Looking for Low Carb Bars?

Low carb bars and snack foods are trending with high protein diets taking center stage these days. Before you shrug off a bar or snack that's higher in carbs, it’s best to know what you’re looking for. There are benefits to both low carb bars and high carb bars, depending on your dietary needs and physical activity level. Few four-letter words carry more weight than the dreaded carb. Even though carbohydrates can be considered "bad", it’s important to know what they are and how to get the right amount in your diet.

So what’s the deal with carbs?

Which carbs ones are good and which ones are bad? Quite simply, carbohydrates are molecular-chained sugar, starch and cellulose groups, both in long and short form, that, when broken down (digested) in the body convert to energy by feeding our blood, brain and cells. Carbohydrates are known as macro-nutrients, which are essential nutrients that provide the body with calories (energy) for human growth. The other two macro-nutrients are fats and proteins. It’s important to get the right balance.

Simple carbohydrates refer to single-chain molecules that are easily broken down and converted to energy the fastest--think sugar rush. Processed sugar is a simple carbohydrate known to spike blood sugar. Often simple carbohydrates are referred to as “empty carbs” because in processed foods, many of the balancing nutrients that take longer to digest and absorb are stripped away so we can get a quick hit of energy. Often, the foods and snacks that contain simple carbohydrates are filled with simple sugars and syrups designed to enter the bloodstream quickly for energy. The downside to simple carbohydrate ingredients is that if you don’t use the energy by being active right away, the sugars in the bloodstream will be stored as fat. Not all simple carbs are bad, since there are times when we need energy quickly. Fruits are simple carbohydrates and are generally healthy for us. Complex carbohydrates are longer-chained molecules in foods that take longer to break down and digest, therefore providing your body with more energy over a longer period of time. Complex carbs are your body's primary source of fuel. They support metabolism and digestion, and are a good source of fiber. Find healthy complex carbs in foods such as bananas, sweet potatoes, oats, brown rice and other whole grains, nuts, seeds and legumes.

Are you looking for low carb bars or high carb bars?

If you’re looking for a meal replacement, look for a low carb bar or a high carb bar with complex or whole, healthy carbs. If you want a bar for your run or workout, you would probably prefer a bar with higher carbs, but look for simple carbohydrates so you can utilize the energy right away. Most importantly, know that high carb bars are likely to cause weight gain if you’re not active while eating them. GoMacro MacroBars are not low carb bars but our MacroBars have a good balance of carbs, healthy fats and proteins from real food ingredients that give your body a sustained energy. GoMacro uses infant-safe brown rice syrup and coconut palm sugar as sweeteners, when combined with the right amount of protein and healthy fats, you can use the energy right away or rely on it for a sustained period of time avoiding a blood sugar spike. GoMacro's gluten-free protein bars provide sustained energy from real food ingredients such as nuts, oils and fruits in addition to our plant-based pea protein for a balance of all three macro-nutrients. Even though GoMacro MacroBars are not considered "low carb bars" they are healthy energy bars that support a healthy lifestyle.

Sources:

http://www.onegreenplanet.org/vegan-food/benefits-of-complex-carbs-and-the-best-ones-to-eat/

http://www.everydayhealth.com/diet-nutrition/101/nutrition-basics/good-carbs-bad-carbs.aspx

http://www.medicaldaily.com/prepost-workout-nutrition-what-you-should-eat-and-after-gym-build-muscle-296448