Nutrition, taste factors in choosing a power bar
Date: 11-02-2003
Posted by: Anabolic Info TeamUnited States |
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Some athletes say protein bars, energy bars and meal replacement bars are nutritious and vital to their workout. Others think they're just plain nasty.
Lisa Zimmerman, 41, of Mansfield loves protein bars.
"I do enjoy them. It's my way of having a little treat throughout the week," said Zimmerman, a nurse on the psychiatric floor at MedCentral/Mansfield Hospital.
She and her daughter, Whitney, 14, routinely have a protein bar fix.
"It's basically like a treat to me after I work out," Lisa Zimmerman said. "I go for the taste. It's better (for you) than a candy bar."
Lisa Zimmerman works out two hours a day, six days a week at the Mansfield Area Y and normally eats five meals a day, including two protein shakes.
"I eat three whole food meals a day," she said. Plus, she consumes at least a gallon of water a day.
Lisa Zimmerman, who has been following her regimented diet for a few years, said she will grab a protein bar if she is traveling or doing some other type of activity that doesn't let her stop and eat.
"I really truly enjoy it," she said of all her training. "It releases your stress. I get edgy and moody if I'm not in the gym.
"Actually it beats smoking and drinking."
Whitney Zimmerman doesn't lift weights as much as her mother, but she does enjoy working out at the Y. The ninth-grader also plays volleyball for Madison High School and plays traveling volleyball from mid-winter to summer.
Whitney enjoys Promax cookies and cream and Zone bars.
"I like the chocolate peanut butter," she said. And apple cinnamon crunch. "We've tried a few."
Lisa Zimmerman agreed.
"Detour, Zone bars and Promax are three favorites by far," she said, noting she has taken protein sources for about four years.
"I go for the taste and stuff and it's still going to be more nutritious than the junk and stuff."
Whitney said she doesn't eat the bars as meals.
"For me, it's not really like a meal; for me, it's a side snack," she said, "but I do use it in my diet."
Power bars are a popular part of many local residents' diets.
"Over the years I've tried just about every kind out on the market," Brent Rastetter, 30, said. "(They are) one of the mainstays of my diet. I use them quite often."
Rastetter, who coaches football and wrestling at Lexington High School, said most of the bars taste like sawdust, but have gotten better in the last two years.
Rastetter lifts an average of three or four times a week.
"I actually started lifting weights the summer before my eighth grade," he said, admitting he's addicted to it.
Rastetter said he started lifting weights to get in shape for sports. Now he teaches other athletes how to play.
He said he usually eats three proteins bars a day -- one in the morning, one an hour before lunch and one in the evening. He also drinks three protein shakes a day.
"It's hard to get all of the protein in your diet with working and coaching," Rastetter said. He added there's still no substitute for going to the gym and lifting hard.
Rastetter purchases his protein bars from a variety of places and buys them in bulk.
"I couldn't handle eating more than three a day," Rastetter said, "they taste better, but they don't taste good."
Lanny Reader, 57, doesn't exactly care for the taste either.
"They taste really bad," he said. "Cookies and cream is a good one if you get into the Met-Rx line."
Reader eats protein bars when he's training for a marathon or other competition. Last year, he was the oldest person to finish in the Pump and Run competition at the Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic in Columbus.
"Sometimes you want the carbs if you're in a marathon," he said. But, he cautioned, "you have to watch the labels."
Reader said there are good bars and bad ones and sometimes you'd be better off eating a candy bar. He typically buys protein bars when they're on sale.
"It's a quick energy picker-upper," he said pointing out he ate one about three week ago. "Better than eating a regular Snicker."
Talk to a doctor or pharmacist first
Marlys Olson, 28, a registered dietitian with MedCentral/Mansfield Health System, said she prefers people to eat natural foods in order to get their vitamins and minerals.
"Only foods provide you with phtyo chemicals (plant chemicals). Those are things they haven't been able to manufacture (to) protect your against cancer and heart disease," Olson said.
She said a lot of people go for high protein, but it's healthy to get carbohydrates and protein together.
"If you just have protein it's not as efficient," she said pointing out the need for a balanced diet.
Olson encourages people to drink fluids, especially when consuming protein or energy bars.
"A lot of your foods naturally contain high water content," she said. "That hydration is very important for your body to function properly."
She further suggested people who are interested in eating protein bars or taking supplements speak with the doctor or pharmacist first. Olson advised that the FDA doesn't necessarily regulate the supplements.
She also said people don't necessary need mega doses of certain, herbs, vitamins or minerals that may be contained in some products, unless recommend by a physician.
Karen Sterner, co-owner of Always Healthy Health food and grocery store on Fourth Street, said they stopped carrying power bars.
"They tasted really bad," said Sterner, who is approaching 50.
She said they put all the bars in a basket and sold them for 25 cents a piece, to get rid of them.
"We have other high protein bars, they taste really well," she said mentioning bars such as Kashii that are high sellers. "We have at least eight varieties and they all do well."
She said protein shakes also move well.
