Do Zone Bars Cause Weight Gain?

What’s more, a Zone Perfect bar contains just 4 milligrams of cholesterol. Today, dietary cholesterol isn’t considered quite as harmful as it used to be, but for some people, it can dramatically affect blood cholesterol levels, so it’s important to keep it in check, per the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. 1.

Though an elevated protein intake may aid satiety and give a boost to weight loss, overeating protein can be detrimental and cause you to gain weight. This is particularly true with protein bars, which often contain added calories from carbs and fats.

Most Zone Perfect bars weigh in at about 14 grams of protein, which is 30 percent of the 46 grams women should have each day and 25 percent of the 56 grams men need every day.

A lot of food bars contain highly processed ingredients that are difficult to digest and can even be toxic to the body. For example, Balance bars contain an artificial flavor-enhancer, calcium caseinate, which is known to cause migraines and cognitive issues.

Why are Zone Perfect bars less filling than other snacks?

“Zone Perfect bars may be less filling than other snacks due to their lack of fiber ,” Jaspan says. “I would pair these bars with a fruit or vegetable for that added fiber.”

Total fat ​: One Zone Perfect bar has 7 grams of total fat, which includes 2.4 grams of polyunsaturated fat, 1.9 grams of monounsaturated fat, 2.2 grams of saturated fat and 0 grams of trans fat. Carbohydrates ​: One Zone Perfect Bar has 22.5 grams of carbs, which includes 1 gram of fiber and 13.5 grams of sugars, …

Each bar does contain 2.2 grams of saturated fat, so it’s important to stick to a serving size of one bar. However, a bar also contains 2.4 grams of polyunsaturated fat and 1.9 grams of monounsaturated fat — nearly twice as much healthy unsaturated fat as saturated fat.

With just one Zone Perfect bar, you’ll get more than half your daily value of vitamin B12, vitamin E, vitamin C, riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), vitamin B6 and vitamin A plus many other vitamins and minerals.

What’s more, a Zone Perfect bar contains just 4 milligrams of cholesterol. Today, dietary cholesterol isn’t considered quite as harmful as it used to be, but for some people, it can dramatically affect blood cholesterol levels, so it’s important to keep it in check, per the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Eating too many added sugars can cause health problems like weight gain and obesity, type 2 diabetes and heart disease, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Less than 10 percent of your total daily calories should come from added sugars, which equates to no more than 50 grams for a 2,000-calorie diet.

They May Contain Sugar Alcohols. Some Zone Perfect bars that are lower in added sugar contain sugar alcohols to make up for it. Sugar alcohols are sugar substitutes that provide about a half to one-third fewer calories than normal sugar, per Yale New Haven Hospital.

What are the benefits of eating protein bars?

These fats are essential to maintaining a healthy weight, soft skin, a strong immune system and inflammation levels . Protein: these bars are rich in natural plant-based proteins from sources such as nuts, seeds and rice, making them a great alternative to the toxic whey, casein and soy found in other bars.

Calories: each bar is relatively low in calories ranging from about 100 – 200 calories, making it a perfect on-the-go snack. Healthy Fats: rich in raw seeds, nuts, and coconut, these bars are rich in the healthy fats, omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids.

This leads to hormone imbalance, digestive disturbances, immune stress and exposure to GMOs and antibiotics. Sugar: fructose, corn syrup, white sugar, and maltodextrin – artificial sugars that lead to pancreatic stress, setting the stage for diabetes, heart disease and obesity.

Have you ever checked out the sugar content of your bar? Some bars contain 22 grams of sugar, which is about equal to that of a snickers bar, and worse the sugars are coming from unnatural sources such as high fructose corn syrup, dextrose, fructose, cane syrup, sorbital, dextrin etc. And remember, sugar not only leads to unnecessary weight gain, but it also is the very food that fuels nasty pathogens such as fungus (candida), bacteria and cancers, leads to inflammation, depresses the immune system and even negatively affects blood pressure and cholesterol.

Secondly, casein often causes the development of a mucus in the intestine, leading to digestive issues and a reduction in nutrient absorption.

The following bars are good in that they meet ALMOST all of the criteria of the best bars, but contain agave sugar. Agave, a form of fructose sugar, can increase the risk for weight gain, especially belly fat, and may increase insulin resistance for both diabetics and non-diabetics when eaten in higher amounts.

Sugar, sugar and more artificial sugars. Artificial ingredients: no real foods here. Synthetic vitamins and minerals: difficult for the body to process and may cause harm in some cases.

Is more protein better than less?

More protein is not necessarily better , though. In “101 Frequently Asked Questions about “Health & Fitness” and “Nutrition & Weight Control,” Cedric Bryant of the American Council on Exercise and his co-authors write that excess protein that the body doesn’t use for growth and repair will be stored as body fat.

Eating high amounts of fiber not only has the potential to cause digestive stress, bloating and gas, but it may also lead to nutrient malabsorption, hen ce the need to curtail your intake of high-fiber protein bars .

Not Just Protein. Protein bars aren’t 100 percent protein — a typical bar is often higher in carbs and can contain a moderate to high amount of fat too. The number of calories in a bar depends on the brand and type that you buy, but just as excess protein can be stored as fat, excess calories from carbs and fat will also be stored as fat, …

A protein bar here and there is absolutely fine if you’re in a rush with no time for a full meal, and the bar in question fits into your calorie needs for the day. Just because they’re a convenient snack and healthier than a candy bar, however, doesn’t mean you can eat them at will. Pick a bar with minimal additives and preservatives and consume them in moderation, keeping your focus on getting most of your calories from nutrient-dense whole-foods.

Protein bars are a go-to snack for many people looking to build muscle and are even used by those on the quest for weight loss. Though an elevated protein intake may aid satiety and give a boost to weight loss, overeating protein can be detrimental and cause you to gain weight.