Whether you are a fitness buff, weight watcher or simply love to stay healthy, protein bars could be an amazing snacking alternative for you. These anytime energy bars can be eaten before a workout after a workout or anytime during the day. Whenever you want to fight the craving for unhealthy food with something delicious and healthy, reaching out for a protein bar is a great idea.
Tasty and filling, they have a satiating effect without overloading you with empty calories that can cause weight gain. At the same time, the healthy serving of protein they offer makes these bars an excellent food choice, anytime and anywhere. If you want to know some more incredible facts about protein bars, here are a few listed for you.
They are not candy bars
Though these bars taste deliciously sweet, come in attractive packages and are placed on the candy counters, don’t be fooled into believing that these are candy bars. In fact, they are just the opposite. Unlike candy bars that are loaded with unhealthy fats and sugar, protein bars are high in protein, healthy carbs, vitamins, minerals, and fiber. So what you are eating is as delicious as candies but healthier beyond limits, which is exactly something that picky eaters want.
They come in two categories
Typically, protein bars are meant to supplement protein in your dietary intake. They come in two variants. Meal replacement bars are high in carbohydrates and healthy fats because they need to supply energy that comes from meals. While these are to be taken at meal times, the other option is for protein supplementation. These can be consumed at any time during the day when you want a healthy snack that can boost your protein intake. The latter are essentially meant to give hefty doses of protein for covering nutritional gaps or giving extra energy for the workout.
They help in muscle gain
If you are a fitness enthusiast and want to gain muscle, these bars can be an awesome choice. The protein factor gets the muscle building churned up. What more, you may even use one that is high in slow-digesting carbohydrates such as oats and an optimal amount of healthy fats as a healthy and nutritionally-balanced meal replacement. A single bar can supplement a meal and rev up your energy levels as well.
They are great to travel with
Airport food can be expensive and honestly not that great. But it’s also really hard to bring in your own food. When you don’t want your snack squished in your carry-on, or don’t have the time to make (and pack) your own sandwiches, protein bars can be a great alternative. These are especially great if you have specific dietary requirements. For example, gluten free protein bars are available for people who are on a gluten-free diet. There are also sugar-free and soy-free variants in the market if you are avoiding these particular ingredients.
They make a great post-workout snack
Another incredible fact about protein bars is that they make a healthy post-workout snack. If you want to use it specifically for replenishing your energy levels, pick a variant that is loaded in proteins and healthy carbohydrates but has no fat. This is particularly important because a workout session is followed by a crucial time window when you should not consume fat. Fat taken during this duration can slow down the digestion and transportation of proteins and carbohydrates to the muscles.
They can reduce your appetite
Studies have indicated that whey protein has a significant impact on the levels of the hunger hormone, ghrelin. It can lower the synthesis of ghrelin, which reduces your appetite and makes you feel satiated so that you need not snack time and again. Consuming a protein bar as a snack is thus recommended if you want to feel fuller with a healthy dietary option between meals.
They stabilize blood sugar
Besides weight watchers, diabetics too can have protein bars without any guilt because this is a delicious snack that actually stabilizes the blood sugar as well. Stabilized blood sugar is a benefit that not only serves diabetics but also prevents overeating in non-diabetics. Optimal levels improve concentration and overall wellness too. There cannot be a healthier sweet treat for people struggling to control their blood sugar levels!
If you have always revered protein bars for their taste, there is much more to them. These facts clearly indicate that they are great health supplements for everyone. Moreover, these are easy to carry anywhere and eat at any time during the day. So the next time you want that sweet, feel-good feeling, reach out for a healthy protein bar rather than sugar-laden candies or high-fat ice cream and you will surely not feel guilty after the treat!
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
