At one time, energy bar played field only with athletes, sports man and body builders but today, they have made quite a drift and have made a mark with people on weight loss diets.
Energy bars for weight loss emerged successfully as low calorie snacking option or high fiber meal replacement bars. Snacking is an important part of any weight loss diets. When we say snacking, then we mean healthy nutritious snacks and not sugar filled candies or fried crisps.
With on-the -run schedules and back to back commitments people with weight issues find it difficult to eat healthy or eat at regular intervals. As the interval between meals increase body metabolism slows down and weight loss process comes to a halt. Energy bars or nutrition bars for weight loss are small, pocket-sized, energy -packed, nutrient powerhouses that keep you going throughout the day.
While you go buying nutrition bars for weight loss make sure, you screen them carefully of a healthiest energy bars should conform to the following principles.
- LOW IN CARBOHYDRATES
The total carbohydrate content of a nutrition bars should be less than 20gms. In presence of excess of Carbohydrates body fat breakdown is reduced thereby halting weight loss process.
- HIGH IN PROTEINS
You need protein to promote weight loss as it helps build muscles and promote satiety. In addition they help you balance calories reduced from carbohydrates. A healthiest nutrition bar for weight loss should contain at least 5gm of proteins
- LOW IN SUGAR
A bar with no added sugar is the best. Sugar is empty calories and a most dangerous thing you can eat on a weight loss diet. A less than 8gms of sugar in your energy bar is recommended.
- HIGH IN FIBER
Fiber is the most important thing you need in your diet. It promotes good digestive health, lowers cholesterol, maintains blood sugar levels and keeps you full for a longer time.
An energy bar for weight loss should contain fiber anywhere between 3-5gm.
- LOW IN CALORIES
Think weight loss and you think about calories. Calories control is prime aspect of any weight loss regime. A nutrition bar for weight loss makes an ideal mid-meal snack and should provide not more than 300 calories.
- ZERO IN ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS
Most bar companies’ use of artificial sugars or sugar alcohols to enhance the taste. Artificial sweeteners are chemical and chemicals are never healthy for your body. Headaches bloating, stomach upsets and diarrhea and joint pains are common side effects of artificial sweeteners.
- CONTAIN HEALTHY FAT
Your nutrition bar should contain fat especially the good omega 3 and healthy MUFA but at the same time it should be low in saturated fat and totally devoid of any Tran’s fat. The total calories from saturated fat should be less than 3 gm.
- Natural ingredients
A healthiest nutrition bar for weight loss is one which is made up of natural, organic and simple ingredients. Always read ingredients list to identify ingredients in it.
So if you have been putting off your diet due to your busy schedule, then nutrition bars for weight loss is all you need.