Barbells Protein Bar Overview
Barbells is a brand of protein bars offering a wide range of high-protein bars that can be a delicious replacement for your snacks and desserts. Compared to other popular brands like Built Bars or Quest Protein Bars, this one is relatively new.
These protein bars first got popular in 2022 and since then there are thousands of users who consider Barbells as their favorite protein bar.
Each protein bar of Barbells offers you a high 20 g protein with 200 calories and comes in a range of delicious flavors to pick from.
Thus, Barbells protein bars can be conveniently used to boost your protein intake post-workout as a high-protein snack option. Also, they are low in sugar content, i.e. only 5g per bar.
Barbells Protein bars have a healthy nutritional profile than many other protein bars and have some really tasty flavors. Some Barbells Protein Bars flavors which we especially liked were cookies and cream, caramel cashew, and Chocolate Dough.
With its tremendously delicious taste, the texture of Barbells Protein Bars is also impressive. It has various degrees of chewiness depending on the flavors and doesn’t feel any chalky at all, thus giving you a great experience.
Now that you know what is Barbells protein bars, let’s check if these protein bars are healthy for you.
Are Barbells Protein Bars Healthy?
Protein bars are generally priced steeper than candy bars due to their protein content and health benefits. So, are Barbells Protein bars healthy too?
To understand this better you should know, that each of the Barbells protein bars has 20g of Protein, 20g of carbs, 3g of fiber, and 5g of sugar. Each of these protein bars provides 200 calories.
The protein is sourced from a Milk Protein Blend that is made from Calcium Caseinate, Whey Protein Concentrate, and Isolated Whey Protein. All these protein sources are considered to be the highest quality of protein.
Each of these sources has all the essential amino acid that is effective for muscle growth and recovery. Thus, Barbells protein bars can be healthy for growing your muscles.
Barbells protein bars being low in sugar doesn’t lead to any rise in your blood sugar level. The sweetening agent used in them is Maltitol. Maltitol is a type of carbohydrate also called sugar alcohol which contains half as many calories as sugar.
It has 3g of fiber which is ideal to support healthy digestion and promote satiety.
Since each of these protein bars offers 200 calories, they can conveniently act as a meal replacement and keep you full and energetic for a longer duration.
It should be kept in mind while using any protein bar that Barbells Protein bars are not whole food sources and can never replace the proteins from whole foods.
Thus, Barbells protein bars can be a healthy snack option but it is always good to eat them with a balanced diet and in moderation. Because however healthy a protein bar is, it can’t replace your whole foods.
Nutrition Profile Of Barbells Protein Bars
One serving size of Barbells protein bar is (55 g) and contains 12 active ingredients making up its one blend: Milk Protein Blend.
Here is what is inside the Barbells Protein cookies & cream flavor which contains the following:
- Total Carbohydrates: 20g (Dietary fiber: 3g and Total sugars: 1g)
- Total Fat: 7g (Saturated fat: 3g and Trans fat: 0g)
- Protein: 20g
- Calcium: 140mg
- Potassium: 130mg
- Iron: 0.5mg
- Vitamin D: 0.2mcg
- Sodium: 75mg
The ingredients inside the Milk Protein blend are:
- Calcium caseinate.
- Whey protein concentrate.
- Whey protein isolate.
A good amount of quality scientific evidence supports using these ingredients for the body’s weight loss, and muscle gain, and source of important vitamins and minerals.\
1. Calcium caseinate
Calcium caseinate, a milk protein, is widely added to food products to improve nutritional value, flavor, and shelf life.
Calcium caseinate is a popular dietary supplement among bodybuilders due to its slow digestion rate since it provides a constant release of amino acids and avoids muscle breakdown (9).
2. Whey protein concentrate and isolate
Whey protein is a supplement that people use alongside resistance exercise to help boost muscle protein synthesis and the growth of lean muscle mass. Other possible benefits include helping with weight loss and lowering cholesterol (7).
3. Bovine Collagen Hydrolysate
Bovine collagen hydrolysate, an ingredient in Barbells protein bars, has several health benefits, including increased joint strength and mobility, quicker tendon and ligament healing, glowing skin and hair, stronger nails, reduced cellulite, and enhanced digestive health.
4. Soy Protein Isolate
Soy protein can help you lose weight, increase your energy, and build muscle. Soy protein isolate may also help to regulate your hormones and reduce your chances of breast cancer, heart disease, and osteoporosis. Protein is essential for general health and growth. Soy protein is composed of 90% protein (8).
Healthy Benefits of Barbells Protein Bars
When you’re hungry, it’s easy to grab any protein bar on the shelf, however, there are several instances where Barbells Protein Bars or any other protein bar can be quite beneficial. Here are some of the health benefits of Barbells Protein Bar:
Can be a convenient source of nutrients
The Barbells protein bar might be a wise decision and a useful option for your diet and lifestyle if you’re looking for a midday snack because it has a reasonable amount of protein and high-quality ingredients.
If you’re looking for a midday snack, the Barbells bar, which contains a reasonable amount of protein and high-quality ingredients, could be a smart choice and practical option for your diet and lifestyle.
Due to their high protein and carbohydrate content, Barbells protein bars may be an excellent choice for a pre-or post-workout snack. These nutrients can offer you an energy boost before exercise or aid in muscle recovery afterward (1).
Furthermore, the protein bars from Barbell contain dietary fiber, which is crucial for the well-being of your digestive system and might help you avoid overeating in between meals (2).
Weight loss
Barbells protein bars can help you to support your weight loss journey.
Several studies have found that high-protein meals are more likely to aid healthy weight loss than diets with a standard amount of protein. This is most likely due to the protein’s ability to fill you up and suppress your appetite, which might help you avoid overeating (3,4).
However, keep in mind that healthy weight loss demands a well-balanced diet as well as regular exercise, even if you decide to utilize the Barbells protein bars for this purpose.
Muscle gain
If you’re a physically active individual with a lot of muscle mass or someone looking to gain muscle, adding more protein to your diet by including the Barbells protein bars or any other protein bars may aid your efforts.
When your diet and overall physical activity level are adequate, taking a protein supplement or protein bars may help you grow muscle mass and perform better (6).
According to the American College of Sports Medicine, strength and endurance athletes should consume 1.2 to 1.7 grams of protein per kilogram of their body weight, or 0.54-0.77 grams of protein per pound.
Meal replacement
Any quality protein bar, like Barbells protein bars, is sometimes regarded as a simple way to substitute a meal, especially for breakfast.
While a breakfast made from a variety of nutritious whole foods cannot compare with a protein bar from Barbells, some flavors of Barbells bars may be handy in a pinch.
Because they don’t contain added sugar or hydrogenated oils, Barbells protein bars may be a good choice for a quick breakfast on occasion.
Some Side Effects To Know
Barbells protein bars contain milk and soybeans, making it unsafe for individuals with a milk and soybeans allergy. Soy may cause serious allergic reactions in people who are allergic to peanuts and other members of the Fabaceae plant family.
It may also interact with certain prescription medications. Some individuals may not tolerate allergic reactions to the calcium caseinate in Barbells Bars.
Soy in this protein bar causes some mild stomach and intestinal side effects such as constipation, bloating, and nausea.
Glycerin may cause side effects including headaches, dizziness, bloating, nausea, and diarrhea, and possibly safe when used for the short term.
Side effects from maltitol are stomach pains and gas. It may also have laxative effects and cause diarrhea. These negative effects can vary in strength depending on how much you ingest and how your body reacts to it.
Products that contain polydextrose can cause intestinal gas (flatulence), bloating, stomach cramps, and diarrhea. And higher doses of polydextrose might cause severe diarrhea.
Excessive protein consumption does not appear to benefit the ordinary person, and in certain cases may be harmful (9).
Consuming more protein than the RDA of 0.36 grams per pound (0.8 grams per kilogram) of body weight increases the risk of getting cancer, heart disease, and bone, liver, and kidney problems (10,11).
However, some study suggests that consuming 1.4 grams of protein per pound (3 grams per kilogram) of body weight per day is safe, at least in the short term.
If you have any prior conditions or are taking prescription medications, we recommend speaking with your doctor before beginning to take this protein bar.
Are Barbells Protein Bars Really That Healthy?
Nevertheless, Barbells protein bar is one of the best protein bars in terms of both health benefits and price points. The flavors it comes in are very delicious with an easy-to-consume and non-chalky texture.
While these protein bars are healthy to meet your daily protein target, consuming them in moderation is very important.
Even the makers of Barbells protein bars mention excessive consumption of these protein bars can produce a laxative effect so do not make a habit out of it. The laxative effect is produced due to the use of sugar alcohol or Maltitol.
The protein bars contain allergens such as dairy, soy, gluten, wheat, and nuts. So, if you are sensitive to any of these allergens, keep away from Barbells protein bars.
Barbells protein bars offer a high 20g of protein per bar which is 40% Daily Value of a healthy individual protein requirement. Also, they are low in carbs and added sugar which is healthy on its own.
Thus, Barbells protein bars offer not just delicious but also healthy alternatives to your snacks and desserts with uncompromisable flavor options.
Protein bars are good only when it is getting difficult for you to meet your dietary protein needs through whole food. Your first priority should always be aiming for protein through whole food and keeping protein bars only as an option.
