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By Victoria HM
Published on: October 13, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Energy or cereal bars, which are promoted as a quick and “healthy” alternative to satisfy hunger or supplement the diet, are actually, in most cases, a poor choice from a nutritional point of view
Although their image is associated with sports, active living or a balanced diet, scientific evidence shows that many of these bars contain high levels of sugar, saturated fats and additives , which makes them far from being a healthy food.
The main problem is that they are presented as a “fitness” or “natural” snack , which can create a false sense of health and encourage their regular consumption.
What’s behind the famous “healthy” bars?
There are different types of bars or snacks; the most common are sweets made with cereals, fruits and nuts, or chocolate. Are they a healthy product?
Energy bars are convenient, easy to store and transport, and can be a handy snack, but they’re neither healthy nor very nutritious, nor are they the best option. They generally contain a lot of sugar and, above all, additives and other ingredients typical of ultra-processed products.
The bars are generally very sweet, as on average they provide 26% sugar, which means that ¼ of the bar is sugar; we have even found bars where half is sugar.
Therefore, it’s recommended to read the ingredient list beforehand and make sure that sugar or syrups aren’t among the first ingredients. Although it may seem paradoxical, chocolate bars aren’t the sweetest (many of them are sweetened): the highest sugar levels are found in fruit and nut bars.
Many unnecessary additives
The ingredient list of some cereal bars can contain up to 7 additives. A real “cocktail of additives”! The truth is, there are many, and they are often unnecessary: proof of this is that it’s possible to find bars without additives. This is the case with bars made only of nuts or of fruit and nuts; they have no additives
Not only does quantity matter, but safety does too. There are additives whose use is completely acceptable , but the presence of certain texturizing agents has also been identified whose use is considered “not recommended.”
Looking at the ingredient list again, it’s easy to see how some bars include substances that bear no resemblance to anything you’d find in your kitchen cupboard. These include flavorings, fructose syrups, or inverted sugar . All of this reveals that these are highly processed products, meaning they are ultra-processed.
Fortunately, it is possible to find bars with a fairly short list of ingredients, such as the aforementioned bars made only of nuts or a combination of fruit and nuts.
The simpler, the better
Fortunately, the bars are small, so the total amount of sugar or fat in one serving cannot be very high .
In fact, one could say that what saves cereal bars is that they are bars, that is, small in size: everything is ingested in smaller quantities and their impact, especially nutritionally, is less.
The recommendation is that, although it may seem small, it’s best to limit yourself to just one bar . And if you have to choose, it’s better to opt for one of the simplest bars, those with only nuts, and preferably avoid chocolate ones.
Nutritionists recommend reserving these types of products only for specific situations , such as intense sporting activities or food emergencies, and always opting for versions without added sugars or hydrogenated oils.
In short, energy bars are not the ideal substitute for a balanced breakfast or snack . Frequent consumption can contribute to weight gain, blood sugar imbalances, and a poor relationship with food.
Original:https://www.ecoticias.com/vida-saludable/barritas-mala-idea-opcion-poco-saludable
