Oatmega 3 All Natural Wellness Bar - Functional Foods

Oatmega 3 All Natural Wellness Bar

Oatmega 3 Wellness Bars are the creation of Trevor Ross, the founder of “Boundless Nutrition.” An “electrical engineer with a passion for rock climbing and hiking,” Ross created the company after he realized that “bars were beginning to morph into candy bars…as I learned more about nutrition, I realized there wasn’t a healthy bar that I actually wanted to eat. ”

Manufacturer’s Description: The Oatmega 3 Wellness Bar contains 400mg of EPA and DHA Omega-3. This is equivalent to most fish oil supplements without large pills to swallow or any fishy taste.

…Every ingredient we choose—from dark chocolate, agave nectar, and green tea—to omega-3 fatty acids, and whey protein isolate—does amazing things for both your mind and body. Nearly 50% of the bar’s ingredients are organic. Oatmega 3 bars contain no artificial sugars or preservatives and no genetically modified foods or organisms.

A low glycemic load provides for a steady energy release. These bars are cold processed which means the ingredient’s natural and healthy enzymes are preserved.

Product Label:

Serving Size: 1 Bar (69g)
Amount Per Serving
Total Calories 250
Calories From Fat 60
Total Fat 7g
Saturated Fat 2g
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 10mg
Sodium 140mg
Total Carbohydrates 29g
Dietary Fiber 6g
Sugars 13g
Protein 18g
Vitamin A 0%
Vitamin C 100%
Calcium 10%
Iron 6%
Ingredients: Whey Protein Isolate, Organic Agave Nectar, Organic Rolled Oats, Organic Dark Chocolate chips [Organic Sugar, Organic Chocolate Liquor, Organic Cocoa Butter, Organic Soy Lecithin, Organic Vanilla (May Contain Traces of Milk)], Vegetable Glycerin, Oat Fiber, Peanut Oil, Water, Brown Rice Crisps (Brown Rice Flour, Rice Flour), Ultra Refined Fish Oil (Anchovy, Sardine), Natural Flavors, Soy Lecithin, Green Tea Extract, Sea Salt, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), and Natural Vitamin E to Preserve Freshness.

Comments: Oatmega 3 bars come in three flavors: Dark Chocolate Peanut, Mocha and Dark Chocolate Mint—I purchased the first two flavors from an online retailer, netrition.com for $1.99 each. The bars are uncoated and fairly chewy (similar to a Kraft caramel) with a slight grainy/crunchy texture. The “Dark Chocolate Peanut”—while sweet and reasonably tasty—didn’t have a very pronounced flavor…it wasn’t very “peanutty” or “chocolatey.” I thought the Mocha bar was better: it had a good, strong coffee flavor to it (and I like my coffee!).

The bars are fortified with EPA and DHA from fish oil—which is roughly the equivalent to a 1000mg fish oil capsule—along with green tea extract providing 200 mg “green tea antioxidants.” Most of the protein comes from whey protein isolate; while the carbs are from rolled oats/oat fiber and agave syrup.

Oatmega bars represent a solid attempt to create a healthy food/nutraceutical bar. With the exception of the agave nectar, it’s a pretty good effort. I’m not enthusiastic about this particular ingredient: while agave nectar is promoted in vegan circles as a “healthy” alternative to sugar, fact is, it contains more fructose than high fructose corn syrup.

Fructose is a problematic carb source, as it’s metabolized to fat more readily than glucose. This shouldn’t be a problem per se for active people not consuming surplus calories…it could be, however, for those who intrinsically believe that—if it’s “healthy,” then it’s ok to eat as much as you want (FYI: it’s not).

Thanks to the protein and fiber, I thought the bars were reasonably filling. While not specifically listed as a low calorie “meal” bar, the cals (250–260) are low enough, and the protein (18g) high enough to fit in that category.

Here’s how I rate this product (out of 5 stars):

[usrlist “Taste:3.5” “Quality:4.5” “Efficacy:3.5” “Value:3.5″ avg=”true”]

Author: elissa

Elissa is a former research associate with the University of California at Davis, and the author/co-author of over a dozen articles published in scientific journals. Currently a freelance writer and researcher, Elissa brings her multidisciplinary education and training to her writing on nutrition and supplements.

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