If you walk into any store or supermarket, you cannot miss the wide assortment of energy bars. After all, the health food bar market is a multi-million-dollar industry. With so many on the market, how do you know which are the best energy bars?
The best energy bars depend on what you want out of your bar. Is the energy bar strictly for energy to help you through the workday or do you need it to fuel your marathon or bike race?
For people who want an energy bar to help them through their work day then there are many to choose from. Carbohydrates are used as fuel, so select a bar that has plenty of carbohydrates. If you are looking for an energy bar to support you through a race or hard work out, then select a bar with 30 or more grams of carbohydrates. For people needing a mid-day pick-me-up, then an energy bar with 15-20 grams of carbohydrates will work.
Having a little fat in an energy bar will provide you with a feeling of fullness. Read the ingredients list to determine if the fats come from a good source. Fats that come from oats, organic peanut butter, or raw pumpkin seeds are healthy fats. Stay away from fats that originate from milk, chocolate, syrup, and sugar.
Some bars come loaded with caffeine. Do not be scared off by that. Most have the caffeine equivalent of one cup of coffee.
Last, the best energy bars will not mess with your stomach. Most low sugar bars contain sugar alcohols. Sugar alcohol can sit in the digestive system and ferment which can cause digestive problems such as gas, bloating, and diarrhea.
Always read the label. If a bar list ingredients that you cannot identify, then it is best to stay away from it.
