Low carb bars

Years ago, low carbohydrate diets became very popular; hence, low carbohydrate meal and snack bars. At this point, nearly everything has a low carb version; from candies and pasta to beers and other drinks. Whether you want to eat low carb bars because you’re on a low carb diet or you just think they’re a good snack, it is important to know what you’re getting, and the possible good that can come out of eating them. They are definitely a convenience, and undoubtedly better for you than a bag of chips. Also, it is beneficial, as a consumer, for you to know which brands are better than others.

Low Carb Bars: What are They?

Low carbohydrate bars are exactly what they sound like: snack or meal bars that are low carbohydrate. On the flip side, they are often high in protein, and if you’re not careful in what one you’re choosing, high in fat. Protein is present in the nerves, bones, tissues, and muscle in our bodes; it is essential to our bodies. Protein is necessary for these things to grow and repair properly, among other functions. Therefore, protein bars may seem like a good option. Not only is protein great for our bodies, we digest it rather slowly, so it keeps us feeling full for quite some time; much longer than carbohydrates do. Another component to many low carb bars are sugar alcohols, particularly manitol, sorbitol, and lactitol; some type of carbohydrate or sugar alcohol has to be used, and these additives have zero calories. However, don’t be fooled, sugar alcohols still affect the blood sugar, they just do it more slowly than other carbohydrates. They can also wreak havoc on your stomach if you’re not careful.

Who Should Eat Low Carb Bars?

To be honest, choosing to eat a low carb bar will not really benefit you unless you’re on a low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet, such as Atkins. And a low carb diet should not be followed for a long period of time. Going to dieting extremes, such as eating hardly any carbohydrates or eating a lot of protein, doesn’t really do much for us because it isn’t a nutritionally sound way to lose weight. If you’re actually looking for a protein bar, stick to the ones that aren’t low carb. If you’re truly concerned about your weight, you can start out with a low carb diet, and eating low carb bars, but in the end, you should eat healthier carbohydrates, like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, etc. We call these “less refined” carbs.

Choosing a Low Carb Bar
When choosing which low carb bar you are going to buy, if you must buy one, it is important to look out for a few things. Many of these bars are high in total fat, saturated fat, and trans fats (these latter two are ultimately bad for the heart). Look for a bar that has 5 grams or less of fat, with fewer than half from saturated fat. Look for a bar that has 3-5 grams of fiber, which is an obvious sign that there are unrefined carbohydrates in the bar. Since the bars are supposed to be high protein, look for one that has at least 15 grams of it. Look out for sweeteners; the ones that end in “tol” are bad for the digestive system and can cause upset. Look for a bar that is under 200 calories; many of these bars go above and beyond that.

Popular Brands
Here are some popular brands that seem to work well as a low carb, high protein bar: Myoplex, Atkins, Snickers Marathon, Detour bars, Luna bars, and more. The good news is that there are a wide variety of flavors from which to choose.

Last updated on Nov 18th, 2010 and filed under Healthy Eating. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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