It seems like everyone is taking protein these days, and protein has been put on a pedestal as the king of all the macro-nutrients when it comes to health and fitness. A lot of people go through the same thought processes: “Should I be taking Protein?” “Which protein should I be using?” “How much protein is best?” This difficulty isn't helped by the great variety of products out there, especially when most protein bars look like unhealthy chocolate bars! In this article, I'm going to break down protein bars, and show you the real benefits they can have to your health and diet.
First and foremost, the chief benefit of protein bars is the convenience. We all like to snack, and I'm sure you all know how difficult it can be to find healthy snacks, especially those containing a sufficient source of protein! Not only are they quick and easy to eat, but they have a great shelf-life, and they're perfect as an 'on-the-go' snack!
If you're a gym goer or sports-person like myself, protein bars can be fantastic for many reasons. Before I break this down, we need to identify a few different types of 'Protein Bars'. First there are meal replacement bars, which are designed to replace the macro-nutrients of a balanced diet. There are also Protein bars, which of course contain a large ratio of protein, with less carbohydrates and fat etc. And finally there are energy bars, which may have a larger ratio of carbohydrates, mostly sugars, in order to give you an energy boost. Each of these bars have fantastic benefits if used correctly and not abused. Energy bars are fantastic to consume before exercise, in order to provide your body with fuel to perform at its best. Protein bars are a great way of sourcing protein into your diet where it may otherwise be difficult. We all know that if you are trying to build or tone muscle, protein is important, and so protein bars can help you by giving you easy access. Finally, Meal replacement bars are great for aiding you in maintaining a balanced diet, by standing in place of other potentially unhealthy snacks if you're on the go.
Even if you are not into the gym scene, protein is necessary for everyone, in order to maintain muscular proficiency and prevent deterioration. Protein is also vital for maintaining good condition of vital organs, and so without it you can put yourself at serious risk of poor health. Necessary proteins can be sourced from a well structured and well-balanced diet. But for most of us, finding the time and resources to keep up a healthy and balanced meal plan can be very difficult and time consuming. This is where protein bars can really help, as they give you an accurately measured dose of healthy macro-nutrients, to allow to you quantify your intake and stay on track. If you consider yourself to be an active person, then it is likely that your protein requirements will be greater than the requirements of other, less active people. This is because the strain on your muscles and organs may be greater, and so it is vital to provide them with the tools to repair and recover.
By this point, you're probably wondering if you're someone who 'needs' extra protein? Maybe you do, and maybe you don't. But even those of us who try to stick to a balanced diet, will frequently fall short when it comes to well-spread and sufficient protein intake. For those of you who have no clue how much protein you should be consuming daily, a relatively accurate calculation, would be to multiply your weight in kilograms by 0.8, to provide you with a figure in grams for how much protein to consume. If you are a gym-goer, trying to build muscle mass, you will need to multiply by 1.4 or more.
Another benefit of protein bars is portion control. Consuming protein bars between meals can help you to reduce the size of each meal. This will help you to eat more frequently, in smaller quantities, which is fantastic for your metabolism. But be careful not to eat too much, as many protein bars tend to be very calorie efficient. Protein bars are fantastic to support a wide range of diet and exercise plans, it's up to you to read the label to find the bar which is best suited to your needs and requirements. Whether you're a bodybuilder incorporating protein bars into your diet to support your calorie excess, or whether you're trying to control your calorie intake and spread your meals further, protein bars can certainly help you on your way.
Toby Hone
BSc (hons) Sport and Exercise Science
