Protein bar or sugar bomb?!

Protein bars are: A quick, convenient snack High in protein Good amounts of carbs, fat and fiber Some are fortified with vitamins and minerals Seem like a reliable source of nutrition

Quiz : Which bar has more sugar?

Power bar : 29grams sugar Take 5 : 18 grams sugar The protein bar has 11 grams more of sugar!

Larabar: 24 grams sugar Snickers crunch: 21 grams sugar Protein bar has 3 grams more of sugar!

Upper Limits for sugar Population Sugar UL (grams) Sugar UL (Tsp) Men Women Children Teens

What we currently consume Population Sugar consumed (g/day) Calories Men Women Boys Girls

Physical side effects of high sugar consumption (AHA) Weight gain Increased cholesterol levels Increased risk of heart disease and cancer Diabetes Insulin resistance Accelerated skin aging Higher risk of yeast infections Dental caries

Emotional side effects of high sugar consumption (psychologytoday.com)psychologytoday.com Mood alterations- sugar triggers serotonin release. Triggers reward system in brain. Higher chances of depression Anxiety Impaired learning and memory

Sugar Bomb Protein Bars BarSugar (g) Power bar peanut butter 26 Perfect bar almond butter 18 Pure organic chocolate 18 Green superfood 26

Lower sugar protein bars BarSugar (g) Muscle milk8 Gnu foods fiber love9 Kashi chocolate almond 7 Keen-wah chocolate coconut 8

What about fruit? Sugar in either fruit or a soda is made up from the same components, the molecular structure and composition of sugar molecules is the same no matter what. However, your body processes them differently. Fructose (in fruits) - breaks down on your liver and doesn't require the release of insulin Glucose- starts to break down in stomach and requires release of insulin into bloodstream to metabolize completely Fruit offers vitamins, antioxidants, water, fiber Added sugars are empty calories

Tips for reducing sugar intake First, we should learn to identify sugar by its many other alias names: Brown sugar Fructose High fructose corn syrup Cane sugar Beet sugar Rice syrup Maltose Sucrose Turbinado sugar Sugar in the raw

Tips for reducing sugar intake Try not to add table sugar to anything including coffee, tea, etc... Swap out soda and fruit juices for water When cooking, omit the sugar and use spices like cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg instead Read the labels!

Some other high sugar foods: Sodas (~39grams/can) Fruit juices (24-30grams /8oz) Dried fruit (20-30grams/most 1/2 cup svgs)

In conclusion... Make sure you read the labels of protein bars before you buy them. There are good options out there with less than 10 grams of sugar. Try not to add sugar to the foods you eat, it is unnecessary and it adds up. Sugar is highly addictive and has serious side effects which are detrimental to our health.

Food for thought "There is no physical requirement for sugar; all human nutrition needs can be met in full without having to take a single spoon of white or raw sugar on its own or in any food or drink." "If only a small fraction of what is already known about the side effects of sugar were to be revealed in relation to another material used as a food additive, that material would promptly be banned." - Dr. Yudkin ( )