When individuals start to get in shape or reduce weight, they usually focus on exercising more and eating better. Nonetheless, our hectic way of living typically makes it challenging to stick to healthy foods all the time, since meals can be time-consuming to prepare.
I know from my own experience that immediately after a long bike ride or an exhausting dance class, the last thing I want to do is cook a meal. I am typically too exhausted and simply am looking for something fast and easy to eat.
That is where nutrition bars come in useful. They generally consist of a range of different nutrients, and they are small and portable so we can easily eat them on the go. They are especially nice to have after a gym class when we are not at home to cook a healthy meal.
That said, there is a disadvantage to protein bars.
Some items contain just as many unhealthy components as healthy ones. We may not be doing our bodies any favors, and in some cases, we may be no even worse off consuming a candy bar.
Soy Protein Concentrate
One typical component included in lots of protein bars is soy protein isolate. Some items even have this listed as the main ingredient. Soy itself is not necessarily bad, but most of the soybeans developed in the United States have been genetically modified and can disrupt our hormones.
On top of that, soy protein isolate is processed, which makes it a totally different food than the fresh raw soybean itself. Overall, it's a much better strategy to eat unrefined foods in their taw or natural form as opposed to the processed option. Generally, processed foods contain less vitamins and minerals anyway.
Eating an occasional protein bar with this processed protein source might not have a substantial effect. However, in my opinion, I would not prefer to have one as a snack everyday after working out - specifically if I have other better options.
Therefore, with a large number of supposed "healthy" bars on store shelves with soy protein, where does one go for another choice? It is taxing to read every item label, and numerous grocery stores do not carry a large selection.
Here's Something Good
The good news is that there are an increasing variety of soy-free bars readily available today, due in part to the paleo lifestyle concept. Some paleo-friendly bars might not contain as much protein as typical bars, however, in many cases they include more than enough.
For more information on paleo protein bars that do not include soy, click here.
I know from my own experience that immediately after a long bike ride or an exhausting dance class, the last thing I want to do is cook a meal. I am typically too exhausted and simply am looking for something fast and easy to eat.
That is where nutrition bars come in useful. They generally consist of a range of different nutrients, and they are small and portable so we can easily eat them on the go. They are especially nice to have after a gym class when we are not at home to cook a healthy meal.
That said, there is a disadvantage to protein bars.
Some items contain just as many unhealthy components as healthy ones. We may not be doing our bodies any favors, and in some cases, we may be no even worse off consuming a candy bar.
Soy Protein Concentrate
One typical component included in lots of protein bars is soy protein isolate. Some items even have this listed as the main ingredient. Soy itself is not necessarily bad, but most of the soybeans developed in the United States have been genetically modified and can disrupt our hormones.
On top of that, soy protein isolate is processed, which makes it a totally different food than the fresh raw soybean itself. Overall, it's a much better strategy to eat unrefined foods in their taw or natural form as opposed to the processed option. Generally, processed foods contain less vitamins and minerals anyway.
Eating an occasional protein bar with this processed protein source might not have a substantial effect. However, in my opinion, I would not prefer to have one as a snack everyday after working out - specifically if I have other better options.
Therefore, with a large number of supposed "healthy" bars on store shelves with soy protein, where does one go for another choice? It is taxing to read every item label, and numerous grocery stores do not carry a large selection.
Here's Something Good
The good news is that there are an increasing variety of soy-free bars readily available today, due in part to the paleo lifestyle concept. Some paleo-friendly bars might not contain as much protein as typical bars, however, in many cases they include more than enough.
For more information on paleo protein bars that do not include soy, click here.
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