Protein bars are a well-liked alternative for a fast post-workout snack, a handy chunk on the go, or a stand-in throughout a busy day when a full meal is not doable. They’ll fill dietary gaps, curb starvation, and assist well being and health objectives. Nonetheless, not all protein bars stay as much as that promise, and a few will be surprisingly unhealthy.
Many standard manufacturers pack their bars with added sugars, synthetic sweeteners, and unhealthy fat. What would possibly seem as a fast, nutritious snack can generally resemble sweet greater than a balanced protein supply. Whereas protein bars can match right into a balanced weight loss plan, it is important to learn labels rigorously and look ahead to these hidden elements to make sure you’re making a smart choice.
Right here, we’re sharing ten protein bars that fall brief on the well being entrance, so you may keep away from choices that would derail your diet objectives. And for what to purchase as a substitute, take a look at The 10 Best Protein Bars in 2024.
What Makes a Protein Bar Unhealthy?
- The added sugar content material. Limiting added sugar is a cornerstone of fine well being. Consuming an excessive amount of added sugar contributes to weight acquire and will increase the chance of coronary heart illness and sort 2 diabetes. Protein bars are possible not the one supply of added sugar in your weight loss plan. To assist maintain added sugars in examine, search for protein bars with lower than 6 grams of sugar.
- The quantity of saturated fats. Many bars depend on fillers like palm oil, which is excessive in saturated fats. The U.S. Dietary Guidelines suggest protecting saturated fats to lower than 10% of your each day consumption. On a 2,000-calorie per day weight loss plan, this quantities to lower than 22 grams of saturated fats. Meals excessive in saturated fat can raise cholesterol and enhance the chance of coronary heart illness.
- Its sugar alcohol content material. This one is a bit nuanced. Sugar alcohols like maltitol cut back the impact of meals on blood sugar, which is useful for individuals with diabetes. Nonetheless, sugar alcohols may trigger digestive issues, reminiscent of belly cramping, bloating, or diarrhea. When you could tolerate small doses, some protein bars include important quantities of sugar alcohols.
Unhealthiest Protein Bars
- Gatorade Peanut Butter Chocolate Protein Bar
- 1st Phorm Stage 1 S’mores Protein Bar
- Suppose! Excessive Protein Lemon Delight
- Pure Protein Caramel Churro
- Met-Rx Tremendous Cookie Crunch
- Clif Bar Peanut Butter Banana with Darkish Chocolate
- Energy Crunch Salted Caramel
- Quest Vitamin Cookies & Cream
- Go Macro Coconut + Almond Butter + Chocolate Chip Bar
- Excellent Bar Almond Butter
Gatorade Peanut Butter Chocolate Protein Bar
Vitamin (Per bar):
Energy: 360
Fats: 13 g (Saturated Fats: 9 g)
Sodium: 310 mg
Carbs: 39 g (Fiber: 1 g, Sugar: 24 g)
Protein: 20 g
With extra sugar than protein, the Gatorade Peanut Butter Chocolate Protein Bar is one you need to restrict. The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends protecting added sugar to lower than 6% of your each day consumption, or lower than 25 grams for ladies and 26 grams for males. This protein bar incorporates 24 grams of added sugar—practically the utmost quantity of sugar advisable by the AHA.
1st Phorm Stage 1 S’mores Protein Bar
Vitamin (Per bar):
Energy: 270
Fats: 12 g (Saturated Fats: 9 g)
Sodium: 170 mg
Carbs: 20 g (Fiber: 0 g, Sugar: 1 g)
Protein: 21 g
Palm kernel oil is the fourth ingredient within the 1st Phorm Level 1 S’mores protein bar. Not like different oils which may be a mixture of saturated and unsaturated fat, palm kernel oil is roughly 80% saturated fat. The palm kernel oil considerably contributes to the saturated fats content material of this s’mores protein bar, which incorporates 9 grams of saturated fats, or 45% of your each day worth.
The U.S. Dietary Pointers for People suggest limiting saturated fats to lower than 10% of your each day consumption to scale back the chance of coronary heart illness, or not more than 20 grams a day.
Suppose! Excessive Protein Lemon Delight
Vitamin (Per bar):
Energy: 230
Fats: 9 g (Saturated Fats: 3.5 g)
Sodium: 230 mg
Carbs: 24 g (Fiber: 0 g, Sugar: 0 g [Sugar Alcohol: 13 g])
Protein: 20 g
The Think! High Protein Lemon Delight bars are a low glycemic possibility protein bar for individuals watching their blood sugar. Nonetheless, the bar incorporates 13 grams of sugar alcohols, specifically maltitol syrup. Sugar alcohols could cause belly cramping or diarrhea, particularly amongst individuals with irritable bowel syndrome or these unaccustomed to sugar alcohols.
Pure Protein Caramel Churro
Vitamin (Per bar):
Energy: 190
Fats: 6 g (Saturated Fats: 4 g)
Sodium: 180 mg
Carbs: 17 g (Fiber: 1 g, Sugar: 2 g)
Protein: 20 g
Pure Protein’s Caramel Churro bar has simply 190 energy, with 17 grams of carbohydrates and 20 grams of protein. Nonetheless, regardless of its favorable diet profile, the Caramel Churro bar from Pure Protein nonetheless makes our checklist of unhealthy protein bars as a result of it is filled with practically each kind of sweetener. This bar incorporates synthetic sweeteners like sucralose, sugar alcohols reminiscent of maltitol and sorbitol, and refined sugars together with corn syrup, sugar, and brown sugar.
Met-Rx Tremendous Cookie Crunch
​​Vitamin (Per bar):
Energy: 410
Fats: 13 g (Saturated Fats: 6 g)
Sodium: 320 mg
Carbs: 42 g (Fiber: 2 g, Sugar: 24 g)
Protein: 32 g
The MET-Rx Super Cookie Crunch Protein Bar is marketed as a meal alternative bar, and rightfully so. It may be straightforward to exceed each day calorie or macronutrient targets with this protein bar. This bar incorporates 410 energy, roughly equal to a meal. Apart from the high-calorie content material, one Tremendous Cookie Crunch protein bar has 24 grams of sugar—practically 50% of the each day worth primarily based on a 2,000-calorie weight loss plan.
Clif Bar Peanut Butter Banana with Darkish Chocolate
Vitamin (Per bar):
Energy: 260
Fats: 8 g (Saturated Fats: 2 g)
Sodium: 230 mg
Carbs: 41 g (Fiber: 5 g, Sugar: 14 g)
Protein: 10 g
The Clif Bar Peanut Butter Banana with Dark Chocolate protein bar incorporates extra sugar than protein. With 14 grams of added sugar and simply 10 grams of protein, this bar is extra of a dessert than a high-protein snack. It incorporates three kinds of sugar: brown rice, tapioca, and cane syrup. Though the syrups are natural, they’re nonetheless thought-about an added sugar. And diets excessive in added sugar enhance the chance of weight acquire and creating continual circumstances like kind 2 diabetes and coronary heart illness.
Energy Crunch Salted Caramel
Vitamin (Per bar):
Energy: 215
Fats: 14 g (Saturated Fats: 7 g)
Sodium: 180 mg
Carbs: 11 g (Fiber: 1 g, Sugar: 6 g)
Protein: 13 g
With a texture and taste much like wafer cookies, Power Crunch’s Salted Caramel protein bar resembles extra of a dessert than a typical protein bar. It has 7 grams of saturated fats (35% DV) from palm oil and palm kernel oil. Palm oil itself is roughly 50% saturated fat, whereas palm kernel oil is 85% saturated fats. And some research signifies palm oil contributes to elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or “dangerous” ldl cholesterol.
Quest Vitamin Cookies & Cream
Vitamin (Per bar):
Energy: 190
Fats: 8 g (Saturated Fats: 2.5 g)
Sodium: 290 mg
Carbs: 22 g (Fiber: 13 g, Sugar: 0 g)
Protein: 21 g
The Quest Nutrition Cookies & Cream protein bar incorporates a whopping 13 grams of fiber. Consuming giant portions of fiber—like 13 grams in a single sitting—is rather a lot and may trigger digestive points like belly cramping or bloating. So, whereas this protein bar could look like a great way to satisfy fiber suggestions, it could additionally trigger abdomen points. As an alternative, keep on with naturally fiber-rich meals like fruits, greens, and legumes.
Go Macro Coconut + Almond Butter + Chocolate Chip Bar
Vitamin (Per bar):
Energy: 280
Fats: 10 g (Saturated Fats: 3.5 g)
Sodium: 15 mg
Carbs: 36 g (Fiber: 3 g, Sugar: 11 g)
Protein: 11 g
Go Macro bars are sometimes touted as more healthy protein bar choices on account of their “clear” and easy elements. Nonetheless, regardless of the brief ingredient checklist of recognizable gadgets, the Go Macro Coconut, Almond Butter, and Chocolate Chip protein bar is excessive in sugar. The U.S. Dietary Guidelines for People suggest protecting added sugar beneath 10% of complete each day consumption. With 11 grams of added sugar per serving, this protein bar is a big supply of added sugar at 22% of the each day worth.
Excellent Bar Almond Butter
Vitamin (Per bar):
Energy: 320
Fats: 19 g (Saturated Fats: 1.5 g)
Sodium: 45 mg
Carbs: 25 g (Fiber: 4 g, Sugar: 18 g [Added Sugar: 12 g])
Protein: 13 g
The Almond Butter Perfect Bar presents a balanced mixture of vitamins, with 19 grams of fats, 25 grams of carbohydrates, and 13 grams of protein. Regardless of its increased sugar content material of 18 grams, the bar has a low glycemic index, that means its wholesome fat and protein assist forestall the blood sugar spikes usually seen with different high-sugar bars. Nonetheless, honey is the second ingredient, contributing to the bar’s 12 grams of added sugar. Although typically marketed as a pure sweetener, honey remains to be thought-about an added sugar and must be restricted, particularly given different each day sources of sugar.
We suggest this bar for these needing glucose for exercises; for a lower-sugar possibility, contemplate Perfect Bar’s Snack Size, which has simply 10 grams of sugar per serving.