Although many nutrition supplements and meal replacement bars are designed to aid your weight loss efforts, there are many products available to help you gain weight. Some energy bars are intended to assist in your attempts to gain muscle mass, and contain a nutritional profile conducive to weight gain. Consult a doctor before using supplements or altering your diet.
Calorie Content
To gain weight, consume more calories than you expend each day. Thus, the most effective energy bar to gain weight would be one that is high in calories. Don't assume that all energy bars are rich in calories. Bodybuilding.com notes that the calorie content of a single bar may range form as few as 95 calories up to nearly 500 calories. If you can only find lower-calorie energy bars, consider consuming multiple to meet your daily calorie goal.
Fat Content
Many energy bars intended to aid in weight gain are high in fat. This is because fat is the most calorie-dense of the macronutrients, providing 9 calories per gram. Fat is also an essential nutrient for healthy development, and some types of fatty acids may help you keep fat gain to a minimum as you gain weight. For example, research from the June 2008 issue of "Molecular Nutrition & Food Research" indicates that conjugated linoleic acid may increase daily energy expenditure and discourage fat gain.
Carbohydrate Content
Energy bars tend to be rich in carbohydrates, as carbohydrates are your body's main source of energy. The MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia suggest you consume mostly complex carbohydrates, such as whole grains, rather than simple sugars, such as sucrose and fructose. Complex carbohydrates provide lasting energy and keep your blood sugar levels stable, while simple sugars may give you a burst of energy followed by a crash.
Protein Content
Although some energy bars are not rich in protein, many sports nutrition bars, typically those marketed towards strength-training athletes, are high in protein. Protein aids in muscle building, and may improve your body composition when you are consuming a caloric surplus. According to nutrition and fitness researcher Dr. John Berardi explains that high protein intake may help you keep fat gain at a minimum when consuming excess calories, as protein requires more energy to digest than other nutrients.
References
- Bodybuilding.com: Protein Bar Finder Results Page
- "Molecular Nutrition & Food Research"; Anti-obesity effects of conjugated linoleic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, and eicosapentaenoic acid; JJ Li, CJ Huang, D Xie; June 2008
- MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Carbohydrates
- Dr. John Berardi: Protein Prejudice
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