Boundless Life A Food Industry Expert Reveals The Shocking Truth About "Healthy" Energy Bars, Protein Bars & Paleo Bars (& How To Choose The Right Bar).
https://bengreenfieldfitness.com/bar
As I described just a few days ago in this comprehensive article "Dirty Little Secrets Of The "Healthy" Energy Bar Industry (& The Shocking Truth About Protein Bars, Paleo Bars & Beyond).", I used to be an energy and "health" bar addict.
I'd easily consume 2-3 energy bars an hour on a long bike ride, always have some kind of satiating healthy "Paleo-ish" bar tucked away somewhere during a run or a long road trip or airplane ride, and would typically be munching on some kind of massive, forearm-sized protein bar while wandering out of the gym after weightlifting.
No wonder I struggled for years with chronically elevated blood sugar, gut rot, excess protein intake, energy level roller coaster rides and toxins in my blood tests. And no wonder so many other folks who depend on health bars as a staple wind up constantly fighting an uphill battle against weight gain, poor energy levels (ironic, right?), bloating, gas, constipation and more.
Why this seeming paradox? Unfortunately, most energy bars are chock full of sugar and starch, which can cause dangerous blood sugar surges and fat formation. And if the sugar gets removed from a bar, it's often replaced with nasty artificial sweeteners that can kill gut bacteria and cause neurotoxicity. Or the bar is packed with so much excess protein that you get ammonia build-up, acidity, insulin spiking and gut issues like bloating, gas and constipation. Finally, from peanuts to soy to whey and beyond, the ingredients of many bars can cause food intolerance reactions, resulting in weight gain, skin, gut and immune system problems and a host of other health issues. Finally, if a bar actually is healthy, it either tastes like cardboard, falls apart in the heat, or is like biting into tree bark in the cold, and simply hasn't been tested "in-the-trenches" by people living hard-charging lives or athletes competing under real conditions that exist outside of some whitewashed food laboratory. And I've only scratched the surface of the issues and the shocking truth about so-called "healthy" energy bars, protein bars, Paleo bars and beyond. In this interview with David Urman, food industry expert, we pull back the curtain on the healthy food industry, and you'll discover the disturbing truth about everything from "natural flavors" to IMO's to processing, preservatives and beyond.
So who is David? David graduated UC Berkeley School of Law and practiced law for 10 years, then jumped into the health and nutrition industry, working initially in medical device management and the production of a cutting-edge breath ketone monitor (which I've discussed on previous shows) and eventually the production of ketogenic friendly foods. So he has a unique background in business, food development and nutrition.
During our discussion, you'll discover:
-How you can measure oxidative stress via a breath test...[13:12]
-How David created a research device that can also measure your level of ketosis via your breath...[12:30 & 15:25]
-The shocking ingredients of one of the top health bars that remains a favorite of the health-conscious...[20:00]
-A notorious, hidden ingredient called "IMO" that is in most bars, and that spikes blood sugar through the roof...[24:50]
-The surprising additives in a bar that are allowed to be called "natural flavors"...[29:10]
-How you can make a bar shelf stable but with minimal preservatives, and not need to be refrigerated or frozen...[38:20]
-How a bar can provide adequate amino acids for recovery without spiking insulin and glucose, or creating mTor, accelerated aging and longevity issues from excess protein...[43:45]
-Quinoa's little known cousin "kaniwa", and the surprising list of nutrients, minerals and antioxidants in kaniwa...[48:07]
-Why the fats combination of white chia seeds, chocolate liquor, cacao nibs, cocoa butter, cocoa solids, coconut flakes and almonds gives a perfect hedonistic combination of fat and taste...[52:40 & 55:00]
-Why organic honey, as a rich source of antioxidants and minerals, offers a slow time-release carbohydrate-based fuel source that actually lowers appetite and increases satiety...[54:07]
-How Spanish almonds, cacao nibs and the chia seeds can provide fiber without the addition of IMO's or synthetic starches...[57:38 & 59:30]
-How much damage the modern pasteurization and long high-heat cooking process used on bars can destroy the nutrient content of the "superfoods" in the bar...[64:40]
-The high-antioxidant capacity of organic honey, almonds, cocoa nibs, kaniwa, chia seeds and chocolate liquor, and how these combined components have very high free radical scavenging capabilities...[68:30]
-Why the NatureBite bar that David and Ben developed took over two years to create and test...[71:30]
-And much more!
Resources from this episode: -Article: Dirty Little Secrets Of The "Healthy" Energy Bar Industry (& The Shocking Truth About Protein Bars, Paleo Bars & Beyond). -Click here to get the NatureBite bar now with an automatic 15% discount through Sunday June 11 - full list of ingredients: organic honey, almonds, cocoa nibs, hydrolyzed gelatin, baby quinoa (kaniwa), white chia seeds, coconut flakes (coconut, sodium metabisulfite), chocolate liquor (roasted and ground cocoa beans), water, organic rice protein, pea protein isolate, sesame seeds, cocoa powder, cocoa butter, sea salt, tocopherols -David's Creative Development Team -Ben's High Carb vs. High Fat Diet podcast with Denise Minger -Book: The Mitochondrial Free Radical Theory of Aging -Measuring ketones -The Revelar breath test for aldehydes and oxidation -The Charlie Foundation -The fascinating studies and research on the health of organic honey
Do you have questions, thoughts or feedback for David or me? Leave your comments at BenGreenfieldFitness.com and one of us will reply! Below are some helpful photos, images and labels for the NatureBite bar we discuss in this episode.
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