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Everyone has certainly heard of sports bars. Most of us have probably even tried a few. The question always remains – is it just a snack? Or something more – a diet diversification or perhaps a meal replacement? A pre-workout snack?
Common position of the International Olympic Committee
The above document published this year is a kind of compendium of knowledge about supplements used by athletes. It contains quite a bit of information about food substitutes and sweets for athletes - including bars.
Firstly, the authors present various forms of food intended for athletes – bars, alongside gels and drinks, find their place in the group of formulated food dedicated to athletes. They are characterized by greater convenience of use, which at the same time allows their use around exertion – both intensive training and competitions.
Convenience of use is an unquestionable advantage of all types of meal replacements – whether it is a ready-made drink, powder for its preparation, gel or a bar – the time spent on its preparation is much shorter, and the form of administration allows it to be “taken with you” practically anywhere.
Sports bars are often high-protein products – Lean Bar by Activlab is just such a product – 100g contains almost 30g of protein of high biological value , derived from milk protein isolate and soy protein isolate.
Proteins are the basic building block of the human body and a kind of "holy grail" for athletes, especially in bodybuilding and strength disciplines. Without proper protein consumption, the body is unable to function efficiently - produce antibodies and neurotransmitters or hormones, but also ... develop muscle tissue and regenerate damage caused in various tissues as a result of intense effort or injury! Proper protein consumption is one of the basic pillars of achieving and maintaining high sports form.
An important aspect is the low fat content in bars for athletes - accelerating the digestion time and providing protein and energy in a short period of time. Lean Bar meets this condition and provides only 6g of fat in each piece.
What effect can a bar guarantee?
Let's be honest - I can't assure you about the revolutionary impact of sports bars on your life. They won't change your approach to the world and they won't replace solid training. They can't be the basis of your diet either, but they can find their place in it. The bar is supposed to help you compose a full-value menu, provide "rescue" in a difficult situation of lack of time and/or ability to prepare a meal. It can also be a tasty snack or addition before, during or after exercise.
When is it better to reach for a bar?
This is a question that is difficult to answer directly. Of course, it is impossible to convince anyone to replace food with a conventional snack in the form of a bar, but - as mentioned above - often the situation itself can "force" us to do so.
Personally, I am a proponent of having "something for a rainy day" in your car/backpack/bag - it gives you the opportunity to reach for a nutritious snack during a prolonged meeting, an unplanned life situation or an above-average traffic jam in a metropolis. In such situations, you often reach for what is "at hand" - a hot dog from a nearby gas station, a classic candy bar or a packet of cookies from a supermarket you come across on the way. Analyze - is it more sensible to reach for a large reservoir of sugar and highly processed fats, questionable quality sausages covered in mayonnaise sauce or a bar based on high-quality protein and polyols? The answer seems obvious. Sure - if you have an omelette, stew with rice or tasty sandwiches with you - eat conventionally, but if you are choosing between a poor quality snack and a bar - always choose sports food.
Another application may be consumption around exercise. You don't always have the opportunity to take a meal with you, or a lot of fruit to compose a quick and nutritious post-workout meal. The same applies when consuming meals during long-term exertion - gels and drinks with amino acids and carbohydrates are a great choice, but athletes often want something with a slightly more solid consistency. Here, it is also worth considering reaching for bars!
A bar is a certain alternative that should not be forgotten. Surely you have often found yourself in a situation where "food failed" (if you can put it that way) or you simply felt like "something sweet". In such situations, an alternative prepared especially for active people - providing protein and carbohydrates, and at the same time very tasty - will be the perfect choice for you.
Literature:
https://journals.humankinetics.com/doi/pdf/10.1123/ijsnem.2018-0020
High Whey Protein Bar
De Luxe Lean Bar 
