth.

• When using a bar for a snack, make sure it's not a sugar coated one because it's not much better than a piece of candy with the same amount of calories. Add to the bar a glass of skim milk and some fresh fruits for more nutrition.

• Remember, bars are definitely not meal replacements. Real meals are still necessary. Bars cannot replace fruits, vegetables, lean protein and whole grains. It is actually better for the body to get vitamins and nutrients from direct sources (i.e.: get protein from a piece of chicken breast, etc) If the bar must become a meal replacement to fit into a hectic lifestyle, bars with over 300 calories are the safest bet. Though the body will feel a little uncomfortable, at least a sane amount of calories is entering your body for it to function properly.

• Look for bars with no more than two grams of saturated fat and at least three grams of fiber.

• Balance Bars are generally not given highly favorable reviews. They have less than one gram of fiber, doing almost nothing to the digestive system. They have a total calorie count of 200, with over six grams of fat. They also only contain 10% calcium, which helps stimulate bone density, growth, and performance. It is basically a candy bar with a bunch of nutrients stuffed in it, neither particularly healthy nor tasty. This bar banks on the fact that people think it's healthier to eat than a regular candy bar. Though this may be slightly true, all of these nutrients can be obtained easily through any meal. It doesn't give a traveling athlete much of the nutrients needed to keep going, except for 200 rather empty calories.

• Performance Bars are by far one of the better choices. They contain 230 calories and essential nutrients for continuous action such potassium and sodium. They have only .5 g of saturated fat and a whopping 9 g (or 18%) of protein, 45 g (15%) of carbs, and an astonishing 3 g of fiber. There are zero milligrams of cholesterol also along with 30% calcium for bone reparation.

• Luna Bar contains 180 calories, but seems to be a poor performer based on consumer reviews. It contains only one gram of fiber and about 5 grams of fat. That's not enough calories to keep an athlete in motion.

• Clif Bars are by far one of the most popular brands of energy bars. They contain 250 calories and are quite tasty. The positive thing about Clif Bars is the fact that they were one of the original and one of the few bars that actually stays true to what an energy bar should be: not a candy pumped up with vitamins, but a nutritious energy boost. It contains from around 3-8 grams of fiber depending on what kind it is, which is excellent. It also contains about 2 grams of fat. No wonder this bar is one of the top choices by athletes. The only thing bad about this is the high amount of calories, it should only be taken when doing or about to do great physical activity.