What is a fitness bar?
There is no common or accepted definition of a fitness bar. In principle, however, fitness bars are to be regarded as so-called supplements, i.e. dietary supplements that are not a substitute for a complete meal. All bars have in common a relatively high mineral and vitamin content as well as a macronutrient distribution that is favorably designed according to the individual needs. There are a number of different bars for different needs on the market.
For whom are fitness bars suitable?
In principle, anyone can benefit from a fitness bar. Often, however, it is athletes who resort to the consumption of fitness bars. The fitness bar can generally be seen as a simple snack for in-between meals or can be used as a dietary supplement for strength or endurance training.
Especially for people who pay attention to their nutrient intake (carbohydrates, fats and proteins), a fitness bar is usually better than a “muesli bar” from the supermarket. These are usually very high in sugar and therefore only provide short-term energy, while good fitness bars contain a mixture of short-term sugars and long-chain carbohydrates, which are only made available to the body as energy in two to three hours. Of course, the individual bars offer different benefits due to their composition, so that certain groups of people benefit more from the consumption of a fitness bar. The bar is harmful, except for food intolerances, but not for anyone.
Which fitness bars are available ?
Currently, the market already offers an almost immeasurable selection of different fitness bars for different needs, among the most common fitness bars: Low-carb fitness bars: Compared to their total mass, these bars have a relatively low carbohydrate content and are therefore mostly aimed at people who prefer a low-carbohydrate diet or a low-carb diet. Mostly the sugars or other carbohydrates are replaced by sugar alcohols or similar to keep the net carbohydrate content as low as possible. Low-carb-high-protein fitness bar: In addition to the relatively low carbohydrate content, this fitness bar has a protein content of approx.
30-50%. This bar is probably what most people think of as a typical fitness bar. It is suitable for people who want to eat low in carbohydrates but high in protein.
High-protein fitness bar: This fitness bar has both a relatively high protein content and a relatively high carbohydrate content. This fitness bar is therefore capable of supplying both protein as a muscle building material and carbohydrates to replenish the glycogen stores. It is suitable as a snack after a muscle training, if there is no particular nutritional form such as “low-carb” as a limiting factor against it.
Energy fitness bar: This variant is characterized by carbohydrates as the main ingredient. It contains both quickly digestible carbohydrates such as dextrose as well as long-chain carbohydrates, whose digestion provides the body with energy after a few hours. Usually there is also a source of “healthy” fats, such as nuts, and plenty of micronutrients such as vitamins, calcium, magnesium, etc.
This bar is aimed at athletes who are exposed to longer, continuous sporting stress, such as marathon runners or triathletes. It can be taken as a meal during the exertion and should provide sufficient energy both quickly and in the long term. There are fitness bars that draw their protein content from animal sources, such as milk protein, as well as vegan fitness bars whose protein content comes from hemp or soya, so the fitness industry is able to cover all conceivable nutritional forms.
- Low-carb bar
- Low-carb-high protein bars
- High-protein fitness squad
- Energy Fitness Bar
- Protein bar
- Protein bars
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