Protein Bars

There are 3 basic types of energy bars:

*high carbohydrate bars
*high protein bars
*balance bars - contain a moderate amount of carbohydrates, fat, and protein

Carbohydrate bars are only needed if you are about to faint just before a workout or getting ready to run a marathon. They are filled with empty calories(sugar!).

Protein bars can come in handy right after a workout or when you need a snack to tide you over. They should not be used as a meal replacement unless you have no other option at the time ( real food is always best!).

When buying bars, look at the nutrition label. The fat content should be less than 6 grams and the saturated fat less than 3 grams.
The sodium content should be less than 200 milligrams and the carbohydrate content less than 5 grams. A few grams of fiber would be nice too.

Look for a bar with around 30-40 grams of protein per bar ( your body can not absorb more than 40 grams of protein per meal. Any more than that will be excess calories and stored as fat ).

Remembering that 1 gram of protein = 4 calories per gram.

One of my favorite bars is by EAS - Myoplex Low Carb Bar