energy bars: not as healthy as you might think
By kathy77
@kathy77 (7485)
Australia
February 17, 2007 10:35am CST
Hi Friends and Members do you know that these energy bars are not as healthy as you may think dietitian say sports enthusiasts often get better energy and nutrition from munching a handful of dried fruit or a peanut butter
sandwich before exercising than from so-called energy bars. Energy bars are missing essential nutrients, while substances they do contain may not be cleared by health boards. A common ingredient is ephedra, a stimulant
that can increase blood pressure and heart rate beyond safe levels. They have recently warned against ephedra use, citing a link to "as many as 800 cases of medical problems and a dozen deaths,. And unless you do marathons or other intensive sports, the high calories and simple carbohydrates typical of many bars don't provide the kind of energy you need. Better and easy-to-grab sources include apples,
yogurt or a dollop of peanut butter on whole-wheat bread.
2 people like this
6 responses
@mememama (3076)
• United States
17 Feb 07
Ephedra has been banned in the United States for a few years now. But it has been "replaced" by something similar, bitter orange extract or synephrine. It has the same effects on people like ephedra. It's found in diet pills too. People consume these things, exercise, barely drink any water, get dehydrated then hospitalized, it's a bad cycle. But these energy bars also have way too many calories, saturated fat, carbs, and they just taste nasty lol.
1 person likes this
@HolyMosesMalone (415)
• United States
17 Feb 07
people get hit by cars too.....sounds paranoid to me.
@michelledarcy (5220)
•
19 Feb 07
This is very true. A lot of the bars contain lots of sugars and other undesirable substances. I think people need to realise they need a good balanced diet with lots of fresh foods, not stuff that has been prepackaged and all the nutrients taken out.
1 person likes this
@weemam (13372)
•
17 Feb 07
Thanks for that Kathy , I think there are a lot of people that believe every thing they read , If it says good for you they believe it , I for one read the labels on everything I buy ( food wise anyway) there are so many hidden ingredients , I try to be as safe and healthy as I can , xx
1 person likes this
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
17 Feb 07
One night at work a co-worker and I were reading the labels of a so called "health bar" and it made me sick, all kinds of junk and as many calories, sugar, and fat as a candy bar. I said I would rather eat the candy bar, it tastes better and emotionally satisfies me. CHOCOLATE!
1 person likes this
@HolyMosesMalone (415)
• United States
17 Feb 07
Energy bars are like anything else you have to shop around and look for a good one that has all the things you want in it. There are good energy bars out there, and good protein bars for that matter, i like the the Pria bars myself they have 110 calories and lots of protein which is good energy.
