Low Carb Protein bars (part 1)

It's a jungle out there in supplement world, and if you believe the claims on the labels, all products will make you bigger, better, faster, stronger, the promises go on and on.
In this post I will in particular have a look at protein bars, and outline the ones I've tried and what their nutritional values are. But most importantly; are they low carb?


Now, first and foremost I want to point out that a protein bar should be viewed as an additional supplement, meaning that it should never be used as a substitute for REAL food.
(this means meats, fish, nuts, veggies, etc. in case you were wondering)
When I have a protein bar, it is usually before or after a work-out, or as a more responsible sweet snack, but never as a meal-replacement, although some labels claim to be.
The best nutrition is real food, period.

But, sometimes it's just handy to have around, and i'd rather opt. for a low carb protein bar, then the average candy bar you'll find in a gas station.
Now, here is the issue. A lot of protein bars ARE actually candy bars, only wrapped in a different label and with extra added protein. Some actually contain a whopping 30 grams of sugar! No matter how nicely it's described, it comes pretty close to this.
Sure enough, not everyone is looking to cut out sugar, but this time we are, so let's face the music, shall we?


One important topic (ingredient) that needs to be a addressed as well, is sugar alcohol.
Sugar alcohols (or polyols) are chemically reduced carbohydrates, and are often used as an ingredient in protein bars. But not all sugar alcohols are the same. Since sugar alcohols are not considered sugar, it makes it easier for companies to put "low carb"or "low sugar" on their labels.
Roughly, these are the most commonly used sugar alcohols,  their GI (Glycemic Index) & calories per gram: 

(source: lowcarbdiets.about.com)

Common assumption is that sugar alcohols are safe on a low carb diet, but it depends on what type of sugar alcohol is used. Simply subtracting the sugar alcohols from the total carbohydrate content is not the best idea. So the claim "of which sugars" should be carefully monitored. Of course it sounds great that a bar contains only 2 grams of sugar, but if it also contains 15 grams of sugar alcohols that come from maltitol syrup, well, you do the math.
(interesting detail; Atkins products also contain a lot of maltitol)

Below I'll point out a few protein bars I've tried recently, and will rate:
- taste (score of 1 to 5, 5 being very good)
- total protein (P)
- total carbs (C) & percentage
- total sugars (S)
- total sugar alcohol (SA)
- type of sugar alcohol (SA types) in order of apperance
- additional remarks

Supreme Protein Carb Conscious Bar, Rocky Road
taste: 5
(P) 30g, (C) 29g = 10% (S) 6g, (SA) 15g
SA types: maltitol
This is an awesome tasting bar, probably one of the best i've ever tasted, in a blindfold test you'd probably not even know it's a protein bar. Compared to others, it is higher in fat than most bars, with a total of 16g, (0g trans fat) but that doesn't really worry me personally.
Pick this one if you are looking for an occasional treat, rather than a more frequent protein source. Disappointment: the bar I sampled looked in no possible way like the picture.

Met-Rx Protein Plus Food Bars, Mud Pie Fusion
taste: 5

(P) 32g, (C) 32g = 11% (S) 3g, (SA) 18g
SA types: maltitol syrup, sorbitol, maltitol 
Another great bar, this bar actually looks like the picture! The marshmallow filling on top of the fudge-like bar is delicious. Yet, be aware of the maltitol content.

Premier Nutrition Titan Bars , Brownie Nut
taste: 5
(P) 26g, (C) 27g = 9% (S) 5g, (SA) 16g
SA types: maltitol
Dang! I compare this bar to a Lion bar (my favorite cheat) but again, the amount of sugar alcohols is high. I'd say: "treat like a cheat". Only issue is that it crumbles like crazy.

Quest Nutrition Quest Bars, Coconut Cashew (not pictured)
taste: 4,5
(P) 20g, (C) 24g = 8% (S) 2g, (SA) 6g
SA types: erythritol
Definitely one of the lowest carb % in protein bars, and a big plus is that it only contains erythritol, a sugar alcohol with almost no calories and zero impact on blood glucose. Experiment either way, because results may vary per person. 


These are the first 4 bars I've tested, I will update in the future with more samples.
Again, these findings are based on personal preference, any additional input/feedback is welcome! 


(We didn't get bribed or paid to write this review. If we think a product is shit, we'll write that too. However, if you order through any of the links provided, we'll earn a small commission. With that money, we can keep this blog going. Or buy bacon)