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What Makes a Vegan Protein Bar Healthy?

What Makes a Vegan Protein Bar Healthy?

Plant based protein bars are a convenient tool to have in your nutritional arsenal when in need of a delicious protein pick me up.

Whilst it can’t be disputed that they are a handy snack when on-the-go, whether they are healthy or not, has always been up for debate.

Some claim they are nothing more than glorified candy bars, whilst other argue that they are the perfect, protein packed, snack of choice.

Here at Protein Works, we’ve decided to finally set the record straight, once and for all.

Let’s take an in-depth look at what’s inside and if plant powered bars can actually be of benefit to our health.

Is the verdict ‘Healthy’ or ‘Hype’?… Let’s find out.

Protein Packed

Not to point out the obvious, but when choosing a protein bar, we of course want it to be full of protein.

The majority of protein bars on the market today use whey as their primary protein source, but being a by-product of the cheese industry, these of course, won’t be suitable for vegans.

Fortunately, there are plenty of plant based protein sources available out there!

The most commonly used source in vegan bars is soy isolate, which is a complete protein, meaning it contains all nine essential amino acids and it also has been shown to have the added benefit of reducing your risk of cardiovascular disease. (1)

Other commonly used plant protein sources include pea , hemp, brown rice and wheat, all of which come with their own unique health benefits

Dairy Free

The first health benefit of dairy free protein bars is that they don’t contain any lactose, music to the ears of those of us who are lactose intolerant, which as it turns out, is quiet a lot of us – up to 70% in fact. (2)

The other benefit plant based protein has over whey is the benefits of Phytoestrogens.

Studies have shown the plant hormone, mainly isoflavone, has proven protective effects on cardiovascular disease, whilst reducing total cholesterol, lowering blood pressure and improving heart function (4)

Alongside these benefits there is also research to suggest that the intake of Phytoestrogens can reduce the risk of some cancers and improve bone density. (3)

Full of Fibre

Being plant based, it will come as no surprise that vegan protein bars come with a healthy dose of fibre, which means they will go down just as easily as they go in.

Fibre is essential for a healthy digestive system, unfortunately it’s often a part of our diets that we neglect.

Most plant based bars generally contain anywhere from 5-10 grams of dietary fibre, making them a great way to reach the Governments recommended daily dose of 30 grams.

So, what’s the health benefits?

Well there’s almost too many to mention, but some of the significant ones are (deep breath) lower risk of: coronary heart disease, stroke, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure and cholesterol levels (4)

Not forgetting that fibre is great for keeping you feeling fuller for longer, making a vegan protein bar a great breakfast or early afternoon option, to keep you going throughout the day or as an evening snack to stave off any late night hunger pangs.

Final Verdict: Healthy

References

  1. Ramdath DD, Padhi EM, Sarfaraz S, Renwick S, Duncan AM. Beyond the Cholesterol-Lowering Effect of Soy Protein: A Review of the Effects of Dietary Soy and Its Constituents on Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease. Nutrients. 2017;9(4)
  2. Lactose Intolerance (online) Available at: www.nutrition.org.uk/nutritionscience/allergy/lactose-intolerance (Accessed 22 June 2020)
  3. Desmawati D, Sulastri D. Phytoestrogens and Their Health Effect. Open Access Maced J Med Sci. 2019;7(3)
  4. Lissin LW, Cooke JP. Phytoestrogens and cardiovascular health. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2000;35(6):
  5. Anderson JW, Baird P, Davis RH Jr, et al. Health benefits of dietary fiber. Nutr Rev. 2009;67(4)
  6. Craig WJ, Mangels AR; American Dietetic Association. Position of the American Dietetic Association: vegetarian diets. J Am Diet Assoc. 2009;109(7)

 

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