Deconstructing the Power Bar

You grab a ZonePerfect Bar or Balance Bar on the way to spin class or when you're feeling too rushed for lunch. It's healthy, right?  Not so fast.

A look through the ingredient label seems more like the science lab kit you may have had as a kid.

And includes a few ingredients that don't really support a healthy lifestyle but may boost inflammation, which may contribute to a host of chronic diseases.

ZonePerfect Bar, Fudge Graham

Soy Protein Nuggets (Isolated Soy Protein, Tapioca Starch, Salt), Chocolate Flavored Coating (Sugar, Fractionated Palm Kernel & Palm Oils, Cocoa [Processed with Alkali], Nonfat Dry Milk, Sorbitan Monostearate, Soy Lecithin, Natural Vanilla Flavor), Corn Syrup, Milk Chocolate Drops (Sugar, Whole Milk Powder, Chocolate Liquor, Cocoa Butter, Milk Fat, Soy Lecithin, Natural Vanilla Flavor), Marshmallow Pieces (Sugar, Corn Starch, Fructose, Soybean Oil, Corn Syrup Solids, Natural Flavors, Salt, Soy Lecithin), Fructooligosaccharides, Milk Protein Isolate, High Oleic Sunflower or High Oleic Safflower Oil, Glycerine. Less than 2% of the Following: Fructose, Natural Flavor, Calcium Phosphate, Water, Xanthan Gum, Soy Lecithin, and Vitamin & Mineral Blend (Calcium Phosphate, Ascorbic Acid [Vit. C], d-Alpha-Tocopheryl Acetate [Vit. E], Magnesium Oxide, Niacinamide [Vit. B3], Zinc Oxide, Calcium Pantothenate [Vit. B5], Ferrous Fumarate [Iron], Pyridoxine Hydrochloride [Vit. B6], Vitamin A Palmitate, Riboflavin [Vit. B2], Thiamine Mononitrate [Vit. B1], Folic Acid [Vit. B9], Chromium Chloride, Biotin [Vit. B7], Sodium Selenite, Sodium Molybdate, Cyanocobalamin [Vit. B12]).

Sugar: 15 g per bar

First, let's address the sugar content. The sugar in Zone Perfect Bars comes from a number of sources, including fructose, corn syrup, and glycerine. a sugar alcohol compound. Corn syrup is 100% glucose, unlike high fructose corn syrup, which contains chemically manipulated fructose as well as glucose. The high fructose variety has been implicated in increased risk of obesity, diabetes, inflammation, and a host of other health problems. Plain old corn syrup like you may have found in grandma's pantry may contain small amounts of the Hi Fru stuff.

Fructose is a monosaccharide, which means after digestion, quickly enters the bloodstream. The sweetener occurs naturally in fruits, honey, agave, and maple syrup. As a food additive, fructose is primarily derived from sugar beets, corn, or sugar cane. Sugar beet and corn crops in the U.S. are primarily genetically modified (GMO.) Much evidence suggests genetically modified crops may cause a number of health problems, including inflammation.

Fructose is metabolized in the liver. Excess use of fructose may lead to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, obesity, increased LDL and triglycerides, metabolic syndrome, gout, accelerated aging, and insulin resistence.

Sugar consumption in the US, derived from sugar, high fructose corn syrup, maltodextrin, and a host of other sugars, has escalated in the past decades and is now considered by many medical experts including Dr. Hyman as a cause of the obesity epidemic.

The World Health Organization recommends a maximum sugar intake of 25 g a day for adults with a healthy BMI. At 15 g, the ZonePerfect bar doesn't leave much room for the sugars found in processed foods or your afternoon fro yo.

The second problematic ingredients are soy derivatives. Upwards of 93% of soy crops in the US are genetically modified or engineered to resist pests. Twenty-six countries have banned or partially banned GMOs. These countires include Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Hungary, Luxembourg, Poland,, Greece, Russia, and Mexico. Sixty countries have placed partial bans.

Soy Protein Isolates may be an especially toxic form of soy and are found in most processed soy foods. As the name suggests, manufacturers isolate protein from the rest of the soy. The chemical process by which the protein is extracted includes a bath in chemicals like aluminum and hexane.The spray drying process results in nitrites. The process eliminates fiber and naturally occuring vitamins and minerals. Soy Protein Isolates may also reduce your body's trypsin, an enzyme that helps you digest protein, which may cause intestinal distress.

Not looking as healthy as a salad or even a green smoothie you prepare at home, is it?

Let's take a look at Fractionated Palm Kernel Oil and Palm Oil. Palm oil is a tropical oil containing saturated fats but also a source of Vitamin E. Fractionated Palm Kernel Oil is processed to have a lower melting point and is used in chocolate coatings of many energy bars. According to Dr. Andrew Weil who promotes an anti-inflammatory diet, fractionated palm kernel oil is the least healthy of the palm oils. First, the oil is extracted from the palm pit using a gasoline-like solvent. Secondly, the process eliminates any healthful properties of palm oil. Fractionated palm kernel oil (and palm oil) are a source of saturated fat.

Registered nutritionist Jessica Siegel, affiliated with the Southern California supermarket chain Gelson's, recommends avoiding energy bars with coatings, fractionated oils, palm and palm kernel oils, and protein bars with coatings to prevent chronic inflammation. Siegel says preventing chronic inflammation may be our best defense against developing many common age-related diseases including heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, as well as  high blood pressure and Type 2 Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome, Obesity, Parkinson's Disease, and immune diseases like Lupus and Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Are there any healthy energy bars?

Larabars, Kind Bars, and other soyfree bars may be a better option but watch calorie and sugar counts. Bars with a date or dried fruit base will contain too much fructose and sugar, even if naturally occuring.

The best way to incorpoate healthful foods in your diet is through unprocessed, clean foods. A health coach can help you meet this goal. Contact me for more information at bethckramer@yahoo.com