10 Best Protein Bars

Special thanks to askmen.com

Nutrition bars were originally designed for serious athletes but are now perceived as healthy, nutritious snacks or meal replacements by consumers. They may be better choices, but they are not necessarily good choices. Most contain hidden sugars, low-quality protein and a lot of additional ingredients that may not be healthy if consumed regularly.

The fact that protein bars are extremely convenient is a godsend for active people who are looking for something to tide them over between workouts and meals. With sales of nutrition bars skyrocketing tenfold to $1.7 billion over the past decade, there are literally thousands of brands to choose from. As long as they are eaten occasionally, they can be beneficial to your fitness goals. But eat too many of the poor-quality bars, and they might actually sabotage your efforts. Here’s what to look for.

Make sure it’s a protein bar

To be called a “protein” bar, it should have at least 15 grams of protein per bar. Although carb content is variable, you should choose a bar that is relatively low in carbs to avoid blood and insulin spikes that will hinder your fat-loss efforts. Energy bars are at the other end of the spectrum: high-carb, low-protein. Energy bars such as PowerBars® or Clif® Bars are useful for intense aerobic exercise that lasts more than an hour.

Meal replacement bars like Balance® Bar, or Nutribar® have a more balanced ratio of carbs, proteins and fats, and usually contain more calories than other types of bars. Despite what they sound like, these can never replace a properly balanced meal. Organic and raw bars like Lärabar® provide energy in as natural a method as possible. They are made with whole foods and are devoid of artificial sweeteners and inserted protein. They are, nevertheless, relatively high in sugars and low in protein.
Look at the source of protein

Most protein bars will have a “propriety protein blend” as one of the first things listed in the ingredients list. Choose bars that use high-quality sources of protein, such as hydrolyzed whey, whey isolates and micellar casein. Whey or soy concentrates are fine but are frequently used as fillers and shouldn’t be listed too high on the ingredients list. Gelatin (or collagen) is often added to protein bars to improve texture. Since it is a type of protein, it contributes to the total number of grams in the bar. Careful, though: It’s a low-quality protein, and some unscrupulous brands use it to artificially boost their protein content. Check the ingredients and ensure that gelatin and collagen are not listed too high up on the list.

Look at the carbs

Just because a bar is high in protein doesn’t mean it’s low in carbs. First off, avoid protein bars that list refined sugars, such as sucrose, corn syrup, high-fructose corn syrup and chocolate, as the first or second ingredient. These are no better than candy bars. To make a protein taste good without using too much refined sugars, manufacturers often add artificial sweeteners (acesulfame potassium) and sugar alcohols (or polyols) such as xylitol, maltitol, sorbitol, glycerol or glycerine. Sugar alcohols should be listed along with sugars and dietary fiber under the total carbohydrate listing on the nutrition label. These are hydrogenated forms of carbohydrate that are colorless and odorless, and give the bar a pleasing moist texture. They are not as sweet as sucrose, have fewer calories and don’t cause tooth decay. However, they may cause bloating and intestinal discomfort in some people since they are not completely absorbed by the gut. They do contribute calories and affect blood-sugar levels, so they need to be accounted for by the low-carb dieter.

Nutrition bars are not subjected to any quality testing prior to marketing. In 2001, the supplement-testing group ConsumerLab.com analyzed 30 brands of energy bars and found that 60% failed to meet their labeling claims. Among the highest failure rates were protein bars (92% failed), often because they were under-reporting the amount of carbs and sodium contained in the bar. So even if you’re super-skilled in reading nutrition labels and ingredient lists, you may not actually be consuming what you think you’re consuming.

Look at the fat

Ever since manufacturers were pressured to remove trans fats from their products, they’ve replaced them with palm oil and palm kernel oil. Although not all saturated fats are associated with an increased risk of heart disease, palm oil is. Be careful not to consume too much of it. Modified triacylglycerol (SALATRIM, brand name: Benefat®) is appearing as a lower-calorie fat replacer in many products. SALATRIM is approved by the American Dietetic Association and the FDA. It has no known side effects and it does not affect blood-cholesterol levels or absorption of fat-soluble vitamins or other nutrients.

After evaluating more than 30 brands for their macronutrient composition, quality of nutrients and taste, I’ve come up with the 10 best protein bars (with No. 1 considered the best) on the market.

10. Myoplex Carb Control Bars (Peanut Butter-Chocolate) by EAS
A 70 g bar contains 260 calories, 25 g protein, 8 g fat and 27 g carbs (2 g from sugar, 20 g from sugar alcohols).

Formerly known as Myoplex Sense Bars, these bars use a high-quality proprietary protein blend that consists of hydrolyzed whey, whey isolates and casein. Like most nutrition bars, vitamins and minerals are added to boost its nutritional content. Although the bar is trans-fat free, it contains some palm kernel oil and soy oil. For those who are on a cutting diet, consume this bar occasionally or while traveling.

9. PowerBar Protein Plus Reduced Sugar (Peanut Butter-Chocolate) by PowerBar Inc.
A 78 g bar contains 270 calories, 22 g protein, 9 g fat, and 30 g carbs (1 g from sugars, 17 g from sugar alcohols).

PowerBar improved its Protein Plus bar by substituting its sugar, fructose and fructose syrup content with sugar alcohols. This reduced-sugar version has less of an impact on blood glucose and insulin levels, which helps to avoid fat gain. The company's TriSource™ proprietary protein blend consists of whey, casein and soy protein isolates that are digested at different rates. These are pretty high-quality proteins that are ideal for in-between and post-workout meals.

8. Nitro-Tech Hardcore Protein Bar (Peanut Butter-Chocolate Chip) by MuscleTech
An 80 g bar contains 270 calories, 30 g protein, 6 g fat, and 31 g carbs (4 g from fiber, 1 g from sugar and the rest from sugar alcohols).

MuscleTech has its own propriety blends in this bar (Nitro Infusion Complex™, Insulogen® and Nitroxen®) that might be considered an all-in-one supplement dream for the serious weightlifter. You have your amino acids, your fat burners and your muscle builders in one bar. Quite a bit of the carb content comes from sugar alcohols, so be careful if you’re sensitive or you may have some intestinal discomfort. Use this bar to its full potential and eat it only before or after a workout.

7. OhYeah! (Peanut Butter Crunch) by Integrated Sports Science
A 45 g bar contains 190 calories, 13 g protein, 10 g fat, and 19 g carbs (4 g from sugars, 4 g from sugar alcohols).

Using real caramel and peanuts, this delicious protein bar has a great blend of high-quality proteins consisting of whey and milk protein isolates and casein. The bars are sold in small portion-controlled sizes of 45 grams that contain only 190 calories. The downside is that they contain quite a bit of sugar, including corn syrup, and unhealthy partially hydrogenated vegetable oils. Eat them as a very occasional snack.

6. Protein Plus (Creamy Peanut Butter Twist) by MET-Rx
An 85 g bar contains 310 calories, 30 g protein, 10 g fat, and 33 g carbs (3 g from sugars and 26 from sugar alcohols).

MET-Rx’s proprietary protein blend Metamyosyn® contains some very high-quality protein, including whey protein isolates, hydrolyzed whey, egg white and casein. When a bar is this high in protein, it needs a bit more sugar and fat to avoid having a hard chalky taste. Sugar alcohols (mostly maltitol) and invert evaporated cane juice is used to make this a delicious protein-packed bar.

5. Pure Protein (Peanut Butter-Chocolate) by Worldwide Sports Nutrition Supplements Inc
A 50 g bar contains 200 calories, 20 g protein, 6 g fat, and 16 g carbs (2 g from sugars and 6 g from sugar alcohols).

A delicious tasting bar that is relatively low in sugar and contains high-quality whey protein hydrolysate and isolate. However, hydrolyzed collagen, a lower-quality protein, and glycerin are listed before the protein blend.

4. 2:1 Protein Bar (Oatmeal) by MetraGenix
A 74 g bar contains 265 calories, 30 g protein, 5 g fat and 25 g carbs (5 g from fibers, 3 g from sugar, the rest from maltitol and glycerol).

The original 2:1 bar is now available in protein-to-net-carb-ratios of up to 7:1. Net carbs is a term used to denote carbs that are actually absorbed and metabolized by the body. 2:1 Protein Bar contains a blend of high-quality protein and tastes incredible. The faux-chocolate coating unfortunately contains palm kernel oil and sucrose, so don’t go overboard on them.

3. Supreme Protein (Peanut Butter Crunch) by Supreme Protein LLC
A 43 g bar contains 190 calories, 15 g protein, 6 g fat and 38 g carbs (5 g from sugar, 7 g from sugar alcohols).

Supreme Protein is considered a gourmet protein bar and is one of the most popular brands with weightlifters. It contains high-quality premium whey isolates and healthy fats, including flaxseed oil. Its chocolate coating is listed first in the ingredient list and contains palm kernel oil and sugar. Nevertheless, it’s a delicious bar.

2. Detour (Peanut Butter Cream) by Forward Foods, LLC
A 43 g bar contains 170 calories, 15 g protein, 7 g fat, and 17 g carbs (1 g from sugars and 14 g from sugar alcohols)

Made with high-quality whey protein isolates and hydrolyzed whey, this delicious bar is relatively rich in branched chain amino acids. It also contains real peanut butter and peanuts. Like most other faux chocolate, the outer coating contains palm kernel oil, but it's pretty low on the ingredients list.

1. QuestBar (Peanut Butter Supreme) by Quest Nutrition, LLC
A 60 g bar contains 210 calories, 20 g protein, 10 g fat, and 21 g carbs (18 g from dietary fiber, 2 g from sugars).

This is probably the best quality and most natural protein bar you can find today. The protein blend is made from high-quality whey and milk protein isolates. The carbs in QuestBar come predominantly from peanuts and the fiber comes from isomalto-oligosaccharides, a plant-derived prebiotic that has been shown to reduce hunger and increase digestive health. QuestBar uses lo han guo, an herb-derived sweetener much like stevia.
Setting the bar

It’s almost impossible to make a tasty protein bar without adding something sweet and fatty to it. If you’re watching your weight and want to lose fat, you should look for a bar that uses sugar alcohols and SALATRIM to replace some of the sugars and saturated fats. But these should only be consumed once in while. Remember, nothing can ever replace the nutritional perfection of whole foods.