How can the diet solution program benefit you professionally?

Posted on July 17, 2011 by admin

The Diet Solution Program is made for the individuals who always wanted to get rid of their weight but failed each and every time. Besides helping weight reduction the Diet Solution Program can also be perfect for people who desire to manage health conditions like diabetes high cholesterol and heart disease.

I would like to discuss a little bit about organic foods and how they may benefit you and your family. Organic food has become very popular in many parts of the world. As the demand for organic food increases so does the production but unfortunately the demand still exceeds the supply.

What about organic meats? The use of antibiotics in conventional meat production helps create antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria. This means that when someone gets sick from these strains they will be less responsive to antibiotic treatment.

Not feeding animal byproducts to other animals reduces the risk of mad cow disease. In addition the animals are given more space to move around and access to the outdoors both of which help to keep the animals healthy.

Organic gardening is the way of growing fruits and vegetables without the harmful pesticides. A pesticide is any substance used to kill, repel, or control certain forms of plant or animal life that are considered to be pests.

Pesticides include herbicides for destroying weeds and other unwanted vegetation insecticides for controlling a wide variety of insects fungicides used to prevent the growth of molds and mildew, disinfectants for preventing the spread of bacteria, and compounds used to control mice and rats.

Because of the widespread use of agricultural chemicals in food production people that are exposed to low levels of pesticide residues through their diets. Scientists do not yet have a clear understanding of the health effects of these pesticide residues.

Organically grown foods are not sprayed with chemicals. That means less health harming chemicals on the food that you and your family may consume. Keep in mind that pesticides are created with only one purpose, to kill living things.

A certain kind of protection might be dangerous. In organic gardening, pest control relies on a series of strategy, not on a highly toxic chemical. For example, you can plant suitable flowers to attract pest’s natural predators like wasps and lacewings.

Growing foods organically can also protect the topsoil from erosion. Don’t forget to do some research first so you recognize how to take care of them because after all, sprinkling water every morning is just one of the many things you have to do to help these grow. In addition to the mental and emotional benefits of growing and eating organic food, there are also the physical benefits.

These physical benefits can be boiled down to nutrients present in organic foods that are not in commercial foods and toxins not in organic foods that are present in commercial foods.
Also try to stay away from vile foods like bacon and pork in which both take a long time to digest.

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Losing Body Fat – Whack the Sugar, Max the Nutrition

Posted on July 17, 2011 by admin

Contrary to popular belief, the fat that you consume in your diet is never stored as excess body fat! You may be skeptical, but it’s true.  There is absolutely no biological process in the human body that causes fat that you get from food to be stored into the body as excess body fat.  None.

If you are really interested in losing body fat, you have to know who the real culprit is: SUGAR!

Why You Have Excess Body Fat

Sugar, which is a carbohydrate, is the only substance that is responsible for your excess body fat.  When you eat sugar, the body activates the fat storage hormone known as insulin.  The primary role of insulin is to convert any excess glucose (sugar) found in your blood stream into excess body fat, which it stores in places like your hips, thighs and buttocks.  By converting and storing any excess glucose in this way, your body is protecting itself from high glucose levels in blood, which are dangerous to your health.

What You Shouldn’t Eat and Why

Not more than 1% of the human pancreas is dedicated to processing sugars and carbohydrates, which means that when you live on carbohydrates, you are essentially catapulting yourself into obesity.  Thus, in order to start losing body fat, you need to avoid heavy carbohydrate foods like grains, starches and processed foods, all of which have very little nutritional value.

It’s also important to avoid excess carbohydrates for another reason: diabetes. The pancreas is a very delicate organ and it’s designed to secrete insulin only twice per day.  When you consume too much sugar, the pancreas becomes overwhelmed, which can ultimately lead to diabetes.  That’s why it’s so crucial to minimize the intake of carbohydrates in your diet.

You should also keep in mind that each time you consume sugars and carbohydrates, which forces your body to secrete insulin, you are not going to be able to burn body fat for at least 2-3 hours and that means no weight loss.

What You Should Eat

While the pancreas dedicates only 1% of its energy towards processing carbs, it uses the other 99% to process proteins and fats. This should tell you right away that biologically speaking, the healthiest diet is one that is very high in natural fats and quality proteins, and very low in sugars and carbohydrates. This doesn’t say that you need to stay away from carbohydrates altogether, such as fruits and vegetables which provide a variety of health benefits, but it does mean that when you plan your meals you should keep this ratio of proteins, natural fats and carbs in mind.

To help you make smarter choices, here are some of the most common low and high sugar conversion foods:

Low Sugar Conversion Foods

  • Leafy, green vegetables
  • Melons that contain seeds
  • Any wild berries and fruits that are sweet
  • Avocados

High Sugar Conversion Foods

  • Fruit juices
  • Bananas
  • Beans
  • Potatoes

Remember, when it comes to losing body fat, sugars and carbohydrates are the enemy, not proteins and natural fats. That means you need to stay away from breads and other foods that contain starches, fiber and carbohydrates.  Instead, build a solid foundation for each and every meal by using healthy and high quality proteins, natural fats and Superfoods. Not only will these foods meet your nutritional needs, but they will help to stimulate the loss of fat as well, leaving you leaner and healthier than ever before.

 

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Sugar. 365 Days of Poison

Posted on July 17, 2011 by admin

The average American consumes about 200 pounds of white flour per year.  That same American also consumes about 160 pounds of refined sugar per year.

That equates to consuming almost 1 pound of toxic, empty calories, EVERY DAY!

Your mother probably knew that giving you candy caused you to become hyper as a kid.  You’ve probably heard that drinking regular Coke or almost any soda is bad for you for some reason or another.  Did anyone ever tell you why sugar was bad?  Growing up I just knew that sugar tasted good and my mom didn’t want me to have it, the two best reasons to do anything as a kid.

Even today for most of America, most people don’t know that the refined sugar we have been ingesting from soda, cookies, orange juice, breakfast cereal and even ketchup have been causing diseases.  Some of the most common sugar related diseases are cancer, diabetes, premature aging, migraines, obesity, mineral deficiencies and arthritis.

As if those diseases weren’t enough to make you reconsider your daily dose of sugar, what if I told you that consuming sugar was almost as bad as taking a narcotic drug?

MIT graduate and vitamin science expert, Raymond Francis explains sugar’s addictive qualities: “Animal studies show that regular consumption of sugar causes long-lasting changes in brain chemistry, similar to those caused by street drugs such as cocaine or heroin.  These changes mean that even a single exposure to a sweet, salty or fatty food will change gene expression, stimulating opioids in the brain.  These pleasure chemicals are addictive.”

Sugar is cheap and its various chemical cousins are even cheaper.  Sugar helps food look better, taste better and sell faster.  Your beach body is paying the price.

What Sugar Doesn’t Work in Our Body

Sugars are referred to as empty calories because they do not contain vitamins or minerals.  There is absolutely no nutritional value to our body.  Since your body cannot process these sugars, it will store them.  In your butt, thighs, belly, breasts, and arms.  Unfortunately, it doesn’t end there.  When those other areas get maxed out, your body begins to store that fat (consumed in the form of sugars) in areas around your vital organs like the heart and kidneys.  This eventually leads to high blood pressure and even damage brain function.

So if consuming sugar makes us fat and stupid, is in just about every food, what can we do?

First order of business is stop feeding the habit.  Just as smokers have to slowly wean away the lure of the taste and “buzz,” so does the sugar lover.  Simply replacing the sugar in your diet has helped thousands drops 5-40 pounds. Below are some common ways to help you satiate the sugar craving, without using sugar, of course:

1-    Read the label.

Sugars have been getting clever over the years.  Sugars often hide behind names like Raw, Pure, Cane, maltodextrine, cane juice, honey, rice syrup, molasses.  Just about anything that ends in “ose,” sucrose, dextrose, fructose, glucose, and levutose.  Those words are now bad words and should be a flashing red light signaling you to step away and find a more suitable, less sugar-loaded option.

2-    Sweeten naturally

Stevia is a great way to sweeten a beverage or even foods.  At first Stevia was a tad bitter, but with the growing need for a sweetener without harmful side effects, the manufacturing processes for Stevia have significantly improved its quality.

3-    Chew gum

I know, I know.  Youre probably saying, “There is no way gum can replace my Mountain Dew or ice cream.”  I was right there with you, but drastic times call for drastic measures.  When your pants no longer fit, when your brain slows and fat deposits surround your heart, a nice spearmint gum seems like a pretty good solution to avoiding disease or expensive surgery.  Changing your diet takes a lot of will power and if your health means enough to you, the time to change is now.

A favorite quote of mine goes something like this: ” If you keep doing what you’ve always done, you’ll keep getting what you’ve always gotten.”  If you keep eating what you have always eaten, you’ll probably not see much of a change.  Read those nutrition labels.  Stop killing yourself slowly with empty calories

Remind yourself that you don’t need soda and sweets. Be firm with yourself and when the power of your will prevails, you just may find yourself buying smaller jeans, eating healthier foods and living a better quality life.

For more information on sugar, the HCG diet or other health information, visit www.platinumbodyperformance.com.

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Consumer Health Awareness Identifies What Foods are the Best for Optimal Health

Posted on July 17, 2011 by admin

We are all well aware of the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle. We’ve heard time and time about the foods to eat, the foods to avoid and we’ve been encouraged to exercise. We’re informed about the harmful effects to our health that is result of eating poorly. Change in diet is constantly reinforced by our doctors, our friends and are loved ones but sometimes we can’t help but indulge. We get it. We get that in order to live our healthiest, happiest lives there are fundamental changes that need to be make starting with our diets. Not only are we looking to improve the lives we are living now, we are also looking to prevent problems with health in the future.

A big problem when looking for which foods are better to consume for good health is the issue of convenience. Often times in our neighborhoods, at our offices and in our school the foods most easily accessible are those foods that are greasy, saturated with fat, high in cholesterol and high in sodium. Many feel that if healthier foods were food in the places that we most frequent it would be a lot easier to conform to a healthier lifestyle. There must be an extra initiative. It is worth it to look past immediately convenience in the moment and look toward a convenience of lifetime. With a healthy diet you are significantly less likely to experience heart disease, diabetes or a stroke.

You’re probably overwhelmed with the constant pouring in of information regarding healthy food. You’ve heard of all the diets, you’ve tried the latest fads and you’ve believed all of the promises. You find yourself exhausted with information and now you’re in search of the simple truth.

Consumer Health Awareness is an organization with a mission to reveal the truths about healthy eating and an overall healthy lifestyle. This organization is prided on providing consumers with the necessary information to reach their highest potentials and experience a healthy weight. Consumer Health Awareness sets out to do one thing and one thing only: save lives. The method is to save lives by empowering consumers with important information on the foods that are the best for optimal health.

Gain the proper knowledge; share it with your loved ones. Learn which fats are good and which fats are harmful. Discover the truth about processed foods. Have myths busted about foods you may have been told to keep away from. Some of these foods are, in fact, filled with nutrition but fad diets have deterred us from trying.

For many people it is easier to simply take a multi-vitamin for your daily nutrients. Explore how nice it would be to have the same intake of vitamins in your foods. Healthy life doesn’t have to mean bland eating. Learn what works for you. Explore options. Take the information provided as a tool instrumental in obtaining the best health at the best weight. The resource is available; it’s left up to you to take advantage.

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The Transformation Solution Biggest Scam – Scam? Learn The Truth

Posted on July 17, 2011 by admin

For the last 10 years of my life I have resigned myself to the reality that I was by no means going to drop my belly excess fat and, actually, it was just heading to get even worse and even worse as I received older. I nevertheless keep in mind the day the doctors advised me I had a condition that meant my physique hormones were from whack and my tension hormone, cortisol, rather than only being developed when my physique needed it, was constantly being launched into my method and the excellent fat burning hormone glucagon had been effectively “turned off”. I was devastated – The result is really a pretty body fat torso which looks even larger than it definitely is since my arms and legs are stick thin. I bear in mind the doctor declaring “It’s like a change you are able to in no way turn off”. Properly, I want he was even now about so I could show him the outcomes from the The Transformation Solution. Nutritionist Bill Phillips devised this program when he discovered he was embarrassingly obese and was finding it hard to get thin.

On the personal note, I had stopped attempting to get thin as I knew it was basically impossible. My fat stomach had absolutely nothing to do using the quantity I was eating even though I believe the amount of comfort eating I did can’t have helped my general bodyweight. Positive, I took capsules to suppress most of my excess cortisol but I was nevertheless body fat and that is how I’d have stayed if I hadn’t chanced upon the The Transformation Solution.

I was blown absent by the thought that distinct foods could reduced your cortisol ranges and that produced me need to try it instantly but a lot more than that it also uncovered the ways the physique reacts whenever you quickly diet plan and starve your self – it really goes around the defensive and shops the layers of fat you’ve so it could use it when you don’t consume sufficient. It’s a type of catch 22 situation – you cease eating to get thin but your body stays extra fat due to the fact you have stopped eating. That why this plan shows you how to confuse your body’s time clock. The next issue I noticed in the The Transformation Solution is the reality about the chemical substances which are place in diverse branded foods known as obesity additives which make you crave meals that depart you with a massive belly filled with toxic waste.

I took a likelihood around the program although I really had nothing to lose as Bill Phillips features a 60 day money back again guarantee so I could have obtained a refund if I’d needed. It sounds completely crazy but as fast as 7 days I definitely could see a distinction to my ‘un-moveable’ stomach extra fat – that toxic waste melted away. Just the information of which meals are very good for you personally and which meals elevate your cortisol and pile on the lbs is worth its fat in gold to me but Josh gives loads of bonuses too with his 7 day Belly Blaster diet plan so it is a win-win scenario. I’m happier, lighter and additional much like the outdated me.

Find out more on The Transformation Solution. Click the link to visit The Transformation Solution ASAP!

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Cod Liver Oil Versus Concentrated Fish Oil – Don’t Let Yourself Be Fooled

Posted on July 17, 2011 by admin

There are enormous health benefits to adding omega 3 fatty acid supplements to your diet, that’s for sure. These include cardiovascular, cognitive and anti-inflammatory benefits. What many people don’t know, however, is that in order to ensure that you’re getting these benefits, you have to take a concentrated fish oil supplement and not cod liver oil.

The health benefits of fish oil are directly proportionate to the amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids contained in the supplement. These omega 3 fatty acids, known as DHA and EPA, are the real workhorses of the best fish oil supplements.

Cod liver oil is not standardized to provide high amounts of these beneficial substances. In order to get the full health benefits, you have to take a molecularly distilled, concentrated product in capsule form, and with a high DHA content.

Furthermore, cod liver oil can actually have negative side effects.

Firstly, cod liver oil tends to be much higher in toxic heavy metals from sea pollution than the molecularly distilled supplements which are concentrated and high in DHA and EPA and at the same time free of contaminants.

Secondly, cod liver oil is very high in vitamin A. Since vitamin A is fat-soluble, it is stored in the body and is one of the few vitamins that you can actually overdose on. The high vitamin A levels are especially dangerous for pregnant and lactating mothers. Excessive vitamin A levels have been linked to liver problems and other ailments.

So, in summary, in order to get the full benefits of omega 3 supplementation, you have to make sure that you purchase a molecularly distilled product made from fish sourced in clean waters. This is the only way to ensure that you will get the full health benefits in the most cost-effective, safest way possible. It is no surprise that almost all of the advanced research proving the benefits of omega 3 supplementation have been done with pharmaceutical grade products.

Bonus tip: How is one to choose a fish oil wisely? There is one very unique concentrated fish oil with a far superior level of DHA.
For more information about fish oil, and to find out about the best value, purest, top-quality fish oil and multivitamins that I have discovered, and the ones that I use personally, please visit 12 Fish Oil Benefits Easily Explained.

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Fat Burning Foods That Help Your Diet

Posted on July 17, 2011 by admin

First of all every one of these is a proven food to help with losing weight. These foods go
simply beyond adding a non fat theme for your dieting. They possess special assets that add
zing to your system and melt away dangerous pounds in your body. These foods can restrain your appetite for food and keep your body running smoothly.

You can use these kinds of food in just about every diet plan you can think of. They give your body the extra effort it has to have to shave off the unwanted calories. A normal diet plan calls for no less than 1,200 calories per day. Hunger is satisfied better by filling the stomach. The foods below achieve that better than any other ones. And by the same token, they are wealthy in nutrients and have fat burning elements.

1. Apples
First of all, they raise the blood sugar levels in the right manner and keep them up longer than other foods.The reason for this is to leave you feeling more satisfied for a longer
period of time.
2. Coffee
We all here about the potential dangers of caffeine
Some are anxiety and insomnia so moderation is important.The caffeine in coffee can speed up the digestive system. Caffeine is a stimulant, it can help you burn more calories than normal.
3. Grapefruit
There is a good reason for this well established diet food to be a regular part of your diet. It helps remove fat and cholesterol. It is very rich in natural galacturonic acid, and adds to its potency as a fat and cholesterol fighter. The additional benefits here is help in the battle against atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and the process of heart disease.
4. Mustard
Mustard temporarily speeds up the digestion, just as caffeine does. This can result in the body burning an extra 35 calories for every 500 taken in.
5. Soups
The experts say if you eat a bowl of soup before lunch and dinner you can lose more weight than dieters who do not. The fact is the more soup they ate, the more weight they lost. And soup eaters tend to keep the weight off longer also. Naturally, the type of soup you eat makes a little difference. Cream soups or soups made with beef and pork are not the best kinds to eat.
6. Spinach
Spinach has the strength to lower cholesterol, and speed up the digestion to burn away fat.
It is rich in iron, beta carotene and vitamins C and E, it has most of the nutrients you need
to burn away those unwanted calories.
7. Tofu
Tofu has calcium, iron, and no saturated fat. It also has very little sodium. It makes your metabolism run on high and lowers cholesterol. With different kinds available, the firmer ones are right for stirfrying and adding to soups or sauces.The others are good for mashing, chopping and adding to other things like salads and such.
Those 7 fat burning foods are for just about every diet that you could think of.
Low fat foods and low carb diets do not work in weight loss. The low carb diets can slow down your fat burning engines and be more harmful in your weightloss efforts.
Diets that are directed towards women aim to slim down hips, arms, tighten belly’s etc. Diets that are directed towards men aim to sculpt, tone up arms, trim love handles, and remove
stress etc…  Discover more ways to burn fat by visiting the website below. http://fatburningfoodsthathelpyourdiet.weebly.com/

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Low Cholesterol Dinner Recipes

Posted on July 17, 2011 by admin

A Low Cholesterol Dinner Recipe You can Live With.

There are a wide range of low cholesterol dinner recipes that are designed to promote one’s health. Among these low cholesterol dinner recipes, there are those specifically designed for dinner preparations and some of them shall be outlined below. Most of the low cholesterol dinner recipes guides, and detailed information can be obtained in various cookbooks as well as in various websites. Some of the main low cholesterol dinner recipes are:Orange Zucchini recipe for dinner. This is usually prepared following specific ingredients such as 3 eggs, 2-3 teaspoon of orange zest, a box of orange cake mix, and one cup of grated Zucchini. A quarter cup of sugar and 3 tablespoons of orange juice are added. It’s prepared by mixing well the ingredients then the Zucchini and the orange zest are folded, baked and when ready put some hot syrup over the bread and let it cool. This is a rich low cholesterol dinner recipe.

Greek Penne Pasta with Lamp and green Vegetables.This is a very essential low cholesterol dinner recipe and its ingredients include olive oil, onion, minced garlic cloves, some ounce ground lamp crumbled feta kind of cheese and juice diced tomatoes. These ingredients are effectively prepared with the correct procedure in the cook guide book and served while still moist.Starflower Succotash Soup Recipe. This is a well known low cholesterol dinner recipe and it’s mainly a mixture of corn products and lime beans. It very regarded for healthy purposes especially for those in diet and it’s very cheap to be prepared.Strawberry Pudding. This is always a yummy low cholesterol dinner recipe and its main ingredients are usually cornstarch, sugar, strawberry flavored nestle nesquik juice or powder, salt and vanilla extract.

Milk can be added to in order to have the dish moist and not too dry. Fresh strawberries can be served with the ready pudding.Anti Dracula Garlicky beans Dinner RecipeMainly this recipe is Romanian and it’s very valued in the case of low cholesterol dinner recipe. Among its main ingredients are white kind of beans and garlic cloves, salt and pepper. They are all mixed well during preparation and served with crackers.

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How to Beat Agoraphobia with Subliminal Messages

Posted on July 17, 2011 by admin

It’s typical for people to develop some butterflies in the stomach when they’re in a huge crowd and in an open space. You would become very nervous if you’re not used to it. However, it’s a totally different thing if it happens all the time. Whenever there are plenty of people, you suddenly freeze, and your heart starts beating really fast. You can’t keep your focus straight, you’re sweating profusely, and you feel like you’re going to hyperventilate. If you talk, you’re going to stutter.

If this is you, then you’re suffering from agoraphobia.

Agoraphobia is defined as a mental anxiety disorder. It is a phobia characterized by an intense fear of being in an open and usually crowded space. A person with agoraphobia feels less in control of his or her environment. He or she thinks that there’s no other way out just in case something bad happens.

There are plenty of reasons why a person develops agoraphobia, but normally it has something to do with traumatic experiences. You might have been embarrassed by a lot of people, or you might have experienced a terrible attack while in a public area, such as a restaurant or a school. If not, you witnessed someone experiencing something really bad while in these open spaces. You might have forgotten about these experiences, but they are manifesting themselves by panic attacks whenever you are in an open space.

Using Affirmations to End Agoraphobia

If you’re suffering from agoraphobia or any panic attack, you’re actually prescribed by your physician to take certain medications. However, if you’re going to be fully dependent on the drugs, you may become dependent on them. That’s why you need to combine both alternative and conventional treatments. One of the ways on how to deal with agoraphobia is through subliminal messages or affirmations. Here’s an example on how you can use them:

Listen to a series of affirmations or subliminal messages designed to beat agoraphobia. You would know it because they may contain lines such as the following:

I am not afraid to be with people.

I am confident being in open spaces.

I am bigger than my fear of people and public spaces.

You can download these subliminal messages and keep them in your mp3 player, or you can watch videos. You just need to do these things regularly, because you need to put them into your subconscious.

While you’re listening or watching, you can do your visualization. You can imagine yourself being in an open space and surrounded by a lot of people. Imagine them welcoming you into their gathering. Feel their love and support while you’re being surrounded by them. Another exercise is to go back to root cause of your fear or panic attack. This time, think of it in a positive way. For instance, if you have been embarrassed, you can visualize yourself receiving a lot of accolades from your audience.

You can practice affirmations and visualizations all by yourself, but if you need some help, don’t be afraid to approach a therapist.

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Protein Bar Manufacturing Trends

Posted on July 17, 2011 by admin

Because nutrition bars are convenient, portable, nutritious, and tasty, they make the perfect on-the-go snack for a significant number of health-conscious consumers who often find it challenging to incorporate well-balanced meals into their fast-paced lifestyles. According to the Nutrition Business Journal (Colorado), the value of the Sports Nutrition and Weight Loss (SNWL) market was up by nearly $2 billion in 2010, showing a sales increase of 9 percent over the previous year. In the past 13 years, the SNWL market has seen a remarkable compound growth rate of 10.2 percent. With new delivery methods being developed, sales of nutrition bars are showing signs of being re-energized. 1

Nutrition bars were primarily marketed to serious athletes until 1990 when their improved taste combined with a robust health-and-fitness-message, gained wide appeal among mainstream consumers. Reporting sales of less than $200 million in 1997, the sports and energy bar market quickly climbed up to more than $1 billion in 2003. Since then the market has rapidly grown.

Types of Nutrition Bars
Nutrition bars can play different roles in maintaining healthy diets. For example, there are sports nutrition bars that serve as meal replacements or snacks. There are also nutrition bars for various health needs, such as multivitamin bars, diabetic-friendly bars, anti-aging bars, beauty bars, energy bars, low-carb, weight management bars, protein bars, etc. Before developing the formulation of a nutrition bar, supplement companies should identify their target consumer market and their desired nutritional needs.

Nutrition bars for serious trainers/professional athletes. In sports bars, pre-exercise bars will typically feature less protein and more carbohydrates and fiber. Recovery bars or post-exercise bars will offer more than 15 grams of protein and a moderate to high level of carbohydrates. 3 According to Mintel, a market research company based in Chicago, both soy and whey protein bars are more popular with younger consumers. 4

If you plan on creating nutrition bars that meet the health needs of Baby Boomers or the elderly, consider adding anti-aging ingredients such as resveratrol and other wholesome nutrients that support healthy aging of bones, eyes and cognitive health.5

Nutrition bars for children. With more parents favoring better-for-you snack options for their children, nutrition bars specially formulated for children have high market value. Formulations should be low in fat and sugar and should contain key ingredients such as whole grains, fiber, natural fruit extracts, calcium, Vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids and other specific nutrients for growing children.6 Claims such as “made with organic ingredients” or free from artificial ingredients are more attractive options for parents.

Nutrition bars for women including sub-categories such as teenage girls, pregnant women and menopausal women. Health-conscious women use nutrition bars either as meal replacements or as a snack. “Beauty bars” containing skin anti-aging ingredients such as antioxidants like green tea, B vitamins and other nutrients that enhance skin health are extremely popular. For women that are pregnant, nutrition bars that contain omega-3 fatty acids, folic acid and vitamin B12 are popular because these ingredients play an important role in the neurological and bone development of an infant.7-8

Trends in Nutrition Bar Manufacturing
Trends in nutrition bar manufacturing include formulations for a variety of consumer profiles offering a multiple range of tastes and textures. With so much variety in nutritive profiles across consumer segments, the challenge facing sports nutrition manufacturers today is establishing a point of differentiation between products.

A report released in February 2011 from Mintel observed the following trends in nutrition bar manufacturing:9

  • Granola bars were the most popular subcategory,
  • Young adults consume the most nutrition bars.
  • The desire to improve overall health and wellness is the key reason most people consume nutrition bars. Other market drivers include rising health consciousness, growing number of weight watchers (approximately 50 percent of the adult population) and high incidence of obesity is driving consumer demands for nutrition bars. More Americans are exercising and this could be another market driver for nutrition bars.
  • Reduced-fat and low-calorie nutrition bars generate the highest consumer interest.

According to a report from SPINS, a market research and information provider based in Schaumburg, IL, prebiotics, probiotics, EFAs (flax, hemp, pumpkin seed) and green foods are currently the most popular ingredients to use in nutrition bars. Well-accepted flavors include chocolate and peanut, either alone or in combination, as well as berries, nuts and seeds. SPINS observed consumer preference for the following nutrition bars categories:10

  • High-fiber bars
  • Nutty bars
  • Raw food bars (“naked” bars where consumers can see the ingredients)
  • High in antioxidant value (superfruits)
  • Functional bars
  • High protein bars that include whole grains.
  • Weight control/management bars
  • Energy bars

Formulating a Nutrition Bar
Formulation of a nutrition bar involves the science of taste, balancing flavors and the adept use of functional ingredients that mask flavors. Ultimately, supplement companies need to focus on bars that will taste good, have appealing texture while offering a dense nutrient delivery devise to their target market. Problems usually arise when multiple nutrients such as protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals, fiber are combined for increased fortification resulting in unpleasant flavor. This problem can be resolved with the use of masking agents, such as cocoa. Chocolate, a popular flavor appealing to all demographics, can effectively mask unpleasant flavors, but can also serve as a functional ingredient, offering antioxidant benefits. Natural sweeteners such as superfruit extracts not only add mouth-watering flavor and texture, but depending on the fruit extract used, can offer specific health benefits as well. 11 Another key challenge for sports nutrition manufacturers is making certain that the nutrients specified on the label remain stable and bioactive even during storage.

Typical Ingredients in Nutrition Bars
Typical ingredients found in nutrition bars include proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, fruit extracts, nuts, fiber such as whole grains, along with other specialty ingredients.

Fiber is associated with a host of health benefits and is found in whole grains such as flax, wheat, oats, nuts, etc. A growing number of consumers are seeking out fiber in order to improve their digestive health and help with weight management and satiety. Fiber is also used to help regulate healthy cholesterol levels. Many consumers turn to nutrition bars to boost their fiber intake.12

An optimal balance of both soluble and insoluble fiber achieves the desired texture, functional properties, flavor and performance.

  • Maltodextrin, polydextrose and various types of gums contain very few calories, if any, and may be used to enhance functional properties.
  • Quinoa naturally grows in the higher latitudes of the Andes in South American and although it is actually a seed it is known as a “supergrain” because of its popularity among food makers. It is gluten-free and adapts very well to a number of food applications.
  • Flax contains alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), a plant-based omega-3 fatty acid known for an array of health benefits.

Protein is useful for building muscle, as an aid in weight management (promoting satiety) and for supporting healthy blood sugar levels. The need for more protein in the daily diet is being increasingly recognized by health-conscious consumers. Proteins such as whey, soy and rice are common components of nutrition bars. Each of these proteins has a different FDA-approved health claim. In the current economy, soy protein may prove to be an excellent alternative to dairy-based proteins, in terms of supply stability and price predictability.13-14

Nuts contain oleic and palmitoleic acids which support healthy cholesterol levels. They are also a rich source of rich source of important omega-3 essential fatty acids such as alpha linolenic acid (ALA), a plant-based omega-3 fatty acid. Nuts also contain vitamins, minerals and other antioxidants.15
There’s a plethora of superfruit extracts that can be included in a nutrition bar adding flavor and antioxidant value. Many of them add condition-specific health value such as cranberry, known for its anti-bacterial properties particularly supporting female urinary health. Other popular flavors include Acai, apricots, blueberry, cherry, grape, pomegranate, strawberry, etc.16

Specialty Ingredients in Nutrition Bars
One way to differentiate your nutrition bars is by adding specialty ingredients. These may address long term health trends such as cardiovascular health, digestive health, anti-aging, etc. Gender and age-specific formulations also hold opportunities for creating unique selling point advantages. Specialty ingredients may include:

Probiotics. The new microencapsulation techniques have opened up new possibilities for the application of probiotics in nutrition bar manufacturing. Consumers are now accepting the concept of friendly bacteria and are recognizing its potential to improve digestive health, prime the immune system and support a myriad of health concerns. According to Nutrition Business Journal, since 1998 probiotic supplement sales have multiplied four times totaling $425 million in 2008. 17

Omega-3 fatty acids are known for their wide range of health benefits, and thus may be targeted for all consumer demographics, A vegetarian source of DHA is found in canola and flaxseeds.18

Fast-paced lifestyles are changing traditional eating patterns. With no time to consume “scheduled” meals which offer wholesome nutrition, nutrition experts promote smart snacking between meals. Nutrition bars are the perfect nutrient delivery devise for smart snacking helping consumers obtain their daily requirements of micro and macro nutrients such as protein and fiber. An innovative sports nutrition manufacturer can help you design smart nutrition bars for your target market in a GMP-certified facility. Customizable manufacturing solutions beginning from nutrition bar formulation to label design and packaging make manufacturing your nutrition bars an easy, efficient and quick process.

References:

  1. Top 5 Market Trends in Sports Nutrition and Weight Loss, Nutrition Business Journal, February 2011, (newhope360.com/sports-and-fitness-performance/top-5-market-trends-sports-nutrition-weight-loss-0)
  2. Sports Energy Bars, Mintel International Group Ltd., (mindbranch.com/Sports-Energy-Bars-R560-0126/, July 2003)
  3. Effects of ingesting protein with various forms of carbohydrate following resistance-exercise on substrate availability and markers of anabolism, catabolism, and immunity, J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2007; 5: 18. Published online 2007 November 12. doi: 10.1186/1550-2783-4-18.
  4. Nutrition and Energy Bars – US – February 2011, Mintel, (bizreportshop.com/product/mt/Nutrition-and-Energy-Bars-US-February-2011_171729.html)
  5. Resveratrol: Anti-aging properties of resveratrol: review and report of a potent new antioxidant skin care formulation, J Cosmet Dermatol. 2008 Mar;7(1):2-7.
  6. Child Nutrition, Medline Plus, (nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/childnutrition.html)
  7. Skin photoprotection by green tea: antioxidant and immunomodulatory effects, Curr Drug Targets Immune Endocr Metabol Disord. 2003 Sep;3(3):234-42.
  8. Nutrient requirements and fetal development, The Journal of Family Practice, November 2007 • Vol. 56, No. 11 Suppl: S1-S8.
  9. Nutrition and Energy Bars – US – February 2011, Mintel, (bizreportshop.com/product/mt/Nutrition-and-Energy-Bars-US-February-2011_171729.html)
  10. The Next Frontier for Nutrition Bars, January 2011, (nutraceuticalsworld.com/contents/view/30497)
  11. Cacao seeds are a “Super Fruit”: A comparative analysis of various fruit powders and products, Chem Cent J. 2011 Feb 7;5:5.
  12. Health benefits of dietary fiber, Nutr Rev. 2009 Apr;67(4):188-205.
  13. Benefits of high-protein weight loss diets: enough evidence for practice? Curr Opin Endocrinol Diabetes Obes. 2008 Oct;15(5):416-21.
  14. Soy Protein, J Perinat Educ. 2003 Summer; 12(3): 42–45. doi: 10.1624/105812403X106946.
  15. Beliefs, benefits, barriers, attitude, intake and knowledge about peanuts and tree nuts among WIC participants in eastern North Carolina, Nutr Res Pract. 2009 Autumn; 3(3): 220–225. Published online 2009 September 30. doi: 10.4162/nrp.2009.3.3.220.
  16. Exotic Superfruits: Literature Update, Natural Products Insider, November 2007. (naturalproductsinsider.com/articles/2007/11/exotic-superfruits-literature-update.aspx)
  17. Growing Potential, Nutritional Outlook, February 2010. (nutritionaloutlook.com/article/growing-potential)
  18. Health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids, Nurs Stand. 2004 Aug 11-17;18(48):38-42.

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