PROTEIN BARS
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PROTEIN BARS
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In a quest to better stabilize my blood sugar, I snack on protein bars rather than empty carb foods. While looking for a tasty treat I have tried several brands of protein bars. The bars tasted anywhere from "MMMMmmm tastes like candy" to "oh my God, where's the wastebasket?" I have made a chart below comparing some of the better bars nutritionally. As you can see the content of the bars are widely varied. I had a nutritional assessment by a RN who specialized in nutrition. The nurse stated for a protein bar to actually be considered a "protein" (or to have your body recognize it as one) that the carbs should equal the protein in grams otherwise your just getting alot of sugar. I only listed bars that were close to equal, bars like the Slim-fast were not close enough for me to consider a protein bar. |
| ITEM |
Pure Protein |
EAS Advant Edge |
MET-RX | Carb Solutions |
Balance Gold | Powerbar Protein Plus |
Premier Protein |
Detour | Zone Perfect | Big Whey |
| Serving Size | 50 g | 60 g | 85 g | 60 g | 50 g | 78 g | 72 g | 43 g | 50 g | 100 g |
| Calories | 180 | 220 | 320 | 230 | 210 | 290 | 280 | 160 | 210 | 420 |
| Fat | 5 g | 6 g | 7 g | 10 g | 7 g | 3.5 g | 8 g | 4.5 g | 7 g | 16 g |
| Cholesterol | 10 mg | 0 mg | 10 mg | 5 mg | 5 mg | 5 mg | 5 mg | 5 mg | 0 mg | 10 mg |
| Sodium | 190 mg | 180 mg | 260 mg | 200 mg | 120 mg | 150 mg | 340 mg | 190 mg | 250 mg | 490 mg |
| Carbs | 19 g | 24 g | 34 g | 16 g | 23 g | 37 g | 21 g | 16 g | 22 g | 38 g |
| Protein |
19 g | 21 g | 31 g | 24 g | 15 g | 24 g | 31 g | 15 g | 16 g | 30 g |
| Vitamin A | 15 % | 30 % | 30 % | 30 % | 50 % | 0 % | 0 % | 0 % | 50 % | 0 % |
| Vitamin C | 15 % | 9 % | 30 % | 30 % | 100 % | 100 % | 0 % | 0 % | 200 % | 0 % |
| Calcium | 15 % | 30 % | 30 % | 50 % | 10 % | 45 % | 15 % | 6 % | 2 % | 15 % |
| Iron | 4 % | 35 % | 8 % | 6 % | 25 % | 45 % | 6 % | 4 % | 10 % | 4 % |
| Vitamin E | 15 % | 35 % | 30 % | 30 % | 100 % | 100 % | Not Available |
Not Available |
210 % | Not Available |
| Thiamin | 15 % | 30 % | 35 % | 30 % | 25 % | 100 % | NA | NA | 50 % | NA |
| Riboflavin | 15 % | 30 % | 35 % | 30 % | 25 % | 100 % | NA | NA | 50 % | NA |
| Niacin | 15 % | 30 % | 35 % | 30 % | 25 % | 100 % | NA | NA | 100 % | NA |
| Vitamin B6 | 15 % | 30 % | 30 % | 30 % | 100 % | 100 % | NA | NA | 200 % | NA |
| Folic Acid | 15 % | 30 % | 30 % | 30 % | 25 % | 100 % | NA | NA | 40 % | NA |
| Vitamin B12 | 15 % | 30 % | 30 % | 30 % | 25 % | 100 % | NA | NA | 45 % | NA |
| Biotin | 15 % | 30 % | 30 % | 30 % | 25 % | 100 % | NA | NA | 30 % | NA |
| Pantothenic Acid | 15 % | 30 % | 35 % | 30 % | 25 % | 100 % | NA | NA | 35 % | NA |
| Phosphorus | 6 % | 15 % | 15 % | 40 % | 15 % | 35 % | 10 % | NA | 15 % | 20 % |
| Magnesium | 0% | 10 % | 0 % | 0 % | 10 % | 30 % | NA | NA | 10 % | 8 % |
| Manganese | 0 % | 30 % | 0 % | 0 % | 25 % | 0 % | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Iodine | 15 % | 30 % | 30 % | 30 % | 25 % | 0 % | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Zinc | 15 % | 30 % | 30 % | 30 % | 25 % | 35 % | NA | NA | 50 % | NA |
| Copper | 20 % | 35 % | 35 % | 30 % | 25 % | 40 % | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| Flavor Tasted |
Country Blueberry Pie |
Choc. Cream Pie | Malted Milk Ball | Choc. Chip Cookie Dough |
Carmel Nut Blast | Vanilla Yogurt | Yogurt Peanut Crunch | Peanut Butter | Choc. Mint | Choc. Peanut Caramel |
| Comments | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J |
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A. Was very good and tasted just like pie. However I did leave one in my car and it melted a little, this bar went from Yum to Yuck quickly.
B. One of the best bars tried. It was very good although a little on the sweet side. C. Large size bar was filling and tasted excellent. D. The worst tasting bar ever!It states "great new taste", man I can't imagine what the old bar tasted like. E. Chewy bar, ok flavor. Similar to a Snickers candy bar. F. I have tried all three flavors and they are all excellent. G. I have also tried the Chocolate Peanut Butter which is good and the Double Chocolate Crunch is more like chocolate cake!. H. Not much taste, rather bland. I. Center like a rice krispy bar, but only a hint of mint taste and no chocolate flavor at all. J. The label states "Designer Protein Whey", I am not sure what that's about but, tastewise the bar was blah, blah, BLAH. | ||||||||||
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The EAS Advant Edge also contained Molybdenum 30% and Selenium 30%.
| The Zone Perfect Bar also contained Chromium 80%, Molybdenum 65% and Selenium 80% The Vitamins and Minerals in the chart above are listed in percent and equals the Daily Values bases on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Manufactures of the bars are: |