Are Protein Bars Good For Weight Loss

Are Nature Valley Protein Bars Good For Weight Loss

Have you ever asked yourself if Nature Valley Protein bars are good for weight Loss?

While Nature Valley Protein Bars are loaded with very healthy ingredients, such as fruits, dark chocolate, and whole grains, making them an excellent choice for on-the-go snacking compared to many other options, they also have some ingredients that may interfere with you losing weight.

So, are Nature Valley protein bars good for weight loss? Nature Valley Protein Bars are a wholesome snack to give you fuel throughout the day, but the high-calorie count per bar and the added sugars make it a dangerous choice when trying to lose weight.

For more information on these bars and their health benefits, read on.

When Bars Are Useful

The first rule for consuming a protein bar post-workout is to make sure it fits into your calorie allowance for the day. A bar isn’t any better for weight loss than a whole-food meal that also contains the same amount of protein and calories it may simply be more convenient. The Australian Institute of Sport does note, however, that bars are beneficial when you’re travelling and don’t have access to a kitchen, or when you’re looking for low-residue foods to reduce digestive discomfort.

Nutrients In The Best Protein Bars For Weight Loss

Here are 6 guidelines to follow when choosing your protein bar:

If the bar doesnt fall into these categories, its likely wasting your time, and youre better off choosing a high protein meal or snack. You want a bar to help control your hunger while also meeting your daily needs. This way it can be an additional protein source in your day to help meet your higher protein needs during weight loss.

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Can Replace A Meal

Most protein bars contain about 150-400 calories and can be used to substitute at least one complete meal or snack. If you want to lose weight, meal replacement bars might be useful.

They contain various nutritional components that aid weight management by delivering all the calories you require and some essential vitamins and minerals before your next meal.

A protein bar can also assist you in achieving a deficit in calories, which is crucial in helping you lose weight.

Is It Bad To Eat Protein Bars Everyday

Protein bars are good for you, but you shouldnt consume too much. Experts warn that consuming too much protein, more than 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight per day, increases your risk of cancer. Try not to consume more than one protein bar a day.

Furthermore, eating too much of this snack may cause constipation, and an increased risk of kidney, bone, liver, and heart disease. These snacks contain some ingredients that may be harmful when taken in excess. For example, some bars contain sugar alcohol, and other artificial sweeteners, which may cause irritable bowel syndrome in some people.

The preservatives used in protein snack bars are oxidants and may cause neurological dysfunction if consumed in excess. Similarly, carrageenan, a plant-based ingredient, which is a filler used in some snacks, may cause stomach bleeding and cancer if consumed in excess. Additionally, eating too much protein snack bars containing artificial additives such as soy may cause diarrhea or bloat.

Also, high fructose corn syrup in some protein snack bars may cause inflammation if taken in excess.

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Convenient Source Of Nutrients

Protein bars can be a simple, ready-to-eat, nutritious snack. They come in a variety of flavors and typically last a while, making them a convenient item to keep on hand.

If youre looking for something to have as a midday snack, a well-rounded bar containing a reasonable amount of protein and high quality ingredients may be practical option for your lifestyle.

The protein and carb contents of protein bars may likewise make them a good choice for a pre- or post-workout snack that can provide a boost of energy for exercise or aid muscle repair afterward .

Whats more, some protein bars are a good source of dietary fiber, which is important for digestive health and may help prevent overeating between meals .

Finally, many protein bars are a good source of important vitamins and minerals, such as calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, vitamin E, and B vitamins, helping you meet your daily needs for these micronutrients.

Protein Bars For Weight Loss

First things first: Protein bars are a nutritional “supplement.” They are not meant to be consumed in the place of real, whole foods, but rather to augment an already adequate, balanced diet. But in a pinch, they can help you meet your daily protein goals when you can’t get there with whole foods.

Increasing your protein intake while trying to lose weight has proven benefits. Protein increases satiety, which can help you eat less and cut calories. It does this by generating both sensory and cognitive signals to the brain that you are full and satisfied, according to an article published in Trends in Food Science & Technology in February 2015.

Extra protein can also help you maintain muscle mass while dieting. When you’re in a calorie deficit, your body doesn’t just break down fat. In fact, in the early stages of calorie restriction, your body uses only a little bit of fat for energy. The rest comes from stored carbohydrate and protein, according to a review in theJournal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics in March 2014. Maintaining muscle mass is crucial for weight loss, as lean muscle increases your resting metabolic rate, or the amount of calories your body burns while at rest.

You may also decide to use meal-replacement bars for weight loss. Eating a protein bar instead of a whole meal can help you cut calories to create the energy deficit needed for fat loss. While this is OK short term, it’s not a nutritionally safe practice long term.

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Think Bars Aid In Weight Loss Alongside Exercise

Although it would be wonderful if you could simply cut back on foods that were bad for you and lose all the weight you wanted, but that isnt the case.

To truly get in shape and stay that way, you have to combine your healthy eating habits with a good exercise routine.

Think Bars are a good choice to aid in a more productive workout, with ingredients that will help you stay fueled and increase your energy levels.

These bars are also beneficial as an after-workout snack as well because the higher protein content will aid in muscle recovery, healing your aching body quicker than going it alone.

High In Saturated Fats

Anyone on a mission to lose weight should already know that saturated fats are one thing you need to avoid these fats are known for increasing cholesterol levels that are dangerous for your heart function.

According to the American Heart Society, you shouldnt consume more than 13gs of fat per day to maintain your weight, and even less than that to lose it.

Just one Fulfil protein bar has 4.5g of saturated fat, which is about 1/4 of your allotted amount each day. Not only is this more than you should eat in one sitting, but it is something that should be avoided whenever possible and is not ideal in a health food bar.

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Protein Bars Vs Granola Bars: Whats The Difference

Protein bars and granola bars are both popular among snack lovers for the ease and convenience that they offer.

They often contain some of the same ingredients, including grains such as oats and puffed rice and sweeteners like honey, brown sugar, and syrups.

However, though there are several similarities between the two, there are also a few key differences.

For starters, protein bars are usually higher in protein, with 1020 g per serving. This is often derived from ingredients like protein powder, nuts, seeds, and egg whites.

On the other hand, granola bars are typically lower in protein, with many products providing less than 5 g per serving.

Some granola bars may be lower in calories, nutrients, and fiber. However, this varies depending on the specific brand and product.

Additionally, protein bars are usually a bit pricier than granola bars.

Determining the best protein bars involved three key steps:

She also nixed any bars that had an unpleasantly chalky, powdery, or hard texture.

Other Things To Consider

You may be wondering, Manuel, what about the bar that has minimal ingredients, or is vegan or natural and claims other health benefits? There are tons of great bar options that have clean ingredients that can fit into an overall healthy eating pattern.

BUT, you have to remember that you are specifically looking for one for weight loss. And choosing one of those bars that doesnt focus on protein eliminates the main purpose of that bar for you.

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Q: Can Protein Bars Make You Gain Weight

A: If consumed in moderation, i.e. as pre- or post-workout snacks, protein bars cannot make you gain weight in fact, they may help you lose excess weight or maintain a healthy weight and body composition. This is because theyre rich in protein which is essential for building and maintaining muscle mass, as well as helpful for making you feel full and satisfied. However, like any other food eaten in excess, protein bars can contribute to weight gain.

Are Protein Bars Considered Processed Food

Technically, protein bars are considered processed foods. Thats because processed food is defined as any food that has been altered in some way during preparation. But just because protein bars fall into the processed food category doesnt mean theyre necessarily bad for you. Like any non-whole food, they should be eaten less frequently, but as long as youre buying protein bars that are high in protein, low in sugar and made with minimal whole-food ingredients, they can be a healthy addition to your diet.

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How A Bad Protein Bar Sabotages Your Efforts

The trouble with protein bars is that they generally don’t taste all that good. Some people describe them as being almost gritty and dry or lacking in sweetness, and they end up being unsatisfying when you’re craving a particular kind of flavor.

This alone wouldn’t be a problem, except the pressures of capitalism have led to dozens of companies creating their own versions of protein bars. These protein bars may have protein in them, but they’re also packed with sugar and carbs, to make them tastier, sweeter, and generally less healthy for you. They become more like snack bars or candy bars, rather than protein bars.

The trouble here is that these end up being much higher calorie, much less satisfying, and much worse for you. Some of them don’t even have very much protein in them at all, making the “protein bar” label little more than a marketing message.

Bad protein bars have too many calories in them and are digested too quickly, so they don’t satiate you very well and they don’t keep you satisfied. You end up eating more than one, or eating one and then eating another snack 30-60 minutes later when the cravings come back. Plus, with their own higher calorie content, they end up taking up more of your caloric deficit leeway, meaning you need to eat correspondingly less elsewhere or make up for it by working out even more, which you might not be willing to do.

Bistromd’s Healthy Protein Bars For Weight Loss

Take a bite out of bistroMD’s newest high-protein snack bars, all consisting of grassfed beef and other fresh ingredients.

Chewy Chocolate Peanut Butter Bar

Satisfy that chocolate craving without an ounce of guilt! The bar marries the classic combo of chocolate and peanut butter to satisfy that sweet tooth while supplying protein, healthy fat, and valuable nutrients.

Indulge on the decadent coupling of chocolate and cherry with this bistroMD high-protein bar for weight loss, packing on 15 total grams of protein! Not only can the bar satisfy that midmorning or afternoon hunger, but put that hankering sweet tooth to rest.

Blueberry Parfait Bar

Natural blueberries and gluten-free oats transpire into a high-protein snack bar flavored as a Greek yogurt parfait ! Each bar provides 14 grams of protein, sure to keep you full and energized to embrace your sense of nature.

Written by Sarah Asay, RDN. Updated on July 02, 2019.

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Cliff Whey Protein Bars

Cliff whey protein bars are good options for weight loss in women when used as meal replacements.

The nutritional breakdown of the chocolate peanut butter flavor is:

In addition to whey protein, other ingredients include pea protein, peanuts, peanut butter, chicory fiber, sunflower oil, rolled oats, and rice flour.

Not all Cliff bars are created equal so be sure to choose those lower in sugar. Check the nutrition facts label to be sure.

A Quick Note About Weight Loss

Everyone has different goals when it comes to healthy eating. Whether its losing weight, gaining weight, maintaining, or simply finding ways to nourish your body and live a wholesome life, every goal is welcome here. Ultimately, its important to know what your body needs and embrace the bodies weve all been given! Im not a doctor or a dietician, so be sure to consult them before starting any new weight loss or fitness plan. This post is simply about the protein bars that I love!

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Our Favorite Protein Bars For Muscle Gainclif Builders Protein Vanilla Almond Bar

Clif Builders Protein Vanilla Almond bars taste great and have an ideal protein-to-calorie ratio for building muscle. These bars have a satisfying, crunchy texture and sweet flavor, and they contain no chocolate or peanuts. The ingredients include soy protein, almond butter, organic oat fiber and organic vanilla extract. In addition to protein, these bars are packed with calcium, magnesium oxide, potassium and B vitamins. Its best to eat Clif Builders protein bars within two hours of exercising so the protein helps your muscles repair and grow.

Is It Ok To Eat A Protein Bar Every Day

It is OK to enjoy protein bars in moderation as part of a balanced diet. Swapping a protein bar in for other snacks in your daily diet is fine and can be a great way to bump up your protein intake.

However, its best not to use protein bars to regularly replace more nutrient-dense whole foods such as fruits and vegetables.

For best results, opt for a protein bar that is low in added sugar and free of artificial ingredients and preservatives.

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Recommended Dietary Allowance For Protein

The Recommended Dietary Allowance for protein is 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight, according to Harvard Health , but this rule doesn’t take into account certain factors that can impact an individual’s protein needs.

Since protein is necessary for building muscle, folks who are very activeathletes, say, or people with physically demanding jobsshould eat a bit more. The same is true of women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Bodybuilders tend to eat even more protein than the average person in order to support muscle growth.

Healthy Protein Sources From Whole Foods

Even though this post discusses protein bars, I wanted to include some whole food high-protein options.

The richest sources of dietary protein are meats, poultry, fish and shellfish, eggs, milk and Greek yogurt. Protein can also be found in many plant-based sources including beans and legumes, nuts, seeds, and whole grains. These are all foods that are easy to include in a healthy balanced diet so if you eat a variety of them daily, you most likely get enough protein from your diet.

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Muscle Feast Premium Whey Casein Blend

At 100 calories and 21 grams of protein per scoop, this blend of micellar casein, whey protein isolate and hydrolyzed whey can potentially aid in better muscle growth. It contains no fat or sugar and 1.5g of carbs, so even though its lean, this particular blend of whey and casein can pack a punch. The whey can help kick the muscle building process into gear while the casein can help prolong it. This powder also contains 4.7g of BCAAs per serving, and comes in Chocolate, Vanilla, and an unflavored powder.

With 100 calories and 21 grams of protein per scoop, this blend of micellar casein, whey protein isolate and hydrolyzed whey can potentially aid in better muscle growth. It also contains no fat or sugar and 1.5g of carbs, so its particularly lean.

Who Shouldnt Take Protein Supplements

Children shouldnt take protein supplements unless directed by a dietitian. The NHS advises that consuming too much protein in the long term is linked to an increased risk of osteoporosis, and may worsen existing kidney problems. Some people find protein bars difficult to digest its best to include them gradually into your diet, and see how you get on. Although allergens should be stated on the label, anyone with allergies should be cautious about using a new supplement, as there is an obvious risk of cross-contamination in factories. Those who are pregnant, breastfeeding or being treated for existing medical conditions should consult their GP before starting new supplements.

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