Energy Bars and Resulting Glycemic Levels

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...

... middle of paper ...

... 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.