Protein bars were originally intended for athletes who needed to gain muscle mass. But over time, they began to use them as snacks, and sometimes replacing them with breakfast or dinner. Those who are forced to refrain from chocolate and other sweets also rated this product. Consider what protein bars are, what are their benefits and harms.

What are protein bars and what are they for?

The main component necessary for the development and growth of muscle tissue is protein. If a person lacks this substance, even with the most intense training, he will not get the desired result. Therefore, for those who want to build muscle, it is important to properly organize the diet.

Protein bars contain enough protein to meet your daily needs. To make up for the deficiency of this component, 2 to 3 pieces a day are enough.

In addition, a lot of carbohydrates are present in this product, up to 30 - 40% of the total mass. They provide the body with energy, allowing you to stay in good shape for a long time. In addition to the listed components, this type of sports nutrition contains vitamins and mineral compounds, as well as excipients. Due to this, the bars allow you to replenish the cells with the elements necessary for the normal functioning of organs and systems, and they also taste good and are quite capable of replacing sweets.

On a note.The use of protein bars is indicated not only for gaining muscle mass, but also for weight loss. Due to its rich composition and high nutritional value, they permanently drown out the feeling of hunger, helping to avoid overeating.

Benefits for the human body

The main advantage of bars is that they saturate the body with high-quality proteins. In addition, they are convenient to use and allow you to replenish energy reserves anywhere and anytime. Unlike protein shakes that need to be prepared, this delicacy can be carried with you and eat when you want, and they are stored longer.

In addition, bars are considered balanced in composition. They contain nutrients in the right proportions and supply the cells with a number of enzymes necessary to stay in good shape. Moreover, the product is considered low-calorie, 100 g contains, on average, 150 kcal. But still, do not abuse this delicacy, since it is rich in carbohydrates, and their excess in the diet entails the formation of fatty deposits.

Also, the components contained in the bars stimulate anabolic processes, fat metabolism and metabolism, and remove harmful substances. Due to this, it is possible not only to build muscle tissue, but also to improve the general condition of the body.

A review of the best protein bars

Today on sale you can find a variety of types of protein bars for every taste and budget. In addition to the main components, fruits and berries are added to their composition.

The most popular brands of these products are as follows:

  1. Bite. These are sugar-free bars with the addition of nuts, sunflower and flax seeds, as well as dried fruits. The treat is enriched with fatty acids and does not contain starch, and its caloric content is a little more than 150 kcal.
  2. Bombbar. Such a delicacy is presented in various versions and is chocolate, fruit, peanut and cereal. There is no sugar in Bombbar protein bars, and the percentage of carbohydrates is very low. Moreover, the composition contains a high protein content of almost 30 g per serving.
  3. Detour These products include caramel, chocolate and peanuts. Moreover, they are rich in fiber and whey protein, and their calorie content is close to 170 kcal. The consumption of such bars will help to build muscle in a short time, and they are also used in weight correction programs, because they allow you to quickly get enough.
  4. Ironman The products of this brand are considered the most demanded, and the Protein bar bars are named the best-selling. They contain collagen and whey protein in high concentration, and coconut flakes, molasses, sorbic and ascorbic acid are added to the composition as additional components. At the same time, the calorie content of the bars, depending on the variety, exceeds 250 kcal.
  5. Herbalife. Herbalife products have been known on the Russian market for a long time, but initially the emphasis was on complexes for weight loss. Subsequently, sports nutrition of this brand appeared, including protein bars. Today they are presented in a wide range and are characterized by low protein content. The calorie content of one serving is just over 130 kcal.
  6. Power Pro The goodies of this brand are rich in protein, vitamins and amino acids. The use of such bars helps to build muscle and normalize metabolic processes in the body. They are quite nutritious - in one portion contains more than 200 kcal. Among the main disadvantages of products, consumers consider high cost.
  7. Power System. These bars contain milk chocolate, glucose and fructose, egg protein and vegetable fats, and are also rich in calcium. Calorie portion is low, about 140 kcal.
  8. Oriflame. Among the products of this cosmetic company there are also products intended for people leading a healthy lifestyle. There are two types of protein bars from this manufacturer, berry and chocolate.The main disadvantage of production is a small amount of protein and a high content of carbohydrates, and their caloric content exceeds 400 kcal. Therefore, for those who want to lose weight, this is not the best choice.
  9. Optimum Nutrition. These bars are chocolate coated and contain collagen, vegetable fats, calcium and iron. Calorie content exceeds 200 kcal, and the mass fraction of protein reaches 25 - 27 g.
  10. Quest Bar. This product contains almonds and peanuts, cashews, protein from whey and milk, is a source of fiber and prebiotics. Bars are presented in a wide taste assortment, their average calorie content is 220 kcal.

Important! When choosing bars, you should pay attention to their composition. They should not contain chemical additives. It is also necessary to review the shelf life - if it is too long, most likely, such products contain preservatives and harmful substances.

How to eat for weight loss

Slimming programs use bars containing fat burners, such as L-carnitine. This component helps to enhance metabolic processes and prevent weight gain.

But to ensure this effect, you must adhere to the following rules:

  1. Eat no more than 2 servings per day.
  2. Stick to food restrictions.
  3. Do sport.
  4. Replace the bar with one of the main meals.
  5. Choose low-calorie goodies with little or no sugar.

In addition, you should not feast on the bars for the night, it is better to do this no later than 4 hours before bedtime.

Use for weight gain

Athletes who want to build muscle can eat bars of up to 4 servings throughout the day.

Most often they are used:

  • in the morning, instead of breakfast;
  • before or after training;
  • in the daytime between meals.

As a rule, 3 to 4 servings are enough to provide the body with the right amount of protein. But if you abuse the delicacy, this will not help build muscle faster, but only lead to the appearance of fatty deposits.

Cooking protein bars at home

High-quality protein bars are not cheap, and there is a great risk of acquiring fake products. But cooking them at home is not difficult, you can use one of the above methods.

Classic version

For the preparation of goodies you need such components:

  • a glass of oatmeal flakes;
  • 2 eggs;
  • a few tablespoons of whey protein;
  • 100 g skimmed milk powder;
  • some lean oil and water;
  • fruits and berries to taste.

How to make candy bars:

  1. Combine cereal, powdered milk and protein in a bowl, grate.
  2. In another bowl, combine fruits, berries, egg whites and water.
  3. Transfer the contents of both cups to a blender and chop.
  4. Put oil on a baking sheet, form portions and place in the oven. Such bars should not be baked for long, no more than a quarter of an hour.

If you don’t want to bother with baking, you can use “cold” cooking methods. Consider the simplest of them.

Chocolate bars

To prepare such a treat you will need the following ingredients:

  • 100 g of yogurt 0% fat;
  • 50 g muesli;
  • 2 tablespoons of protein powder;
  • some oatmeal, nuts and bran;
  • 30 g of cocoa.

All components will need to be mixed in a bowl, fashioned rectangular portions and sent to a cold place for 1.5 - 2 hours.

Roasted peanuts

To make such bars, you need to take the following products:

  • 50 g peanuts;
  • a tablespoon of protein powder;
  • 100 ml of soy or almond milk;
  • some coconut flakes;
  • natural chocolate to taste.

Peanuts will need to be fried and chopped, and the chocolate should be melted a little. Then mix all the ingredients until smooth, distribute in portions and send to the cold.

Contraindications and possible harm

Protein treats contain a lot of carbohydrates, so they should not be eaten by people with diabetes or obesity.In addition, some components can cause allergies, and people prone to such reactions should pay attention to the composition of the product.

But even a healthy person can harm himself if he begins to abuse such food.

Bars are rich in protein, and the increased content of this component in food products leads to metabolic disorders.

It is important to understand that the benefits and harms of protein bars are comparable. They can not be called a panacea or a magical tool with which you can build muscle or lose extra pounds without making any effort. They only help to achieve these goals. But without physical exertion and proper nutrition, it is impossible to get the desired result.

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