Do you really want to eat that energy bar???????

[Guest guest]

Do we really know what is in these protein bars, are they really good for you?

" One of the most popular (and profitable) products at the natural foods stores

and the supermarkets are the so called " energy / power bars " and the " cereal /

breakfast bars. " I like to think of them as candy bars. They are loaded with

calories and simple sugars. How many people do you know who need more calories?

Some are also high in protein--another ingredient Americans consume in dangerous

overabundance. These are consumed as a meal replacer, for a quick bite on the

run and as snacks.

" But most bars are filled with ingredients that are not nutritious, and

sometimes hazardous. For example, simple sugars will contribute to obesity,

elevated triglycerides and cholesterol, and rot your teeth. The vegetable oils

contribute to cancer and obesity. The cow’s milk proteins are a common cause of

allergic reactions. The extra protein in some bars will overwork the kidneys and

liver, and contribute to kidney stones and osteoporosis. Most bars are deficient

in dietary fiber, complex carbohydrates, and the proper mix of vitamins and

minerals that are found in whole starches, vegetables and fruits. You are

fooling yourself if you think these bars a reasonable substitute for real plant

foods. But for most Americans some of the bars may be a substantial improvement

over their usual fare of burgers, malts, and fries. I guess it’s all relative.

" The first constituent on the ingredient label of most of these bars is simple

sugars, such as: sugar, brown sugar, corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup,

maltodextrin, dextrose, honey, juice concentrates, fruit puree, fruits,

dehydrated fruits, molasses, red beet juice, and/ or dehydrated cane juice.

Compare the sugar content of a regular candy bar with these energy power bars.

For example, a 1.55 oz. Hershey’s milk chocolate bar has 22 grams of sugar,

which means 38% of the 230 calories are simple sugar, and a Reese’s Peanut

Butter Cup has 21 grams of sugars, which means one-third of the 250 calories are

sugar. You will find the percent of calories that are from simple sugars

surprisingly similar. Of course, there is a lot more fat in these chocolate

candy bars, than the energy bars.

" If not the first ingredient, then the sugar is second after protein. Even then

simple sugar still contributes to most of the calories. For example, Balance

Bars by Bio-Foods Inc list Protein Blend first, then high fructose corn syrup

but 36% of the 200 calories are sugar and 28% are protein. The common sources of

protein used are cow’s milk and soy protein. Many contain other ingredients that

the health conscious consumer will try to avoid like whole milk, butter, milk

solids, whey, partially hydrogenated vegetable shortening, soybean and other

vegetable oils, monoglyceride (fats), diglycerides (fats), lecithin (fat). "

FYI,

Lottie