Protein bars still have lots of carbs, why?

MRSchultz

Cathlete
I was at the grocery store last night and looking all the millions of different energy bars. I wanted one that was high in protein and low in carbs. I couldn't find one that didn't have a lot of carbs in it. So my question is this........the carbs that are in those energy bars, are they the good-for-you carbs?

I've been trying to eat more protein and less carbs, so I'm confused on what to do. Thanks.

Marcia. :)
 
Yes, I was suprised by the carbs too. I recently cut out sugar and low and behold my two favorite protein bars have tons of sugar in them! You know why Balance Bars taste like candy bars? Because they practically are! The only one I've found that doesn't taste like chalk and that has a relative amount of protein (15 gm) and no sugar (although they do contain cane juice) is Cliff Bars. They are 240 calories and have about 5 gm of fat so I usually pair one with a lo-fat string cheese stick or half a banana. This fills me up and keeps my energy high for times where I need to eat, but have no access to a refrigerator or stove.
 
If you can get your hands on Biochem Locarb bars, they are my alltime favorites. They have (this is by memory, I'm not holding one in my hands or it would be gone) 21 grams of protein, 2 carbs, and 1 gram of sugar. They are not sweetened with any artificial sweetener. They receive their sweetness, which isn't too sweet (I hate sugary sweet bars), from glycerine which I believe is good for you anyway. I would love to hear from someone who is knowledgeable in the area of glycerine and it's nutritional value. I do know that glycerine does not have the same reaction as sugar in the system, although it tastes sweet. I believe it can be tolerated well by diabetics as it doesn't raise the sugar levels quickly and then drop you (again, I'd like this confirmed). I react to all kinds of sugars whether fruit, honey, etc....and I do not react to glycerine at all. The kind I like is Honey almond and I got them through our health food coop. I did major research into protein bars prior to this and this was the only one that REALLY fit my qualifications for lo carb, lo sugar, and high protein. You can order them on the internet, but they cost a lot more than the local food coop. Hope this helps. All the bars I saw at Walmart were loosers.

Briee
 
There are some good high protein/low carb bars in my opinion. As Briee said, they contain glycerine which has a negligible impact on blood sugar levels so it isn't included in the total carb count, and it isn't as bad as sugar or artificial sweeteners like aspartame. The brands I like are EAS Myoplex Low Carb (especially cookies & cream) and Doctor's Low Carb Diet bars (many good flavors including Smores and Chocolate Mint Cookie). I love just half of one as a snack when I get a candy craving in the afternoon. I get a sweet treat, but a dose of protein too.
 

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