Picking
the best protein bars is a difficult task -- the really good
ones contain very little glucose/fructose/corn syrup or sugar
and generally taste like unflavored dog food. The great tasting
ones contain a ton of sweeteners, and other than a few grams
of protein, don't provide much nutritional benefit.
In
my quest for the best protein bars, I did a lot of tasting and
experimenting. Most bars either contained so many carbs, or
so many hidden carbs -- eating them and waiting for the inevitable
blood sugar crash was one of the best way to weed out the good
from the bad. Generally, I only experimented with brands that
listed the sweetening agent (sugar, glucose/fructose, corn syrup,
high-frustose corn syrup) after the protein source on the ingredients
panel.
Why?
Ingredients
are listed according to weight. If the sweetening agent is listed
first, it no longer qualifies as a protein bar (and certainly
not as a candidate as "the best protein bar") in my
books. It's a carb bar, or more accurately...
A
sugar bar.
As
I mentioned, The best quality bars (ingredient wise) tasted
pretty awful. I'm not sure anyone would want to eat them on
a regular basis. The best tasting bar I encountered was Muscle-Tech's
Meso-Tech bar (cookies and cream flavor).
Unfortunately,
anything that tastes this good can't possibly be good for you,
and the Meso-Tech bar contains 28 grams of sugar per serving.
And 15-20 minutes after consumption my blood sugar levels sky-rocketed,
leaving me dying to lie
down!
High
blood sugar levels and the corresponding rise in insulin means
that Meso-Tech bars are NOT a dieters best choice (they might
make a decent post-workout snack, where a swift rise in blood
sugar can support faster recovery).
On the other hand, the best combination of taste and quality
ingredients I encountered was MuscleTech's more expensive Nitro-Tech
bar (remember, I only tested a dozen or so bars. I'm sure there
are other quality products available!). The strawberry flavor
is down-right unbelievable. The "S'mores" flavor is
pretty good too. The "Crunchy Chocolate Crisp" flavor
contains 4 grams of dietary fiber -- not bad for a protein bar!
It
contains no sugar (it's sweetened with malitol (a non-digestible
sugar-alcohol) and glycerin). Carb content varies according
to flavor...
Strawberry
- 4 grams carbs (not including glycerin).
S'Mores
- 7 grams carbs (not including glycerin).
Crunchy
Chocolate Crisp - 9 grams carbs (not including glycerin).
Nitro-Tech
bars contain 35 grams of protein compared to 25 for the MesoTech
bar. It did not send my blood sugar levels sky-rocketing, and
it tastes like it should.
Investigate
Nitro-tech bars at MuscleMaster...
Here's
the bottom line on "protein bars"...
o
Keep a careful eye on the ingredients label - especially the
sugars/carbs/fats. In general, the lower down the sweetener
in the list of ingredients, the better the bar is for you.
o
If possible, experiment with a few of the higher quality bars
before you buy a boxful (MuscleMaster
sells them individually)...
You
need to find the optimum blend of taste, ingredients and product
quality that works for YOU!
o
Pay attention to how you feel 20-30 minutes after you consume
the bar. If you suddenly catch a dose of the "yawns",
this bar is likely not for you.
o
Most "protein bars" don't contain a whole lot of fiber,
and don't do a great job of filling you up. Eat a medium serving
of high-fiber, low glycemic fruit with your bar -
apples, pears, strawberries, or raspberries. It'll really fill
you up!
o
Choose higher-quality whey protein over soy whenever possible.
Whatever
way you slice it...
If
you're stuck for a decent quality snack, the best protein bars
make a convenient meal that is far, far better for you than
a fast food alternative!
Investigate
Nitro-tech bars at MuscleMaster...
