Protein Bars.......unlocking the facts.

Ok as you know by being I regular reader of my blogs (lets hope so???? if not.....were have you been lol)  I am all about consuming a natural (made from
scratch) type of nutrition plan. But we all have hectic lifestyles and sometimes you do need to have a snack on the run, so if you opt out for the protein bar don't be fooled by the marketing machine, beware and look for these no no's at your favorite store.  A) As stated in a previous post, avoid any bar with High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) for you to avoid spikes in your insulin and also because it triggers lipogenesis which creates unhealthy fats.  B)  Soy Protein is also an avoid because of the chemical process used to isolate the protein from the soybean which leaves behind toxic substances like aluminum, hexane and nitrites.  C) Palm Kernel Oil. sounds nasty and it is; first it is very high in saturated fat, plus the processing for extracting the oil (from the kernel) is from extreme heat and with the use of chemical solvents, enough said.  D) Artificial Sweeteners; it contains no nutritional value and the excess sugars convert to fat plus create more cravings, ouch!  E)  Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHT);  this is a man-made chemical preservative for shelf life and in all my years within the fitness circles anything that is not real, the body does not like or can use.....so what is the point?  F)  Natural Flavorings; is a very sexy term that is meaningless because it is not regulated, so this only sounds good for hype and packaging.  So now you have you the facts you ask yourself what to do?  For me, if I need something to hold me over till the next meal I have a piece of cheese, handful of nuts or maybe some plain Greek yogurt (add some raisins or other fruit) so in closing; control what goes into your body and it will reward you for all your hard work when you exercise.