Energy Bars and Resulting Glycemic Levels
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Energy Bars and Resulting Glycemic Levels
The Atkins’ diet has been sweeping the nation as more and more
Americans struggle to lose weight. Opposed to other diets which require
less fatty foods and more fruits and vegetables, Atkins’ takes a different
approach. The Atkins’ diet suggests that removal of carbohydrates alone
will lead to a thinner and healthier body. Atkins’ encourages intake of
low-carb and high protein foods such as meat, and discourages consumption
of foods high in carbohydrates such as bread. Divergent from proteins,
carboyhdrates store sugars for a longer period of time and eventually turn
into fat. To accommodate the diet, Atkins came out with the low carb
Atkins Advantage energy bar. But losing carbs isn’t the only path to
weight loss as other bars with this macronutrient also affect glycemic
levels (liquid derived from fats). Such bars, including the Balance Bar
and Power Bar, substitute low-glycemic carbs for higher glycemic carbs as
the former have been associated with weight gain and increased blood
cholesterol. A study went underway to determine just how successful the
energy bars are in affecting glycemic levels.
A study took place to see just how effective energy bars are with
glycemic levels. The Atkins Advantage, which in nearly free of carbs, the
Balance Bar, which provides its energy from 40% carbs, 30% protein, and
30% fat, and the Power Bar, that’s high in carbs, all were scientifically
studied to see how well they live up to their names. The bars were
abbreviated LC for low in carbs (Atkins), MC for moderate, (Balance) and
HC for high (Power). The goal of this study was to compare the different
glycemic responses of each bar to wh...
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... leading to faster
processing of fat and muscle gain versus weight gain. The Power bar on
the other hand, which contains more carbs than the average carb substance
such as white bread, is affective when eaten after exercise as it
replenishes loss of glycogen in the muscles. So, each bar under this
study affectively alters glucose levels, but with different results. The
Atkins Advantage, or LC, contains drastically lower carbs leading to
weight loss. The Balance Bar assists in weight loss to a smaller degree
(with have the carbs of bread) but what it lacks in pound shedding makes
up for with energy (from the protein and fats). And finally the high carb
Power bar, with an additional amount of carbs, provides the energy and
muscle aid which in turn can lead to weight loss. In sum, each bar is
functional in their different dietary functions.