PowerBar Energize Fruit Smoothie energy bar is a meal replacement bar targeted toward the needs of those participating in sports and athletics. PowerBar promises the flavor of a fruit smoothie in the form and package of a snack bar. It comes in three flavors and offers a mix of fructose and glucose in a specific ratio that enhances performance and endurance in athletes.
History
PowerBar is a line of American-manufactured energy bars and sports nutrition food products designed for athletes. The PowerBar company was started by a Canadian athlete and entrepreneur in 1986 and later purchased by Nestlé in 2000. In February, 2007 PowerBar headquarters moved to Glendale, Calif. and Nestlé hired an entirely new marketing team. According to Chris Ota, director of marketing, the goal of PowerBar is to provide athletes with a product made from natural ingredients that will boost stamina and taste good. PowerBar Energize Fruit Smoothie bars hit the market in early summer 2008.
Function
The new PowerBar Energize Fruit Smoothie Bar is part of the PowerBar Performance System. This three-step system is a guide designed to help athletes understand which products to consume before, during and after an event or vigorous workout for optimum performance. The smoothie bar fits into this system as a product to choose before an event for fuel muscles and build up glycogen, or stored glucose, for release on demand by the body. The bars are beneficial for athletes because they are portable, convenient and provide the right amount and ratio of fuel when eating a carbohydrate-rich, pre-workout meal is not a viable option.
Ingredients
The PowerBar Fruit Smoothie Energy bar comes in three flavors: Berry Blast, Creamy Citrus and Tangy Tropical Fruit. One bar provides 220 calories, 3.5g fat, 0.5g saturated fat, 6g protein, 43g carbohydrates, 27g sugars or nearly 7 teaspoons, less than 1g dietary fiber and 180mg sodium. Main ingredients include an "energy blend" of evaporated cane juice syrup and dried fruits as well as fruit powders, fructose, starch, in the form of maltodextrin, and soy protein isolate. It does not contain preservatives or artificial flavors.
Vitamins and Minerals
This nutritional bar is fortified with 17 vitamins and minerals. One bar meets 10 to 60 percent of the recommended daily value, or DV, for certain nutrients important for athletes such as thiamin, or vitamin B1; riboflavin, or vitamin B2; vitamin C, B6, calcium and iron. The B-vitamins are important for energy metabolism. Vitamin B6, in particular, is needed to break down and release glucose from the liver, where it is stored as glycogen. Calcium may reduce exercise-induced muscle soreness and iron is important for transporting oxygen and other nutrients to cells.
C2MAX Dual Energy Blend
This PowerBar is recommended in particular for those participating in higher intensity competitions or sports such as running, cycling and swimming. PowerBar formulated a carbohydrate blend; a ratio of two parts glucose to one part fructose, or fruit sugar, called the PowerBar C2MAX dual source energy blend. According to a research study published in February 2008 in Medical Science of Sports and Exercise, such a carbohydrate blend delivers 20 to 50 percent more energy to muscles than pure glucose; which, according to findings of this research study, led to an 8 percent improvement in cycling time-trial performance in eight male cyclists.
Member Comments