Recently, a lot of diet bars have appeared on the market. They are low-calorie and useful, according to manufacturers. Is it so? Consider what are the bars for weight loss, find out what their benefits and harms.
Types of Bars
- Muesli, which contains cereals, fruits and berries, saturating the body with vitamins and minerals.
- Protein bars and other sweets designed to gain mass and increase stamina.
Of course, the former should not be considered as substitutes for vitamins, since they do not contain the most important component - ascorbic acid. However, nutritionists can use one bar per day. Drink it with either unsweetened tea, skim milk or water.
The use of muesli bars
These bars contain cereals, fruits, and berries. They are designed specifically for lovers of healthy eating who wish to lose weight. There are cereal, fruit, berry and low-calorie bars. The latter contain L-carnitine and other fat-burning substances.
- Cereals are composed of coarse fiber, which improves intestinal motility. They also give the body a feeling of satiety and normalize carbohydrate metabolism.
- Dried fruits and honey are sources of beneficial substances. This is a complex of "fast" and "slow" carbohydrates that do not cause sudden spikes in blood sugar.
- Nuts and seeds provide the body with unsaturated fatty acids, fiber, phosphorus, and B vitamins.
The best slimming bars
Bite is a treat with an absolutely natural composition. A bar consists only of dried fruits, seeds and seasonings. The line has a great taste variety. Bars are nutritious, low-calorie and tasty. However, their price is quite high - about 100 rubles apiece.
Fit Fruit is a fruit and berry sweets with a small amount of flavorings and colors that do not cause much harm to the body. A huge plus is that sugar is excluded from the composition, and calorie content is low. The price is also quite reasonable.
Dietary bar "Ratsionika" is one of the best options for treats for losing weight thanks to the nutrients in the composition. Calorie content is low. The composition does not include sugar and other harmful components for losing weight. The bar perfectly satisfies hunger. Its main disadvantage is the high price.
Gluten-free fruit bar from Luns (Germany) is an almost perfect product. The composition contains only dates, almonds, raspberry flakes, agave syrup and berry juice concentrate. The price is 130 rubles apiece, but this is its only drawback.
What are the benefits of protein bars?
They charge the body with the energy necessary for training. Bars contain the necessary amount of protein, can increase stamina and strength. Protein slimming foods are consumed before, after, and during exercise. They replenish stocks of useful substances and can be stored for a long time. The composition includes stimulants, plant extracts, cereals. The best protein bars are low in sugar or fructose, therefore low in calories.
They are a great snack during the break between sets. They should be purchased in specialized stores.
Best Protein Bars
One of the best weight loss protein bars is Roo'bar. Thanks to the fruit and berry filling, they satisfy the need for glucose, but the protein in the composition requires them to be attributed to protein products for gaining muscle mass. They differ in natural composition and low calorie content, but their price is quite high.
Herbalife diet bars have been very popular lately. The line is very diverse, but the main disadvantage of this delicacy is a fairly high calorie content. But at the same time, the bars are very useful due to the rich composition.
Lately bars "Turboslim" are popular. There are no reviews of doctors about side effects that are possible with their use. The bar contains cocoa and milk protein. In the absence of intolerance to the last component, this bar is absolutely safe for health. However, reviews about its benefits vary. Some argue that this is a good way to eat and eliminate the desire to eat something sweet. Others are sure that its composition does not bring any benefit, although no side effects have been noticed.
Harm diet bars
What do doctors say about such a treat? They argue that you need to look at the composition. The more natural it is, the safer and more useful the bar. Slices of berries and fruits, cereals, cereals, seeds and dried fruits are very nutritious. While products with molasses, emulsifiers, sugar and palm oil are not recommended. They do not bring any benefit. It follows that only overpriced products can be consumed regularly during the diet.
Cheaper treats are often made with palm oil and sugar. They are strictly forbidden to use for people suffering from diseases of the pancreas and liver. In addition, preservatives and dyes, which are found in inexpensive bars, can cause allergic reactions.
It should also be noted that these sweets must be combined with physical activity, so that calories and excessive amounts of nutrients do not accumulate in the body. Bars are heavy foods, so they are undesirable to eat in large quantities. The recommendation of nutritionists is one per day.
It is recommended to drink the bar with purified water or unsweetened tea. Milk is also allowed. Often, recommendations for use are indicated on the product packaging.
Bar Recipes
In fact, much more useful are goodies prepared at home. How to make a diet bar? In fact, it is very simple, but you need to stock up on a considerable amount of components in advance. So, consider a few popular recipes.
For nut-cereal bars you will need the following ingredients:
- flakes (oatmeal or cereal), any dried fruits and nuts - 200 g;
- honey - 70 g;
- fruit juice - 60 ml;
- Refined vegetable oil - 10 ml.
Finely chop the nuts with a knife. Then grind dried fruits and mix them thoroughly with honey. The mass is distributed on a baking sheet. The thickness of the bars should not exceed 1.5 cm. Bake should be 20-25 minutes at 180 degrees.
The following recipe for a muesli bar (easy to make at home) includes these components:
- oat flakes - 250 g;
- dried apricots and dates - 100 g each;
- raisins dark and light - 50 g each;
- sesame seeds - 2 tbsp. l .;
- pumpkin and sunflower seeds - 4 tbsp each. l .;
- honey - 70 g;
- butter - 60 g;
- strawberries and blackberries - 120 and 180 g, respectively;
- apple - 1 piece.
In a deep bowl, mix raisins, nuts, seeds, cereals. Dates with dried apricots should be finely chopped. Grind the berries with a blender, and then mix with a grated apple. Add this fruit puree to seeds and dried fruits.
Heat the butter and honey on the stove to a syrup. It must be added to the bulk, mix thoroughly. Bars should be placed tightly formed on a baking sheet so that they do not crumble during cooking. Bake goodies for about an hour at a temperature of 150 degrees. If desired, the finished bars can be poured with chocolate.
These sugar-free diet bars are very healthy. They contain only natural and nutritious ingredients. But in large quantities they are not recommended, since for the pancreas, their digestion is not easy.
Conclusion
Is it worth it to buy in the stores or cook yourself diet bars? There is some benefit from them. Therefore, they can be consumed during diets and physical activity. The main thing is to pay attention to the composition of the product and the presence of harmful ingredients in it. These delicacies will help the sweet tooth to survive a strict diet. Recently, in stores with organic products you can also find unsweetened bars with cereals and sesame seeds in the composition.