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Vitamins:  Protein Bars for Healthy Snacks

Protein Bars Defined
Protein bars, also known as "diet" bars, are a replacement meal especially made for weightlifters as well as dieters who are seeking weight loss.

These bars contain high levels of protein and low carbohydrate content to help one build muscle and at the same time lose fat when training. Some major companies famous for making energy and dietary supplements would define protein bars as "a healthy, low-calorie pre- or post-workout snack."

Benefits of Protein Bars
Protein bars are beneficial in such a way that they allow busy people, who are not able to complete their meals, to get protein nutrition in a day. They are very convenient and tasty for some, though not all people find them yummy. They facilitate total nutrition while giving key nutrients to the body. Key nutrients are needed to further improve health and physical performance. Protein bars also support many chemical processes in the body as they contain a blend of vitamins and minerals.

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Protein Bars: A High Protein Diet

A low carb and a high protein diet is meant for individuals to burn fat without getting starved.

This kind of diet simply means receiving excess proteins of up to 15% in the body. This diet recommends about 30% of calories from proteins as opposed to the normal protein recommendation of only 10-15%. In reality, this diet is often high in total fat. However, nutritionists and especially bodybuilders, often suggest this high protein diet as it easily helps build muscle and lose fat.

Ingredients of a Protein Bar
Usually, protein bars are made with artificial sweeteners like Maltitol and sucralose, as well as reduced-calorie fats like Salatrim. One brand would include 320 calories (chocolate chip flavor), 29 grams of carbohydrates, about 11 grams of sugar and 8 grams of fat. Yes it contains fat and sugars. Thus, it cannot be considered as a non-calorie supplement.

Protein bars are, in fact, a high protein supplement as they contain about 34 grams of protein.

Why protein is important
Protein, in its purest form, is a very important nutrient, essential to health. It is indispensable and helps in the formation and replacement of new tissues in the body. It helps transport oxygen and nutrients in cells and blood and thus normalizes acid and water balance in the body. It also aids in the production of essential antibodies.

Bad Effects?
Statistics show that an average American consumes approximately twice as much protein than what is essentially required. This can be very dangerous.

But can we know how much protein we really need? The National Institutes of Health says that the required amount of protein for adults is about 50-60g. However, infants, children, pregnant as well as nursing women would call for more protein requirements.

There is a high risk of getting addicted to protein bars since they promote a high protein diet. Many desperate people jeopardize their health by eating too much protein thinking that it will help them lose weight easier. This is a fallacy! Too much protein consumption leads to stroke, kidney stones and heart disease. Furthermore, high protein intake results in leaching of calcium in the bones that eventually leads to osteoporosis.

Low Carb Protein Shakes and Powders