There’s a new protein bar on store shelves and it happens to be causing quite the stir in the nutrition community. Advocates of healthy eating, particularly those that point a critical eye toward the growing obesity epidemic, are up in arms over the new MyProtein Protein Choc Chunky Bar. But what could possibly be so scary about a protein bar?
The Big Fat Misconception
While the campaign to end obesity has brought awareness to a growing epidemic and sparked many to make practical changes to develop a healthier lifestyle, the standard of targeting fat as “bad” for us hasn’t changed in quite some time. Increasing amounts of recent research suggest that fat may not be the bad guy we once thought it was, especially for those that follow a low-carb or ketogenic diet.
With the MyProtein Choc Chunky Bar hitting shelves, containing 14 grams of saturated fat per serving, many anti-obesity campaigners are shocked that something touted as healthy could contain over twice as much saturated fat as a McDonald’s Big Mac.
Not for Most, Still for Some
Nutritional guidelines commonly recommend that women should consume less than 20 grams of saturated fat per day, while men should stay under 30 grams. When this is considered, the MyProtein Choc Chunky Bar doesn’t appear to be the smartest dietary choice for most people, though it does still fall within the recommended daily limits for saturated fats.
One thing not considered, however, is that this particular protein bar fits quite well into the daily macros of those that follow a low-carb, high-fat diet like keto. Granted, consuming saturated fats instead of healthier fats isn’t the perfect choice, the MyProtein Chunky Bar does contain 14 grams of protein and only 2.7 grams of sugar.
Making Healthy Food Choices
Protein bars are a great way to grab a quick snack or boost your protein intake after a workout, and there are a variety of choices on the market to cater to many different dietary needs. In this case, the MyProtein bar was designed to be a low sugar, indulgent treat to satisfy cravings while still supplying much-needed protein.
While the MyProtein Choc Chunky Bar wouldn’t be the best choice for children or those following a low-fat diet, the high-fat content doesn’t necessarily make it something we should fear.
NUTRITIONAL DISCLAIMER
The content on this website should not be taken as medical advice and you should ALWAYS consult with your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program. We provide nutritional data for our recipes as a courtesy to our readers. We use Total Keto Diet app software to calculate the nutrition and we remove fiber and sugar alcohols, like erythritol, from the total carbohydrate count to get to the net carb count, as they do not affect your blood glucose levels. You should independently calculate nutritional information on your own and not rely on our data. The website or content herein is not intended to cure, prevent, diagnose or treat any disease. This website shall not be liable for adverse reactions or any other outcome resulting from the use of recipes or recommendations on the Website or actions you take as a result. Any action you take is strictly at your own risk.
Dr. Rosmy Barrios, MD is an aesthetic medicine specialist whose work focuses on patients who are treated for obesity, metabolic syndrome, and other weight-related issues through nutritional analysis, keto diet programs, and supporting medications.
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- Virta Health’s Use of Telemedicine to Treat Diabetics with Keto - September 3, 2018
- New MyProtein Nutrition Bar Disrupts Nutrition Standards - May 24, 2018
