Bar Exam - energy bars

Nutrition Action Healthletter, Dec, 2000 by Bonnie Liebman, David Schardt

Supplement Bars

"Just taste these delicious, satisfying new energy sources for women," say ads for Viactiv. "Boost bars are the ideal snack and help give you the energy to do the things you want to do," says the company's Web site.

Yes, you do get calories from these bars. You also get the same vitamins and minerals that you'd find in a vitamin pill. The main difference is that someone might take a pill along with a bowl of lentil soup, a plate of stir-flied vegetables and chicken, or a fruit salad. But Mead Johnson's clever marketing for its Boost bars persuades people--especially women--to eat a fortified candy bar instead of real food ... and to think they're healthier and more energetic as a result.

Soy protein bars like GeniSoy and Soy Sensations may help lower your cholesterol. But it's too early to say if their phytoestrogens can cut the risk of breast and prostate cancers. In fact, some preliminary studies suggest that consuming more soy may raise the risk of breast cancer in some people (see Nutrition Action, Sept. 1999 and Jan./Feb. 2000).

And soy isn't the only new twist. Think! bars sell nothing less than brain power. As if the name weren't enough, the labels and the company Web site (www.thinkproducts.com) note that the bars have "ginkgo biloba to stay sharp" and other "mind-enhancing" ingredients, which have an "impact on brain and nerve cell function." But don't expect the company to supply evidence to back up its claims.

"We're not claiming it helps you think," insists Garrett Jennings, the inventor of Think!, the "Food for Thought" bar. Think! bars contain Jennings's secret blend of amino acids, fatty acids, and herbs.

Good published studies show no significant impact on thought or memory in people given the amounts of ginkgo or ginseng (60 mg each) or the other ingredients in Think! Bars. (A recent study found that 160 mg of a proprietary blend of ginseng and ginkgo modestly improved the "quality' of memory in middle-aged men and women, but until it's published, we can't draw any conclusions.)

"But if somebody feels great after a Think! bar," asks Jennings, "who cares if that's just a placebo effect?"

THE BOTTOM LINE

* The word "energy" on any label simply means that the food supplies calories, not that eating it will make you more energetic.

* Eating healthy, whole foods like fruits and vegetables beats eating energy bars because foods contain phytochemicals and other constituents that aren't added to bars.

[1] J. Strength Cond. 10:1996.

[2] J. Amer. Diet. Assoc. 100: 97, 2000.

[3] Ann. Nutr. Metab. 44: 21, 2000.

[4] J. Exercise Physiol. (online) 2: 24, 1999.

The information for this article was compiled by Jackie Adriano.