| In: Diets
Nutrition Bars to Lose Weight: What Are Your Options?
If you are dieting you may have wondered if nutrition bars to lose weight are worth the money or not, especially for quick snacks on the go.
Be aware, first of all that many bars sold today as nutrition bars may contain high amounts of refined sugar and carbohydrates. It is important to check the nutrition facts and the ingredients to see just what you are ingesting.
Also be aware that some of the labeling of bars may be misleading. The nutrition labeling on these bars may indicate a quantity of carbohydrates that is far lower than what they really have. One reason this is so is, that the label fails to include glycerin, an incidental ingredient in these products that helps bulk them up and add moisture. Glycerin is a product that is rarely counted for the carbohydrate contribution it brings.
If you are looking for a nutrition bar best suited for dieting, find a protein bar if you can. The higher the protein content in any of these products, the better they are as they will balance out the carbohydrates and help with satiety. Some diet plans have their own nutrition bars — notably the Zone Diet, South Beach Diet and Atkins plan all have bars. Nonetheless, be sure to check out the label and make sure you don’t find they are too high in sugar or in refined carbohydrates. Make sure the bar has some fiber as this will also increase satiety.
Look closely to make sure that the products you buy get their protein from sources such as whe rather than hydrolized gelatin, which is a low quality protein. Also look for a bar with little or not saturated fat, and certainly no hydrogenated oils or trans fats at all. You might also want to consider trying one of the organic, real foods or raw foods bars, but make sure that they are in keeping with your diet as even these bars can be higher in carbohydrates than what you are looking for, especially if you are following one of the low carb or moderate carb diets.
It’s highly questionable however that a diet really needs nutrition bars, and whether they are going to burn fat or otherwise help you lose weight. Rather see these as a supplement and a way to have a quick snack when you are away from home and want to stave off hunger until your next meal.