Vegan Protein Bars: how to choose them?
Sports vegans often struggle to find products capable of satisfying their protein needs without harming the animals. Fortunately, nowadays we can also find 100% vegan protein bars on the market, totally free of products of animal origin.
Vegan Protein Bars help you get the right amount of protein each day to improve sports performance and speed up recovery. Let’s get to know more about vegan protein bars . We will also shed some light on the bars and their use.
We remind you that protein bars, even vegan ones, are not all the same and that they do not belong to the same “family” as diet or energy bars. Vegan protein bars do not contain products of animal origin and can be an exceptional aid to have an extra dose of energy and to correctly cover the protein needs of the athlete by counteracting muscle catabolism.
In our guide on we will help you learn more about the various types of bars and their different characteristics.
Vegan protein bars: the guide
Vegan protein bars contain a dose of about 20 grams of vegetable protein in addition to the presence of carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, mineral salts and other supplements. The best vegan proteins are from soy, rice, pea and hemp.
Are Vegan Protein Bars Bad or Healthy? Again, the truth lies somewhere in between. If the vegan bars are taken correctly they do not cause damage to the body and improve muscle health by reducing the risk of catabolism.
Vegan protein bars are very useful for having a quick, healthy and protein-rich snack without resorting to a shaker and without having to prepare a complete meal. They have the advantage of being pocket-sized and practical and can be taken at any time of the day in extreme practicality. The most used protein sources for the production of vegan bars are:
- Pea protein. Which contain proteins with the best digestibility, with high biological value;
- Hemp protein. The most complete and bioavailable, easy to digest, contain all 21 amino acids and 9 essential amino acids;
- Rice protein. The most similar to those of whey, easily digestible, cholesterol-free and with a high fiber content;
- Soy protein. Rich in proteins, but incomplete due to the long processing to eliminate phytates and estrogens;
- Spirulina protein. They contain over 60% protein, they also have a high content of vitamins such as A, E, K and group B vitamins. They are rich in mineral salts, chlorophyll, enzymes, fatty acids and phytoestrogens.
If you are a vegan sportsman and follow a very intense workout you will need to take protein bars as an aid both before and after the workout to avoid muscle catabolism. Even vegan protein bars must be taken in quantities to be calculated according to your diet.
To calculate the right amount of protein to take, you need to consult a doctor or nutritionist. Don’t forget that the right amount of protein is essential for health, too high a dose can cause liver and kidney damage and fatigue, while too low a dose can cause muscle damage and give rise to persistent fatigue.
Our advice for choosing
To choose the best products, check the ingredients list and prefer healthy products to those that contain fat, salt, aspartame, syrup mixes or unclear ingredients.
When to take Vegan Protein Bars? You can comfortably take them in the morning for breakfast for the right energy to face the day. Before training to increase your performance and to reach your goals and after training to speed up recovery.
They are also essential before going to bed to reduce the damage due to nocturnal catabolism which causes the loss of muscle tissue. If you have any doubts about the correct protein intake, we recommend that you seek the advice of your doctor or nutritionist.
The best vegan protein bars
Let’s get to know together the best vegan protein bars on the market for the health of sportsmen.
Hemp Bars by My Protein . They contain 9.9 g of plant-derived protein and help to have the correct daily protein intake. With the addition of fruit and seeds and with hemp and pea proteins they are tasty, but healthy. They help keep muscles healthy and appease sudden hunger pangs. They contain coconut oil with an excellent fatty acid profile. Each bar contains a whopping 7g of fiber. Available in chocolate and natural flavours.
My Protein Lean Oat Bars . They are rich in fiber and with very little sugar, they are based on toasted oat flakes. The protein content is 10 g of protein per bar, they help maintain muscle mass and speed up recovery. They are thin bars, but tasty and delicious. A small sin of gluttony that dampens hunger pangs without gaining weight. Contains less than 2 g of sugar and can be enjoyed at any time of the day. Available in banoffee and chocolate flavors.
Paleo Bar by Foodspring . They are the specific vegan bars for the Paleo diet but they are also 100% vegan. They contain no chemicals or added sugars. They are based on organic fruit and nuts and are a healthy and tasty 100% Paleo and raw food and cereal-free snack. All ingredients are from organic and sustainable cultivation. They are available in cocoa, blueberry, coconut, passion fruit flavours.
Remember that it is necessary not to exaggerate with the consumption of these bars and that it is necessary to take proteins in the right doses in order not to damage one’s health. To find out what doses you need, ask your trusted nutritionist for help. Now that you know the characteristics of vegan bars well, all you have to do is choose the ones that best suit your tastes and needs.
Don’t forget that vegan protein bars cannot be intended as a substitute for a healthy and wholesome diet and cannot be taken as a meal replacement every day. Train consistently every day and consume healthy foods and you will see that the results will come.
Good training and good healthy eating.
She defines herself as curious by nature. In 2006 she graduated with honors in Biotechnology at the Sapienza University of Rome. Between 2005 and 2009, she carried out a university internship and research activity in the field of tumor immunotherapy. She is a co-author of three scientific publications. Since 2007 you have associated your passion for science with that for the web, starting the management of the FitnessEquilibrium.com project.