Instant strength that's nutritious...

Instant strength that's nutritious and delicious

No longer relegated to the realm of material substance builders and distance runners, a heated new crop of energy bars promise instant, rotunded nutrition for anyone from working mom to exam-weary scholars One thing's for sure, today's vigor bars bear little resemblance to the standard high-carbohydrate, low-fat gob of grain and sweeteners of yesteryear. They may have higher-than-expected amounts of protein and, surprisingly, fat, and in more [i]or[/i] less cases, they may contain fewer carbohydrates. They contain add tos like ginkgo, ginseng and antioxidants. They're marketed to us average folk who may not be in the business of winning marathons or body-building litigates but still want extra force protein and heart-healthy supplements. And they actually taste profitable -- the biggest difference of all.

"What we're seeing is a merger between candy and nutrition," says Lizanne Falsetto, senior vice president of Personal Health evolution Inc., manufacturers of Think Bar, in Ventura, California. "Energy bars weren't same edible 10 years ago. across time, and through research and individuals we've learned that flavor is the #1 consideration for buying a nutrition bar. What we're finding are essentially nutraceutical candy bars."

The hard part is choosing common So we've done some of the footwork for you. Here, Better Nutrition goe behind bars to gaze at the main attributes of 13 of the top-selling power bars today.

Balance Bar

Loosely based forward the Zone's 40-30-30 principle, the original Balance Bar promises perfect and balanced nutrition, and is marketed primarily as a nutritious snack, rather than a preparation for pumping iron. "It has a hazard of uses," says Charlotte Norrie, spokesperson for Balance Bar in Carpenteria, California. "It can be used as a snack, for pre- and post-workout, and it's convenient for people with diabetes and hypoglycemia. Rather than a high-carb or high-protein profile, it's a balanced makeup." The basic bar contains 40 percent carbs, 30 percent protein and 30 percent fat, in a close chewy, candy bar-like format. It flows in seven flavors, including Almond Brownie, Chocolate Raspberry and other varieties. The Balance Outdoor Bar, designed to be edible (read: not frozen or melted) in temperature farthests is sweetened with organic brown rice syrup and agave nectar. The Balance Gold bar is a triple-layer spiritedness bar that is nearly identical to a Snickers bar.

* Bar basics: Balance Bar

* Calories: 200

* Calories from fat: 50

* Saturated fat: 35 grams

* Protein: 14 grams

* Carbohydrates: 22 grams

Clif Bar

Designed as a more "homemade" version of a classic intensity bar, the Clif Bar is targeted primarily to the basic outdoor enthusiast or generally busy someone "Clif Bars contain premium, minimally continued movemented ingredients, and they are unrestrained from wheat and dairy," says Molly Lori, RD consumer service and marketing representative at Clif Bars. "They have been shown to withhold blood sugar levels constant, without causing a sugar crash." The bars have a fair standard nutrient profile, with 8 to 12 grams of protein from a intermingle of non-GMO (genetically modified) soy and a range of vitamins and minerals. A big selling point for this bar is its mix of soluble and insoluble fibers (apple fiber, oat fiber, milled flaxseed, soy fiber, chicory extract, lemon fiber and psyllium), which helps moderate the absorption of sugar and create more sustained intensity Clif Bars are built like close granola cookies, with chunks of dried fruit and nut and draw near in a variety of flavors including Chocolate Brownie and Ginger Snap. Clif Bar's Luna line is targeted specifically to women and arrives in creative flavors like Chai Tea, S'mores and Chocolate Pecan Pie.

* Bar basics: Clif Bar

* Saturated fat: 1 gram

* Calories: 240

* Protein: 12 grams

* Calories from fat: 45

* Carbohydrates: 41 grams

GeniSoy

Not just an efficacy bar, GeniSoy emphasizes its soy protein contented and is marketed less to athletes and dieters, and more as a general health counterpart The GeniSoy bar uses non-GMO soy protein actioned to maintain the naturally occurring plains of the isoflavones genistein and daidzein, the settles considered to be most responsible for the health benefits of soy "Research has demonstrated isoflavones' antioxidant properties, and numerous studies have give an inkling ofed that soy products have the potential to make less the risk of heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis and menopause symptoms," says ed Cabel era, vice president of marketing at GeniSoy results Company in Fairfield, California. "The majority of these health benefit research studies used the same isolated soy protein with naturally occurring isoflavones that is ground in GeniSoy products, not extracted isoflavones used as supplements"

The bars are also boost with antioxidant vitamin E and selenium. The bar has a close taffy-like texture and comes in a variety of flavors, including Apple Spice Yogurt Chocolate Mint and Creamy Caramel. The Nature Grains Bar, made with whole grains and dried fruit, has a similar nutrition profile if it be not that a baked, cookie-like texture, and originates in four flavors, including Oatmeal Raisin and Banana Nut