PowerBar makes sports performance supplements such as energy gels, electrolyte drinks and energy bars. Its Protein Plus bars are high-protein supplements for athletes; they come in regular, extra protein and reduced-sugar varieties. The different varieties have different calorie, protein, sugar and micronutrient contents; check the nutrition facts to decide whether one of them meets your needs.
Uses
PowerBar recommends eating a Protein Plus bar before a workout for long-lasting energy, or at any time for extra calories and protein. You can also eat it after exercising to promote muscle recovery and repair; PowerBar.com states that you should eat at least 15 to 25 g of protein after a workout. Iowa State University recommends limiting protein in the pre-workout meal and having a post-workout snack with 100 to 200 g of carbohydrates and a ratio of about 4 g carbohydrate to 1 g protein.
Calories And Macronutrients
A PowerBar Protein Plus bar has 23 g of protein. It has 300 calories and 6 g of fat, of which 3.5 g are saturated. The bar has 38 g of carbohydrates, with 1 g of dietary fiber. The PowerBar Protein Plus 30 g bar has 30 g of protein. It has 360 calories and 11 g of fat, including 4.5 g of saturated fat. It has 33 g of carbohydrates, with less than 1 g of dietary fiber. The reduced-sugar bar has 270 calories, 9 g of fat of which 4 g are saturated, 30 g of carbohydrates and 22 g of protein. All three types are free from unhealthy trans fats; PowerBar states that they have no preservatives or artificial flavors.
Sugars
The regular PowerBar Protein Plus has 18 g of sugar and the PowerBar Protein Plus 30 g has 30 g of sugar. The chocolate peanut butter reduced-sugar bar has 1 g sugar and 26 g of sugar alcohols. PowerBar states that the reduced sugar bar has a much lower impact on blood sugar levels than its other bars. Using the food exchange list for people with diabetes, the bar is equivalent to one carbohydrate serving and three lean protein servings.
Proteins
The TriSource PowerBar Protein Plus contains a blend of whey, soy and casein proteins. Each of these high-quality proteins is complete, as it contains all of the essential dietary amino acids. Your body digests whey protein the fastest; it releases energy from soy protein into the bloodstream more slowly, and digests casein slowest of all. PowerBar.com states that eating these three proteins together provides sustained energy for your workout and quick recovery afterward.
Vitamins And Minerals
PowerBar Protein Plus provides 100 percent of the daily value for vitamin C, vitamin E and eight of the B vitamins. It has at least 40 percent of the daily value for calcium, iron and zinc; it also has phosphorus, magnesium and 7 percent of the daily value for sodium. The PowerBar Protein Plus with 30 g of protein has 15 percent of the daily value for iron and calcium, but is not fortified with other vitamins and minerals. It has 10 percent of the daily value for sodium. The reduced-sugar bar has at least 10 percent of the daily value for calcium, iron, vitamins C, vitamin E and many of the B vitamins, including folate.
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