Nutritional bars are widely popular because of its ease of use in a high speed society where the time for a wholesome meal made from fresh vegetables and fruits may not be possible. While a nutritional bar does not replace and should not replace a meal, eating the nutritional bar is much better than eating junk food, in times of hunger.

There are a variety of nutritional bars on the market.  Each approach nutritional from a different perspective.  For the sportsmen, a high protein bar builds muscle. For those who want instant energy, a high glycemic index carbohydrate bar is a reasonable choice. The ideal anti-aging bar should mimic the anti-aging diet modified from the famous Mediterranean Diet.

Things to look for in a Nutritional Bar:

1. Start with low-glycemic carbohydrates that help stabilize blood sugar levels and maximize your energy over a longer period of time. Stabilization of sugar and insulin levels in the body is a key element of a successful anti-aging program. Whether eating whole food or nutritional bars, the same concept applies. Eliminated are the high-fructose corn syrups which bring most bars up over 15 grams of sugar and help create a fat storage insulin effect. Select bars contain 3 grams of sugar or less and have a better quality carbohydrate. It may not be as sweet as most prefer, but a lot heartier.

2. High quality proteins formulated with a precise balance of a complete range of amino acids are utilized to help lean muscle repair, recovery and immune function. The Biological Value, or BV, of a protein is an indicator of the quality of the protein.  It is a measure of a protein's ability to be used by the body (or its bioavailability). It is a percentage (though the scale is skewed resulting in some BV's of greater than 100) of the absorbed protein that your body actually uses. Biological Values are indicators of which proteins are best at aiding nitrogen retention in muscles to help them maintain or grow in mass. The BV of whey protein (hydrolyzed) is higher than milk, fish, beef, soy, wheat, beans, and peanuts. Look for it in the

3. Many bars contain hydrogenated oil or trans fatty acid. Stay away from these negative nutrients. Look for those with essential fatty acids from flaxseed and lecithin which will feed the body the hormonal building blocks necessary to reach true balance.

4. The ratio of carbohydrate to protein to fat is a key factor in putting the body into true balance. The anti-aging food choice program utilizes a 50-25-25 ratio. Look for bars that maintain this ratio. Many bars are high in protein, which is good for young athletes but not ideal from an anti-aging perspective. Too much protein increases the kidney load and creates an acidic body.

High glycemic carbohydrates spike your blood sugar, leading to fat storage, while too few carbohydrates deplete your energy and have a catabolic muscle wasting effect. The carbohydrate should be low glycemic. The wrong type of fat is damaging to your cells, while the right type of fat not only builds a healthy cell wall, but also increases metabolism while optimizing hormonal function.

 
About The Author

Michael Lam, M.D., M.P.H., A.B.A.A.M. is a specialist in Preventive and Anti-Aging Medicine. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Oregon State University, and his Doctor of Medicine degree from Loma Linda University School of Medicine, California. He also holds a Masters of Public Health degree and is Board Certified in Anti-aging Medicine by the American Board of Anti-Aging Medicine. He has authored numerous articles and the following books: The Five Proven Secrets to Longevity, How to Stay Young and Live Longer, Estrogen Dominance - Hormonal Imbalance of the 21st Century, and Beating Cancer with Natural Medicine.

 
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