The Wonders of Nutrition Bars

It is no secret that people who are conscious of what they eat are always searching for food products that are beneficial to them. Often, they don’t go for food with empty calories and contain high sugar contents. They would want energy giving food to help them get by the day but not jeopardizing their health. Aside from main meals, a little treat in between goes a long way. For instance, nutrition or protein bars are nutrient-packed, ready-to-eat, and convenient snacks that you can buy almost everywhere. They are sweet, nutty, and come in different variants. It comes in tiny packs with a good amount of energy that adds to fuel your day. Nutrition or protein bars are popular amongst people on the go and those who work out.

All of these tasty snacks look appetizing. Its manufacturer’s strategy is to make them appear yummy and attractive so consumers would buy and eat them. However, it is not a secret to all of us that whenever something is packed in plastics or foil and has long best buy dates, it unquestionably contains preservatives. And we are taught that it is always better to go for natural and chemical-free food. But what are the benefits that these tiny bars of goodness provide us? Let’s find out more about protein bars, what’s in them, and how we can make them more beneficial to our health.

Ingredients and Benefits

There are lots of varieties of protein bars with varying ingredients. Some are made with high amounts of sugar, such as high fructose corn syrup, soy protein isolate, fractionated palm oil and artificial sweeteners, which are not beneficial to our bodies. Here are some beneficial ingredients that are guaranteed to give benefits to the body.

Oats are one of the healthiest grains. It contains many vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and is a good source of fibre and carbohydrates. Oats have manganese, phosphorus, magnesium, copper, iron, zinc, folate, B vitamins, and small amounts of calcium. It is packed with lots of benefits, such as lower blood sugar levels, aids weight loss and reduces risks of heart diseases. 

Nut butter is plant-based butter derived from peanuts or almonds that are used as a healthier option in making protein bars. They are loaded with monounsaturated fats, which are related to lowering blood sugar and reducing the risks of having heart disease. These kinds of butter are a good source of vitamin E, iron, calcium, potassium, biotin, zinc and magnesium that are beneficial to the body.

Seeds are extremely nutritious. They are a great source of fibres and beneficial in helping lower your blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol. There are many kinds of seeds that you can include in making protein bars or just simply include in your diets, such as chia seed, hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflowers seeds, and sesame seeds. These are all good tasting seeds, so they are surely enjoyable to eat. 

Nuts are not only a great and delicious snack, but they also benefit your overall heart health when consumed as part of your healthy diet. They are packed with unsaturated fatty acids and other nutrients that may help lower your LDL or the bad cholesterol and triglycerides level, which contributes to plaque build-up in the arteries. They also reduce inflammation and prevent the formation of blood clots that may cause heart attacks. 

Dried fruits are generally a good source of antioxidants, fibres and micronutrients, each of them is associated with various health benefits. You can mix a variety of dried fruit in your protein bars, depending on your preference. 

Spices are generally healthy and are said to be rich in phytochemicals that are beneficial to the body. Spices like cinnamon are great for people who have high blood sugar and can also reduce high blood cholesterol and triglycerides.

Sweeteners usually have a bad reputation. But there are other healthy alternatives that are packed with phytonutrients, such as honey, maple syrup, molasses, stevia and coco sugar, that you can use to sweeten your food without worrying about the harmful effects that added or table sugar can cause the body. 

Chocolates, especially dark chocolate, are healthy. They contain high cocoa contents and more flavonoids that help you fight diseases, boost brain function, raise HDL and lower LDL.

DIY Protein Bar Recipe

Nowadays, there are times when we look at our store-bought protein bars, and you can’t almost distinguish what’s in them. Add that they have preservatives and may sometimes not sit right with those who would want to avoid them. The best remedy for this is to create your protein bar at home. Yes! It is possible.

What’s more, is, you can add whatever suits your preference. Here is one excellent protein bar recipe infused with CBD oil with an array of therapeutic benefits. You may or may not include it, but many people have a positive experience using CBD oil for pain, inflammation, sleep, stress and anxiety.

What you’ll need:

– 2 cups oats;

– ½ cup peanut or almond butter;

– 1 cup seed of choice (pumpkin, sunflower, chia);

– ¼ cup chopped nuts of choice (peanut, cashew, almond);

– 1 cup dried berries;

– ½ tablespoon cinnamon; 

– ½ cup choice of milk;

– ½ cup sweetener (honey or maple syrup);

– 1 cup chocolate (milk or dark);

– 100 mg of CBD oil (or as needed).

What you’ll do:

• Mix all dry ingredients in a bowl. 
• In a pot, combine all the wet ingredients.
• In low heat, continue stirring until it reaches a pasty consistency.
• Next, remove it from the heat and add your CBD oil.
• Pour the mixture into the dry ingredients and mix well until combined.
• Pour in a pan, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Cut into bars, and enjoy!

Protein bars are indeed a quick way to fuel up and fill up our tummies. With its nutritious ingredients, it is undoubtedly a healthy snack. But always remember that anything in excess is not good. While it is packed with nutrients that can give us what our body requires, eating protein bars should be moderated.