The Atkins plan is a high-protein, low-carbohydrate, low-calorie diet. Atkins Diet Nutritionals manufactures meal replacement bars that are moderate in both protein and carbohydrate content to assist in adherence to this diet. The Atkins Advantage protein bar is tasty, made from high-quality protein sources, fiber-rich and low in sugar but high in fat, especially saturated fat. There are pros and cons to this protein bar.
Advantage Nutrition Facts
The Atkins Advantage bar is the company's original protein bar. The Caramel Chocolate Peanut Nougat flavor provides 170 calories, 10 grams (g) protein, 11 g fat (6 g saturated), 19 g carbohydrates (2 g sugar or 1/2 tsp.), 11 g dietary fiber and 150 mg sodium. It is a very high-fiber bar. The nutrient breakdown for this bar is approximately 23 percent calories from protein, 20 percent from carbohydrates and 58 percent from fat. This bar is sweetened with sugar alcohols, which, unlike artificial sweeteners, do provide some carbohydrates (less than sugar) and varying degrees of sweetness.
Recommended Criteria
According to "Consumer Reports," a protein bar should derive its protein from high-quality sources such as milk (whey or casein), egg or soy in place of low-quality sources of protein, such as collagen or gelatin. It should be fat-controlled -- that is, it should derive no more than 35 percent of its total calories from fat and 10 percent of total calories from saturated fat. According to FemaleMuscle.com, avoid bars that contain hydrogenated oils and tropical oils such as coconut oil or palm kernel oil. They raise your blood cholesterol levels, particularly "bad" LDL cholesterol. Your best bet is to choose a bar that offers 200 to 300 calories and a ratio of one part protein to two parts carbohydrates.
Vitamins and Minerals
One of the features that separates protein bars from candy bars is their vitamin and mineral content. As a meal replacement, protein bars should meet at least 1/3 of the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for most major vitamins and minerals. The Advantage bar meets, on average, only 10 percent of the RDA for most vitamins and minerals. In fact, one bar only provides four and six percent of the RDAs for the minerals iron and magnesium, respectively. Iron is important for delivering oxygen to cells and plays a role in energy metabolism. Magnesium is essential for muscle contraction and relaxation and nerve transmission.
Advantage Bar Pros
The Atkins Advantage bar is made with high-quality whey and soy protein isolates and offers nearly an optimal ratio of protein to carbohydrates. It is very high in fiber. Fiber is essential for a healthy digestive system and helps promote optimum cholesterol levels. At 150 mg, the Advantage bar is low in sodium and is very low in sugar. It is sweetened with sugar alcohols, which offer fewer calories, do not promote tooth decay and are Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) by the FDA.
Advantage Bar Cons
The Advantage bar is somewhat low in calories and quite high in saturated (bad) fat, meeting about 30 percent of the recommended maximum intake in one serving. It derives 58 percent of total calories from fat (well over the recommended maximum according to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans of 35 percent). Consuming too much saturated fat may raise blood cholesterol levels. The saturated fat in this protein bar comes from unhealthy palm kernel oil. In addition, it does not provide enough essential vitamins and minerals.
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