Replaced sweets with protein bars and this is what happened. Personal experience

certified nutritional therapist, member of the international association of nutritional therapists

I am a big fan of sweets, but they cause mood swings, depression, fatigue. I’ve tried many times to limit their quantity, but often breakdown. In an attempt to quit, I switched to protein bars and low-calorie chocolate bars. They don’t have as much sugar, so you don’t feel the urge to eat another portion. Plus you get full faster due to the protein in them. And if five years ago it was impossible to eat these substitutes, now many are not inferior to even the most delicious habitual dessert.

Five years ago, when I was studying nutritionology, I found out that protein bars are better than ordinary candy bars, which contain only empty carbohydrates that destroy the body. Additionally, for many athletes, these sweets are a good way to add protein to the diet to help build muscle mass. In terms of taste, they are similar to the taste of familiar bars of well-known brands.

In addition, healthy sweets can be eaten a little more, which is also important to me. For example, one low-calorie candy bar is equal to half of a regular candy bar. This does not mean that I eat them in packs, because sugar and sugar substitutes are also in them, despite the shouting labels “sugar-free”. And no one canceled the principles of rational consumption.

That is, no matter how much marketers lie, healthy sweets have two competitive advantages: protein and calories. They also contain harmful additives. If you eat a lot of both healthy sweets and regular sweets, the extra weight will not go anywhere.

Nevertheless, switching to PP sweets helped me overcome my sugar addiction, stop crashing and feel better.

Doctor’s Opinion

Doctor of nutritionist, gastroenterologist, candidate of medical sciences, clinical pharmacologist

Protein bars typically contain a combination of protein, carbohydrates, fat, and fiber. The type and amount of each of these nutrients can vary from product to product. However, many are high in sugar and sweeteners and may also contain artificial ingredients or sugar alcohols.

One of the main dangers of protein bars is the high sugar content. It is a major source of calories, and excess of it can lead to weight gain, obesity, and other health problems.

In addition, the artificial sweeteners in them lead to headaches and digestive problems. The dangerous sugars are aspartame, fructose. The first is recognized as a carcinogen, and the second threatens the risks of liver obesity.

Excessive use of protein bars can also lead to the fact that the body can no longer cope with the digestion of protein, worsening the work of the gastrointestinal tract. And this is not to mention the allergic reactions that protein can provoke.

Therefore, when choosing between a candy bar and a protein bar, I would rather choose the first option. One and after a full meal.