What You Need to Know About Paleo Protein Bars

 

Click HERE to Discover these 80 Keto-Friendly and Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes

Paleo Protein Bars: What’s the Honest Truth?

Do you travel often? If so, you might have some trouble finding high quality Paleo protein bars to take on the road with you. But have no fear – today we will review the nutrition of all sorts of Paleo bars available on the market.

Now, there is certainly truth in the notion that a processed food bar wouldn’t be strictly Paleo – but there is also a need in today’s world to have some sort of portable option. And ultimately, these bars are a great alternative to stopping at a fast food restaurant.

Paleo protein bars are great for traveling, as an emergency snack – or at any other time when you may not have extra minutes to prepare a whole meal!

Benefits of Paleo Protein Bars

In general, there are some serious advantages to not having to cart around a chicken leg or grass-fed steak in order to eat healthier. No doubt we all have times in life (traveling, meetings, running late, etc.) when we simply cannot get to a hearty home-cooked meal.

These bars help you to stay Paleo – even when stuck on an airplane for 10 hours, or in a hotel room in the middle of nowhere. All-too-often I have found myself stuck between the choices of a fast food hamburger, or a greasy slice of pizza. Not ideal.

Paleo bars have a richer nutritional profile than most of the other processed food bars out there. Being gluten-free and dairy-free, these bars won’t push you off the healthy path you’ve carved out for yourself. And as the Paleo movement moves more into the mainstream – these bars are becoming much more widely available.

Protein Bar Products

Now, we move on to the individual brands. Remember – you can also make your own Paleo protein bars (or Muscle-Building Cocoa Balls). In fact, this may be more cost effective, if you are really looking to consume protein bars on a regular basis.

Having the occasional Paleo bar is great when you’re in a rush but shouldn’t start replacing real, whole food on a regular basis. Remember – that’s ultimately why these products are here – to help you when you don’t have time to bake or cook. So without further ado, here are some of the best Paleo protein bars!

RXBars

Arguably the most well-known of the “Paleo” bars, RXBars are a staple among the CrossFit community. With minimal ingredients, “no BS”, and a delicious taste, these bars are hard to beat.

There are no GMOs, no dairy, no gluten, and no soy – in any of the RXBar flavors. Packed with 12 grams of protein in each bar, RXBars are a great way to get quality protein on the run.

For those that want a sweeter taste than beef jerky, RXBars should be your go-to traveling choice. My personal favorite is the blueberry flavor. Dig in!

NoGii

NoGii has a wide variety of protein bars, but their Paleo choice is truly best. With a huge amount of flavor, and large availability at many different chain stores, these are a great choice – no matter where you find yourself.

Another added benefit of these bars, is the complete lack of high fructose corn syrup. Most comparable bars of these quality, are loaded with tons of artificial ingredients and sweeteners.

Yuck. Don’t fall into that trap. NoGii Paleo bars are ultimately a perfect gluten-free, dairy-free and soy-free choice. Find some, and then buy them in bulk!

The Paleo Diet Bar

Relatively newer on the marketplace, is The Paleo Diet Bar. These bars are even officially endorsed by Dr. Loren Cordain himself. With no gluten, dairy, soy or preservatives, they fit the exact mold of a perfect Paleo choice. They are, however, a little bit harder to find. So if you’re looking to purchase these bars, it’s best to order them online.

These Paleo Diet bars are also a little bit higher in calories and sugar, so they should be consumed in 2 servings, if you’re looking to keep these elements of your diet in check. I personally like the cranberry almond flavor best, but there is also the tasty cinnamon raisin flavor. Best of all, the newest formulation of The Paleo Diet Bar has 17 grams of protein – not too shabby!

Rise’s Almond Honey Protein Bar

Even though it is less well known, Rise’s Almond Honey Protein Bar has only 3 ingredients: almonds, honey and whey protein isolate. Hard to argue with simplicity! Whey makes these bars extremely rich for muscle-building, with 20 grams of protein.

If you’re okay with the whey protein, you’ll find that this hidden gem is one of the top bar choices in terms of protein to sugar ratio. With only 3 ingredients, and coming in at just under 300 calories – these bars are also great for buying in bulk.

If you’re extra sensitive to dairy, you may want to pass on these. And if you’re not extra sensitive to dairy? It’s definitely hard to beat the simplicity of just three ingredients. Even some of the best Paleo bars have way more than 3 simple ingredients. So make sure you give these bars a try.

AMRAP’s Refuel Bar

AMRAP’s Refuel Bar is another newer entry into the marketplace, and possesses a slightly different formula than most Paleo bars. With 15 grams of protein, these are definitely a great choice for a healthy snack on the go.

AMRAP’s Refuel bars also offer a solid dose of healthy fat in the form of coconut. Yum. And as the name suggests, it may be best to consume these bars right around your post-workout window.

While I’m personally a fan of the almond and honey flavor, there are also 2 other flavors to choose from, so try all three, to decide which one you like best.

EPIC Bars

This brings us to our last item to review today, EPIC Bars. These fan favorites offer a completely different take on the classic protein bar formula.

EPIC Bars contain grass-fed beef – making them much closer to a portable steak than a protein bar! In terms of taste, these bars are similar to beef jerky, only softer. The bacon flavor is by far my personal favorite.

Recently, EPIC has come out with EPIC bites, EPIC bits and a ‘hunt and harvest’ mix – giving you even more delicious options when traveling. If you’re looking for a protein bar that’s lower in sugar – and a little stricter Paleo – EPIC Bar is definitely the right choice for you.

Check out their nutrition facts below!

The Bottom Line

While real food is always best, no one is perfectly Paleo, all of the time. The bars listed in this article are great for airplanes, long road trips – or even crunch times when you don’t have a snack or meal ready.

But none of these bars contain a substantial amount of vegetables, either – so make sure they do not become the sole backbone of your diet. In practice, I keep a good selection of different bars in my pantry, so – in case of emergencies – I’m always prepared.

Watch this video – How to Make No Bake Paleo Protein Bars Recipe

Written by Casey Thaler

Author Bio:

Casey Thaler, B.A., NASM-CPT, FNS is an NASM® certified personal trainer and NASM® certified fitness nutrition specialist. He writes for Paleo Magazine®, The Paleo Diet® and Greatist®. He is also an advisor for Kettle and Fire and runs his own nutrition and fitness consulting company, Eat Clean, Train Clean®.

A lot of people have gotten results from the Keto diet, and enjoyed the foods that it has to offer. However, many of the people who are following this diet have a hard time finding the recipes that they need, especially ones that are quick and easy to complete.

Fortunately, Kelsey Ale, noticed this problem, and decided to do something about it. She’s found that making recipes in a slow cooker gives you meals which are not only delicious, but also take very little time to make. Mostly you just put a few simple ingredients in the slow cooker, and let it do the rest.

To find out more, click on – Keto Slow Cooker Cookbook

10 Paleo Sources of Protein That Aren’t Meat Revealed Here

Click HERE to Discover these 80 Keto-Friendly and Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes

Vegans, vegetarians and Paleo groups all have a shared common goal – making sure they get enough protein every day. Here are the best vegetarian-friendly protein sources we know.

While it may be more difficult for the non-meat eaters, finding high-quality protein sources is still essential for every type of eater.

That’s Not Enough Protein, Though!

The good news is that like most of the nutrients found in quality food, a little bit goes a long way. If we look back to our hunter and gatherer days, we find that our primitive brother ate a lot less meat, usually around 20% of his total diet, a far cry from how much the average American consumes daily today.

One of the differences in how our Paleo ancestors ate is that the quality of their protein was always top notch. This shows us that, in terms of protein and food consumption, quality is far more important than quantity.

While protein is essential for our bodies to function properly, we only need so much.

A lot of individuals have the idea that they are what they eat, but they are too busy counting macronutrients and not focused at all on the quality of their nutrients or whether or not they are bioavailable (meaning, if they digest well in the human body).

Our primitive brother ate a lot less meat, usually around 20% of his total diet.

Studies suggest that we only need so much protein to stay healthy. For graceful aging we need about 30-40 grams of protein for the optimal dose to best promote (post-exercise) muscle protein synthesis rates in older adults. Any more than that is likely to be too much.

If we ignore these things, we can end up with too much unusable and undigested protein, which is associated with several diseases such as kidney disease. 

More importantly, we want to eat a diet that has plenty of variety, rather than isolate and specialize on any single nutrient. Including more protein sources from plants will also offer more health benefits, including more fiber and nutrients.

We don’t need to be worrying about protein intake so much, but should focus instead on a diet that is rich in a variety of whole foods.

If you are consuming a whole food diet like a Paleo diet, then chances are you are getting enough protein, regardless of whether you are consuming copious amounts of meat or not.

The bottom line is that we can get lots of healthy protein sources from veggies, algae and other plant life. There are lots of nutrient-dense foods with high protein content; here are some of the top plant-based protein sources:

The Top 10 Best Non-Meat Protein Sources

Before we begin, let’s point out some non-meat protein options to avoid. It’s best to say no to both soy and most commercial whey.

Unfermented soy can cause thyroid problems, and most commercial whey is high-heated, which denatures the protein.

In addition, a lot of commercial whey contains artificial sweeteners like aspartame and sucralose, which have strong associations with diabetes and obesity.

If you are going to consume whey, make sure it’s 100% grass-fed and non-denatured. 

Other than that, there are plenty of other options for getting your protein; here is a list of stuff that’s really high in protein:

Chlorella

This green algae is loaded with protein. More specifically, it has a 62% amino acid content and is considered one of the most complete foods on the planet. It has every essential amino acid and is a complete protein.

Plus, it contains minerals, enzymes, chlorophyll and almost too much to mention in just one bullet point! It has beta-carotene (vitamin A), C, E, K, B1, B2, B6, B12, niacin, pantothenic acid, RNA, DNA, folic acid, biotin, choline, and inositol; just to name a few.

Additionally, it boosts the immune system immensely, helps digestion, alkalizes, and heals intestinal lining, toxins and heavy metals from the body.

Chlorella enhances health and muscle growth, Increases the concentration of hemoglobin in red blood cells (for iron and oxygen), helps reduce cholesterol, and helps the liver detox. It is best taken on an empty stomach at least 20 minutes before other food. 

Nutritional Yeast

This cheesy-tasting topping also has all the essential amino acids. It also contains nucleic acid, which is vital for proper cell development. It’s a great source of B vitamins, high in minerals, protein, and helps the liver breaks down fats, which is good for acne and skin problems.

It’s a good plant source of glutathione, which boosts immune response and detoxification. Its chromium triggers insulin action, making it good for diabetes. It also neutralizes bowel irritation, soothes inflammation and restores normal bowel movements.

Overall, it has great immune-enhancing properties and provides good energy. Put a couple tablespoons in water or a smoothie or on a salad every day. 

Sea Vegetables

Most seaweed is at least 50% protein and pound-for-pound can compete head-to-head with animal proteins. Sea greens have more minerals than any other food.

Sea vegetables are also the best source of iodine, which is needed for healthy thyroid. Examples include, kelp, kombu, arame, wakame, nori, and dulse.

You can get powdered kelp and add it to smoothies, soups, and salads, or make entire meals out of it. Eat it every day if you can; add it to soups for an easy way to incorporate it into your diet!

Bee Pollen

Bee Pollen is one of the most complete foods we have. It’s loaded with incredibly easy-to-digest amino acids and so many other wonderful benefits I will explain in the next article. To know whether you have a good batch or not you can do the water test – if it sinks, it is good, if it floats, it is likely rancid.

Tocotrienols

Otherwise known as rice bran solubles, they are a creamy powder that makes an excellent superfood ice cream. If you’re going to do protein powder, this is a good one. This is also the very best source of serious vitamin E.

Acai Berry

This delicious Amazonian berry is one of the only fruits that contains both an array of amino acids and fatty acids. It has almost an identical protein and amino acid profile as an egg.

Durians

Though to many, this fruit smells really bad, it is definitely worth it.

Durians are a great source of protein and a favorite food of orangutans, elephants, tigers other powerful wild animals. They also have high levels of tryptophan, which is great for depression and insomnia.

Tip: While many people find durians to be stinky, freezing them helps mitigate the smell.

This also raises brain serotonin levels, which makes you feel good. You can get them in Asian markets.

Here’s a tip: the frozen kind are not as smelly. Leave them in the sink overnight to thaw and make a custard out of it in a high-speed blender for a protein-packed post-workout meal. 

Hemp Seeds

This wonder seed packs 30 grams of protein per tablespoon! It’s a very popular source of protein in the health world and you’ve likely heard of this one.

Hemp seeds contain many minerals, on top of containing all 9 essential amino acids and omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.

Mesquite Meal

This smoky but sweet powder has been used as a staple food for centuries by desert dwellers. It is actually high in protein, with good quantities of calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron and zinc, as well as lots of the amino acid lysine.

Best of all, it contains a sweet, rich molasses-like flavor with a hint of caramel, making it great for unique smoothie blends. Try pairing it with raw cacao and maca for a protein-rich and mouth-watering shake.

Eggs

We can’t talk about non-meat proteins and not mention eggs; they are perhaps one of the world’s healthiest foods. Here’s a tip you might not know, though. The best way to consume the egg is of course raw, but not the whole thing.

Raw eggs contain strong enzyme inhibitors in the yolk membrane, which requires extra enzymes from the pancreas to digest. Cooking destroys these enzyme inhibitors. But once cooked, the delicate fats and nutrients like biotin in the yolk can be destroyed.

One way around this is to poke a tiny hole in the yolk and suck out the contents into your mouth, leaving the yolk sac behind. Or, for a less primal way of eating them, you could poach them. Yum.

Fasting for Protein Digestion

Think you need to consume protein all day long? Think again. Studies performed at Cornell University showed that when a person fasts for 24 hours, the body doesn’t lose any protein, only fat. Bodybuilders who fast one day a week actually gain more muscle mass faster because the body is cleaner and more efficient.

Watch this video – 10 Best Plant-Based Protein Sources

Written by Nick Kowalski

Author Bio:

Nick Kowalski is a Transformational Coach, fitness model and unconditional lover. You can find more of his writing on his blog NicksFit. His mission is to inspire the transformation toward love consciousness. Follow him on Instagram for more living in love inspiration and transformational mindset motivation!

A lot of people have gotten results from the Keto diet, and enjoyed the foods that it has to offer. However, many of the people who are following this diet have a hard time finding the recipes that they need, especially ones that are quick and easy to complete.

Fortunately, Kelsey Ale, noticed this problem, and decided to do something about it. She’s found that making recipes in a slow cooker gives you meals which are not only delicious, but also take very little time to make. Mostly you just put a few simple ingredients in the slow cooker, and let it do the rest.

To find out more, click on – Keto Slow Cooker Cookbook

How to Choose the Best Paleo Protein Powder?

 

Click HERE to Discover these 80 Keto-Friendly and Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes

A true Paleo diet centers around fresh foods, but sometimes you need something a little extra. Here’s how to find a Paleo protein powder that complements, not wrecks, your diet.

Finding a Paleo protein powder can be really tricky, especially with all the different labels and ingredients out there.

Here are the ingredients that make (or break) a Paleo protein powder, so you can choose a product from the shelf with ease.

What Makes a Protein Supplement Paleo-Friendly?

Many of the same Paleo guidelines that apply to food also apply to protein powders.

You’ll want to look for high-quality protein sourced from grass-fed animals or organic plants.

You’ll also want to avoid chemicals, fillers, and allergens. If you see any of these ingredients listed on the label, skip it:

• Whey or other dairy products
• Emulsifiers, like soy lecithin
• Bulking agents, like Xanthan gum
• Vegetable oils

Here’s a closer look at what ingredients to look for in a Paleo protein powder, and which you should avoid.

1. A Healthy Protein Source

First, start with a Paleo-friendly protein base. Popular protein powders are often derived from whey or casein protein, which are sourced from dairy. You’ll also want to avoid soy.

Instead, look for dairy-free options like beef protein isolate. A grass-fed, hormone-free product is your best option. Collagen peptides from fish or beef are another great choice, as collagen can help prevent aging and improve gut health. They might not technically be labelled as protein powders, but they often contain a good dose of around 10g of protein per scoop.

Look for: beef protein isolate, collagen peptides, egg white protein, pumpkin seed protein, and hemp protein
Avoid: Soy protein, whey protein, casein protein

2. No Added Sugars

Many protein powder manufacturers (yes, even the organic ones) add sugar to improve the flavor and texture of their protein powders. Since you’re most likely adding a Paleo protein powder to your diet to improve your health or give your exercise regime a boost, the last thing you want is to be indulging in extra sugars every day, especially since they add unnecessary calories and send your blood sugar on a roller coaster.

If you can’t find anything completely free of sugar, at least look for healthy sweeteners. Dried fruits will still provide some nutrients, and if you can find something with stevia or monk fruit, it might even be keto-friendly.

Look for: Stevia, monk fruit, or whole dried fruits as sweeteners
Avoid: Fructose, corn syrup, cane sugar, glucose syrup

3. No Fake Sweeteners

To cut out some of those added sugars, protein powder companies are also fond of swapping them with no-calorie artificial sweeteners. Some of the most popular are aspartame, maltodextrin, and sucralose.

While these reduce the calorie count in a powder, they come with their own scary side effects. Sucralose in particular can reduce the amount of good bacteria in your gut, and also raises your risk of developing diabetes from raised insulin and glucose levels.

Aspartame is also pretty bad, as it creates DNA-damaging oxidative stress and causes widespread inflammation.

Your best bet is to avoid all artificial sweeteners in a protein powder, with the exception being stevia and monk fruit, which is extracted from the stevia leaf and monk fruit.

Look for: Stevia, monk fruit, or whole dried fruits as sweeten
Avoid: Aspartame, sucralose, maltodextrin

4. No Artificial or “Natural” Flavors

Protein powders come in all kinds of flavors, from standard vanilla to cookies and cream. Unfortunately, these flavors are most likely made with chemical or artificial flavoring. These can be made by combining artificial sweeteners with an oil and chemicals to give mixtures a “creamy” flavor and appealing texture.

One of these common chemicals is polysorbate-60, which animal studies show can increase the incidence of stomach cancers and diarrhea.

It’s also important to note that “natural” flavors often aren’t from nature at all. Instead, this is an umbrella term for molecules or compounds taken from a natural source, then combined with unnatural flavors. While the source may be natural, the end result is not. It’s best to stick to truly natural flavors whenever possible.

Look for: Vanilla bean, pure vanilla extract, or cacao powder (not cocoa)
Avoid: Terms like natural flavors, artificial flavors, cream flavor, natural vanilla flavour

5. No Gums or Bulking Agents

Many protein powders contain bulking agents, thickeners, and gums to improve their texture, making them rich and creamy.

The problem with thickeners and gums is that even natural ones, like seaweed-derived carrageenan, shows in animal studies to cause inflammation, alter gut bacteria, and even interfere with the hormone insulin. It’s best to stick with thickeners that don’t cause irritation.

Look for: Arrowroot or tapioca starch
Avoid: Xanthan gum, guar gum, carrageenan, cellulose gum

6. Look for Organic

Look for protein powders that are labelled as grass-fed, non-GMO, and organic. This ensures your powder is sourced from healthy animals, non-chemical treated plants or plant extracts, and contains no genetically engineered ingredients, whose long-term health effects aren’t clear.

Look online if the label is unclear. The best protein powder companies will list additional information on their websites to include where their ingredients were sourced and processed.

Look for: Grass-fed, non-GMO, organic labels
Avoid: Anything else

7. No Artificial Colors or Food Dyes

Protein powder companies may also use artificial food dyes to enhance the color of their product. For example, pink coloring is added to make a strawberry-flavored powder more appealing.

Unfortunately, food dyes can have toxic effects. Studies show dyes like Red #3 can cause cancer in animals, and Yellow #5 can damage genes. In addition, many dyes were found in studies to be contaminated with other cancer-causing compounds

Avoid names like: Green #3 or Yellow #5 in favor of naturally-derived colorings.

Look for: Turmeric, beet powder, cacao
Avoid: Food dyes labelled Green, Red, or Yellow, followed by a number.

The Bottom Line

Protein powders can have a place in your Paleo diet if you know what to look for – and what to avoid. Follow these guidelines when checking the label to find the healthiest powder on the market.

Watch these 2 videos below to learn how to choose the best paleo protein powder –

Paleo Protein Powders: Are They “Paleo?”

Protein Powder Review – The BEST Protein Powder To Buy & What To Avoid!

Take the guesswork out of the equation and check out these 10 best Paleo-friendly protein powders on the market.

Written by Megan Patiry

Author Bio:

Megan is an inquisitive nutrition and wellness writer harboring an editorial love affair with the decadent and the nutritious. She is a dedicated researcher in all areas of ancestral health, a certified specialist in fitness nutrition, personal trainer, and professional almond milk latte addict.

A lot of people have gotten results from the Keto diet, and enjoyed the foods that it has to offer. However, many of the people who are following this diet have a hard time finding the recipes that they need, especially ones that are quick and easy to complete.

Fortunately, Kelsey Ale, noticed this problem, and decided to do something about it. She’s found that making recipes in a slow cooker gives you meals which are not only delicious, but also take very little time to make. Mostly you just put a few simple ingredients in the slow cooker, and let it do the rest.

To find out more, click on – Keto Slow Cooker Cookbook