I think there has been a general misunderstanding with protein bars and how healthy they actually are. Any person trying to be healthy might try to eat a protein bar as a healthy snack choice in their day, but protein bars are not all that good for you. Protein bars usually contain 6-10 grams of protein in them, but can also contain many other ingredients that are not so good for you. It’s important to check the ingredients list and how much sugar the bars contain. Some can contain even more than a candy bar would, so the healthy looking label that makes all sorts of health claims can be a little deceiving. As a person that enjoys working out, I have always wondered when the best time is to eat a protein bar- before or after a workout?
Some people have different opinions on when to eat protein bars, due to what they personally want to get out of their workouts. In “Nutrition Journal”, there was a study done in 2004, where one group ate protein bars daily and participated in resistance training and another trained without eating protein bars. This was done over a nine-week period, and it was proven that the group who ate protein bars gained lean muscle mass, while the other group did not.
Furthermore, we can look into the effects of protein bars when eaten appropriately. Eating a protein bar before a workout can give you energy throughout your workout to keep you going the entire time. Although this sounds like a good thing, you will burn more fat during a workout if you eat a protein bar after your workout.
This is because the energy from the bars is stored in your Glycogen stores, and while you are working out, your body will be taking energy from this rather than your fat stores. In this case, it proves to be more effective to have a protein bar after a workout, if you want to burn fat. There are other positive effects as well. Glycogen is actually necessary for the brain and nervous system to keep functioning normally. So, when eating a protein bar after a workout, you are giving your brain and nervous system the Glycogen they need. Lastly, according to the National Strength and Conditioning Association, “having protein post-workout encourages muscle gain, reduces soreness and accelerates training recovery.”
It is clear that protein bars are a good source of energy before or after a workout, if you choose the right kind of bar that is not filled with sugar and other unhealthy ingredients. Depending on the body you want to build, eating extra protein before or after a workout is a choice you will need to make. Some choose it as a pre-workout energy boost, and some choose it as a post-workout meal replacement. After some research, I have seen clear evidence to it being more useful and effective being eaten after a workout.
Sources: Source 1 , Source 2 , Source 3 , Picture Source
In response to Allison, there are a few ways to find the best protein bars. You need to check the label and key ingredients in the bar. Make sure that it is not loaded with sugar, and protein should be at least half of the bars carbohydrates. If you are looking for just a snack, aim for a bar with 200 calories or less. If it is replacing a meal, look for 200 calories or more in a bar.
Source: http://www.everydayhealth.com/diet-and-nutrition-pictures/smart-protein-bar-picks.aspx
As someone who works out a lot and eats healthy, I found your blog really interesting and informative! I usually eat a protein bar after my workout to have as a meal, but it is good to know that there are benefits to eating one before too. I have been trying KIND protein bars lately. I find it difficult to find a healthy protein bar on the market, because some of them have so much sugar in them. The marketing on protein bars can be very misleading.
Really interesting post! As someone who eats them for breakfast almost daily, this got me thinking. I didn’t know that they contained so many unnecessary calories and ingredients. I will try to only eat them before or after a workout so that I am not taking in extra calories that I wont be burning off.
Wow! This was a really cool article and I didn’t really know why eating a protein bar after a workout was better for you. I was told in track to eat a protein bar after a workout and now I know why. Since you said that only certain protein bars are healthy, which would you say are the healthiest?
As someone who works out a lot I’m always interested in different findings regarding supplements and protein. I think this is a really good analysis of the positivities of protein bars, especially for people that are using them before and/or after working out. I feel like sometimes the stigma that they can be bad for you comes from the idea that people are just eating them and not engaging in any physical activity. In doing so, obviously they wouldn’t be good because it’s unnecessary calories.