Introduction
Protein bars enjoy great popularity and the range of different bars is very large and varied. Especially for athletes they are often part of the routine after training and are often taken as a dietary supplement or as a snack after training. With the large selection, it is difficult to decide which protein bar is the right one for one’s own needs, which ingredients one should pay attention to and how often the bars can or should be consumed. In addition, there are questions about how sensible it really is to take protein bars and whether you can not only buy them but also make them yourself.
How useful are protein bars?
How useful protein bars are depends on the individual physical shape, training goals, intensity and frequency of training, and eating habits. The German Society for Nutrition assumes a daily protein requirement of 0.8 g protein per kg body weight for a healthy adult, which corresponds to 64 g protein per day. On average, an adult already consumes about 100 g protein per day with the normal diet, so that an additional protein intake is not necessary even for a hobby athlete.
The additional protein taken in is not converted directly into muscle, because what the body does not need is converted into sugar or fat or excreted again. An increased protein intake of up to 2 g per kg body weight can be useful for a short period of time if the body is or has been exposed to particular stress. This applies to phases of muscle building, regeneration after a marathon or after illness, during pregnancy or growth. But even in these phases, protein can be supplied by natural products such as beans, curd cheese, lean meat or egg. Protein bars are attractive as dietary supplements due to their practical packaging, high energy density and sweet taste, but they are not necessary.