Protein is a vital part of a well-balanced diet. The human body needs protein to function correctly, carry oxygen throughout the body into the blood, build muscle, and more. However, in today’s world, we tend not to get enough protein in our diets. Besides prioritizing your nutrition and including more wholesome foods like chicken breast, fatty fish, and plant-based protein sources, you can turn to supplements, the most popular being high-quality paleo protein powders, keto shakes, and of course, protein bars. Unfortunately, protein bars can be sugary candy in disguise. Here’s how to find good protein bars.
Protein Content
Firstly, you’ll want to look at the protein content of your bar. Take a close look at nutritional info and check how many grams of protein you’ll get per serving. Typically, top protein bars will have anywhere from 10 g to 21 g of protein per serving, but some may have even more. You’ll also want to look for whey protein, or soy, pea, and rice if you’re a vegan looking to boost your nutrition.
Carbohydrate Content
Our list includes mostly carb-conscious bars with minimal sugar and additives. Many protein bars brands, like think!, feature only 4 g of net carbs and 2 g of sugar per serving, making them a superb option for keto dieters, but other brands cater to people looking for more carbs. Remember, carbohydrates aren’t bad. In fact, they’re a good source of energy. Just be mindful that you’re not consuming too much sugar.
Sweeteners
Protein bars that taste good can be full of sugar and potentially harmful artificial sweeteners. Of course, the protein bars featured on our list are entirely safe and only use the highest quality available sugar substitutes. However, we recommend taking note of the nutritional info on the packaging.
Look for ingredients such as mannitol, aspartame, acesulfame potassium, and sucralose (all of which are popular artificial sweeteners). Although artificial sweeteners aren’t necessarily “bad,” they can cause digestive issues for certain people, including diarrhea or constipation.
Calories
When it comes to regulating your calorie consumption, you’ll also want to be mindful of the calorie content of your favorite protein bars. We’ve featured the healthiest protein bars of 2022 for both fat loss and muscle gain on this list. If you want to shed pounds, you’ll want to choose lower-calorie options like the think! Keto Protein Bars or the Alani Nu Protein Bars. Whereas, we recommend something like the Grenade Carb Killa High Protein Bars for muscle building. To check the calories of the top–rated protein bars, you’ll want to look at their lists of ingredients.
Dietary Preferences
If you’re vegan, you’ll want to purchase a protein bar made without animal-derived ingredients. Luckily, you can choose from various protein bars made with peas, soy, rice, or hemp protein. On the other hand, people who follow diets like paleo will want to look for a natural, unrefined product. For instance, our protein bars review features the KIND Protein Bars, which can be categorized as paleo.