If you have a busy lifestyle, work out frequently or have trouble meeting nutritional requirements with your regular diet, nutritional bars can provide the calories and nutrients you need. If you are trying to lose weight, a nutritional bar can replace a higher-calorie meal. Read the bar's label to find out its particular formulation, which determines the nutrient content of the bar.
Background and Types
The size and ingredients of a nutritional bar depend on its category. A meal replacement bar may be bigger than a snack bar, and it may have more calories and nutrients. Nutritional bars created for strength training athletes are usually higher protein than bars designed for endurance athletes to eat before a workout. Some nutritional bars are made for those with special nutritional needs. They may be made for diabetics, or be gluten-free for individuals with gluten intolerance.
Macronutrients
The energy in nutritional bars comes from the calories in protein, carbohydrates and fat. Whey, milk protein isolate and soy are common sources of high-quality protein in nutritional bars, and they can add a chewy texture. Carbohydrates can come from added sugars in the form of white sugar, honey, corn syrup or brown sugar, or from complex carbohydrates such as those in cereals. Low-carbohydrate bars may be higher in protein and fat, and have non-nutritive sweeteners instead of sugars. Most bars also contain a form of fat, such as palm or soybean oil.
Vitamins and Minerals
Many nutritional bars are fortified with vitamins and minerals to help people meet their nutrient requirements. Some bars provide all of the vitamins and most of the essential minerals, and others provide only some micronutrients geared toward specific needs. A bar for women may be high in calcium and vitamin D for bone health. A bar for diabetics may be high in chromium, which is essential in sugar metabolism.
Other Ingredients
The formulation of nutritional bars can vary, so read the nutrition panel and ingredients list as a guide. Some bars are high in dietary fiber, which helps you feel full and decreases your risk for constipation, so these bars may help if you are trying to lose weight. Nutritional bars can provide essential heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids from flaxseeds, or contain antioxidants such as lycopene or lutein. They may also have ingredients such as whole grains, nuts or dried fruit, and they often have natural or artificial flavorings.
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