Power bars are a big business, but their nutritional merits warrant consideration. While the names and claims might be impressive, some power bars are not worth the hype. To determine if power bars are bad for you, assess the benefits and detriments and then decide.
Purpose of Power Bars
Power bars provide a quick and easy snack. In comparison to a candy bar, power bars look like a great choice: though the ingredients are difficult to pronounce and only discernible to a food nutritionist (ferrous fumarate, anyone?), the nutrition label indicates they are high in vitamins, minerals, protein and reasonable in calories and fats. Many people choose to eat a power bar in hopes of enhancing their physical performance, improve their health and maintain nutrient levels.
Benefits of
Power bars keep the body feeling fuller for longer, averaging around 200 calories per bar with plenty of protein and minerals. They are also a quick meal when you don't have time to eat or to prepare a meal. A power bar is portable and can be consumed within10 minutes.
Nutritionally, power bars provide trace minerals, magnesium and copper are two examples. According to the book, "Healing with Whole Foods," over 70 percent of the American population is magnesium deficient, which impedes the kidney and gall bladder's ability to function properly. Thus, power bars can help to rectify these deficiencies.
Detriments of Power Bars
Not all power bars are created equal. Some are higher in calories and sugar than others. The term "power bar" is vague, meaning some are healthier than others. For example, the Lara bar brand is made from just nuts, fruit and spices, while the Power Bar brand is fortified with additional ingredients (see resources for their nutritional information). Even the Power Bar brand itself has a range of products with different nutritional information. This discrepancy leads to some differences in the overall nutrition and calorie composition of the product. While a Lara bar is healthy, it does not provide 100 percent of recommended daily vitamins and minerals.
In addition, the author of the book, "Potatoes not Prozac" explains that some power bars do not metabolize in the body well enough to create optimal effects, especially for those sensitive to sugars. Some power bars generate a spike in sugar levels followed by a crash.
Considerations
Power bars provide nothing that whole fruits, vegetables, nuts, leafy greens, seeds and sprouts do not offer. In most cases, this combination of foods can offer a tastier meal than a power bar. Taking the time to make a fresh salad with a side of fruit will be more rewarding to the taste buds and your body than eating a power bar.
Warning
Most power bars provide 100 percent of daily vitamins and minerals. Though uncommon, overdosing on some minerals and vitamins is possible, which can have very negative consequences. For a vitamin chart outlining these consequences, see resources below. Because of the potential to overdose on vitamins, overeating on power bars (more than one a day) is not advised. Do not substitute power bars for any type of daily supplement.
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