Healthy Food Bars

Healthy Food Bars
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Food bars can offer you a quick source of energy. Some are healthy, while others are similar to candy bars. Healthy food bars are helpful if you need additional energy for your workout, or for a snack between meals. Some food bars offer enough sustenance to be used as an occasional meal replacement.

Ingredients

Healthy food bars are made from whole foods as opposed to artificial ingredients like aspartame, saccharin, sucralose, corn fructose, partially hydrogenated oils or trans fats, artificial colors, flavors and preservatives. Healthy food bars contain ingredients that offer you nutrition and sustenance from protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other nutrients using ingredients like fruit, whole grains, nuts, seeds and sometimes vegetables or greens. They are typically sweetened with dates, grape juice, evaporated cane juice, raw cane sugar, honey, organic agave, vegetable glycerin or stevia.

Health

Healthy food bars can be packed with ingredients that are sometimes difficult to acquire, such as omega-3 essential fatty acids. The vitamins, minerals and antioxidants found in good health food bars can strengthen your immune system and protect you from illness and disease. The American Dietetic Association recommends that you eat a well-balanced diet full of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts and seeds to greatly reduce your risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity and cancer.

Convenience

Healthy food bars save you time and are as convenient as having a candy bar. They are easy to store in your car or bag for emergencies and generally keep well. Instead of preparing an elaborate healthy snack, you can grab and go. They also serve as an easy way to boost calories for people trying to gain weight or as a meal replacement for people trying to lose it.

Environmental Benefits

Healthy food bars are available with organic ingredients, which means they were not grown with genetically modified seeds, synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. "Whats On My Food" documents the levels of pesticides in or on many fruits and vegetables, along with their adverse environmental and health effects. Some healthy food bar companies go a step further and incorporate foods produced through ethical or indigenous business practices.

References

Article reviewed by Billie Jo Jannen Last updated on: Jan 30, 2011

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