“What you see may not be what you get in a protein bar,” says Chelsey Millstone, Corporate Dietitian for Medi-Weightloss Clinics^®, one of the nation’s largest providers of physician-supervised weight loss programs.

Not all protein bars are the same, and they can serve different purposes depending on dietary needs.

“Picking the most nutritious bar can be tricky,” says Millstone. “Packaging and labels can be very misleading regarding the purpose or ingredients of the protein bar.

"For example, a protein bar high in calories and sugar, coupled with modest protein content can really make an impact on weight loss efforts. Someone may think they are grabbing a healthy option, but getting virtually a candy bar in return. They will spike blood sugar levels, just like a candy bar would, and leave you hungry after a short time.”

Quality protein can benefit weight loss by building muscle, boosting metabolism, slowing down digestion, and decreasing hunger, according to health and nutrition reports. Surveys show consumers consider protein bars an easy way to obtain protein without having to cook. However, Diet & Nutrition Consumer Reports says typical protein bars have five shortcomings that include: any amount of trans fat; sugar alcohols; a high carbohydrate to fiber ratio; artificial sweeteners; and high sodium levels.

The Good

Millstone notes that protein bars do have benefits.

“They are a portable source of protein that does not need to be refrigerated or cooked to be beneficial," she says. Depending on the craving, sweet or savory, protein bars can be a great alternative to snacking on candy or other empty calories.”

“Our Medi-Weightloss Clinics^® 100-Calorie Protein Bars contain 10 grams of high-quality protein which may not be the case with other protein bars,” says Millstone. “One of the main benefits of Medi-Weightloss Clinics^® protein bars is the inclusion of the fructooligosaccarides (FOS), a probiotic that has been shown to improve gut health.”

“The Medi-Weightloss Clinics^® 100-Calorie Protein Bars contain 10g of protein, 3g of fat and 11g of carbs,” she says. “Other popular bars, such as the Atkins™ Advantage® Peanut Butter Granola bar, is 200 calories per bar and contains 19g of carbs and 7g of fat.”

The Bad

Millstone stresses that protein bars should provide a good balance of nutrients and not be terribly high in sodium. Typically, sodium content is higher in packaged items due to preservative ingredients,” she notes. “New recommendations from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2011 recommends reducing the daily amount of sodium to less than 2300 mg. Our protein bars provide nutrition well within these guidelines.”

The Medi-Weightloss Clinics^® 100-Calorie Protein Bars have been tested for accuracy and have no hidden sources of carbohydrates, Millstone says.

In addition to contents, the size of the bar also is important. “The benefit of a smaller bar is certainly less calories, but it also helps with portion control,” she says. “Portion control is basically rewiring the brain to recognize what will satisfy you. Bars today can be very caloric, typically more than 200 calories and high in sugar or very high in sugar alcohols.”

The Ugly

The Nutrition Labeling and Education Act (NLEA) requires specific nutrition and ingredient labeling for food, beverage, and dietary supplements and mandates that most foods that bear nutrient content claims and certain health messages comply with specific requirements. A recent study by an independent lab found that most bars had misleading labels and only 1 out 12 bars was accurately labeled.

Chelsey Millstone, MS, RD, LD/N is the Corporate Dietitian for Medi-Weightloss Clinics^® and is a foremost expert in weight-loss counseling, from hospital and clinics to private health and wellness centers. She earned her undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Pittsburgh and undergraduate and master’s degrees in health science, human nutrition and dietetics from the University of North Florida.

About Medi-Weightloss Clinics^® 100-Calorie Protein Bars, sold in boxes of seven, are made with high quality protein and come in four flavors: Cinnamon Pecan, Chocolate Celebration, Blueberry Pomegranate, and Peanut Butter Temptation.

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