“Nutrition” bars. At grocery stores, neighborhood markets, convenience stores, and big box stores, we’re presented with an infinite array of sports bars to choose from. In most cases, there is little difference between selecting a bar labeled sports nutrition bar than we are grabbing a snickers bar. Typically, these guys are loaded with sugar.
A study conducted recently in Germany at Munich Technical University, researched individuals’ tendencies to choose snacks based on marketing. This group of scientists actually found that individuals focusing on weight loss were more inclined to skip a workout if they had consumed a “sports bar” that day. The brain somewhat easily convinced itself that they had already done something healthy by eating these “nutritive” bars!
For some, these bars may also serve as a reward for exercising. This definitely applies if you’re a professional or collegiate athlete, a triathaloner, or on a rowing team, not if you’ve just finished a Zumba class or ran 3 miles! You’re body doesn’t need this large dose of sugar unless you’ve seriously depleted your glycogen stores. This only happens with prolonged strenuous exercise. Seriously guys, like over 90 minutes!
For convenience sake, sports bars can be easy for a meal replacement. I have listed a few types that are much better options which contain higher amounts of protein and lower amounts of sugar than their candy bar imposter counterparts.
*Please remember, don’t replace sugar with sugar alcohol unless you are in need of a laxative ;)
A study conducted recently in Germany at Munich Technical University, researched individuals’ tendencies to choose snacks based on marketing. This group of scientists actually found that individuals focusing on weight loss were more inclined to skip a workout if they had consumed a “sports bar” that day. The brain somewhat easily convinced itself that they had already done something healthy by eating these “nutritive” bars!
For some, these bars may also serve as a reward for exercising. This definitely applies if you’re a professional or collegiate athlete, a triathaloner, or on a rowing team, not if you’ve just finished a Zumba class or ran 3 miles! You’re body doesn’t need this large dose of sugar unless you’ve seriously depleted your glycogen stores. This only happens with prolonged strenuous exercise. Seriously guys, like over 90 minutes!
For convenience sake, sports bars can be easy for a meal replacement. I have listed a few types that are much better options which contain higher amounts of protein and lower amounts of sugar than their candy bar imposter counterparts.
*Please remember, don’t replace sugar with sugar alcohol unless you are in need of a laxative ;)
- Power Crunch- 20g protein, 5g sugar
- Kind Bar- (personal favorite because it’s not fake, just nuts) 5g protein, 11g sugar
- Nature Valley- 10g protein, 6g sugar
- Detour- 15g protein, 5g sugar
- Pure Protein- 20g protein, 2g sugar
- Quest Bar- 20g protein, 2g sugar