Who doesn’t like a protein bar! It’s one of the easiest and most convenient ways to enjoy a healthy snack. Making homemade protein bar is a great idea about crunch bars, but there are many benefits to doing it yourself.
Let’s say you enjoy the chewy texture on one brand of protein bar while the chocolate drizzle is your favorite. Ansari says: “Rather than buying two bars, which have different pieces of your favorite foods, you can create your own that’s personalized for you and contains your favorite ingredients.
Ansari explains that homemade protein bar can satisfy both your appetite and your nutritional needs. Want to get more energy from carbohydrates? You can also add some whole grain cereal or dried fruit that is rich in fiber. Do you need more fiber or fat to make you feel fuller? Add nuts and seeds. Making your own bars allows you to remove ingredients you do not enjoy or that you need to avoid. This is something I will explain in a few minutes.
The store-bought products are great because they don’t require you to spend time in the kitchen. However, there are other excellent options that deserve a place in any diet. Store-bought is fine if that’s what you prefer. Since there are a few potential pitfalls, we will go over the information you need to be aware of so that you can avoid them. We will then talk about homemade protein bars and how they can help you avoid all of those negatives. Then we’ll give you some killer homemade recipes for protein bars.
Fiber is good, but the large amounts of fiber added to some bars (up to 10 or 15 g) are too much for your system, according to SELF. This is especially true if you’re not used. This can cause gas, bloating cramps, and even pooping.
The sugar alcohols are also a major culprit. They’re found in many low-calorie, sugar-free or low-calorie bars. The amount and type of sugar alcohols that people can tolerate before they experience GI problems is different for everyone. However, as SELF has stated, many people can suffer from gas, stomach discomfort, and diarrhea.
There’s not a set list of things that you should avoid. When choosing which protein bars to purchase, it’s important to consider individual preferences. Avoiding (or limiting) ingredients known to cause stomach upset, like excessive amounts of added sugar alcohols or fiber, is a good idea.
SELF explains: If too much fiber upsets your stomach, then you should be on the lookout for bars that have a lot of fiber. You can also check for chicory, inulin or oligofructose. If sugar alcohols are a problem for you, make sure to check the nutrition information (where these substances are not always mentioned) and look through the list of ingredients. You’ll find erythritol and hydrogenated starch hydrolysates, isomalt and lactitol.
Several people will need to avoid specific ingredients for health purposes. Five of the nine allergens identified by the US Food and Drug Administration in their list of major food products are found in many protein bars. These include peanuts, treenuts, soy and milk. For example, if gluten is a problem for you, such as if gluten sensitivity or celiac illness, you will need to search for gluten-free products.
