We all know the struggle — the hangry monster inside you is about to rage, and the only options you have on the go are questionable convenience store snacks or that sad granola bar at the bottom of your bag (RIP, freshness).
Enter the protein bar, a seemingly healthy hero promising a satisfying, nutritious pick-me-up.
Bad news? Not all protein bars are created equal. What should be a delicious, whole-food option free of sketchy ingredients suddenly feels like a mythical creature. 🦄
Until now!
Rise Bars are minimalist protein bars. They boast a short list of just three to five whole-food ingredients you can actually pronounce (and maybe even find in your own pantry!).
So let's explore why minimal ingredient protein bars are your clean eating goal's BFF.
7+ Ingredients We Keep Out of Rise Bars (Sorry, Not Sorry!)
Ever wondered what those long ingredient lists are hiding? Here's the not-so-secret secret: that laundry list of unrecognizable ingredients may be inflicting a world of damage on your health.
Let's take a peek at the most common ingredients in protein bars and energy bars that we give the cold shoulder to:
1. Binders, Gums, Fillers, and Additives
Fillers and chemical additives add bulk, texture, and empty calories without providing any real nutritional value. Certain food additives have even been linked to inflammation, changes in gut bacteria, digestive system damage, and other toxicities.[*]
Then there are binders, which act like glue to hold a bar together. They can cause digestive woes for some people. That's why we rely on the natural binding properties of nuts to give our protein bars their shape.
2. Artificial Ingredients, Artificial Colors, and Artificial Flavors
Our bodies are designed to thrive on natural, unprocessed foods. Think caveman chic, minus the questionable hygiene.
Food manufacturers add artificial flavors to make their protein bars taste like food when they don't use real, whole-food ingredients. But these may be toxic and lead to weight gain.[*][*]
Artificial colors/synthetic food dyes are even worse. They're potentially toxic to your body and brain and may cause cancer. They've also been linked to adverse behavior in children.[*][*][*]
3. Artificial Sweeteners
Artificial sweeteners can be up to 600x sweeter than sugar! Worse? These chemicals have been shown to:[*][*][*][*]
- Raise cortisol levels (the stress hormone)
- Produce damaging free radicals
- Cause learning problems
- Trigger headaches and migraines
- Negatively affect gut health
- Raise blood sugar and insulin levels
- Skyrocket sugar cravings
- Encourage overeating and weight gain
- Provoke or worsen irritable moods, anxiety, depression, and insomnia
- Increase your risk of cancer
We can't think of anything worse for your health.
4. Sugar Alcohols
Sugar alcohols are not completely absorbed by your body, so they come in at about half the calories of sugar and impact your blood sugar levels less. The most common sugar alcohols in protein bars include xylitol, erythritol, sorbitol, mannitol, and maltitol.
However, studies show sugar alcohols wreak havoc on your gut microbiome, often causing digestive woes like gas, bloating, tummy pain, and diarrhea.[*] No thanks!
5. Allulose
This new, "rare" sugar has been popping up in low-carb snacks everywhere. But before you get too excited, allulose has been linked to severe nausea, abdominal pain, headaches, diarrhea, and the growth of potentially harmful gut bacteria.[*][*] Hard pass!
🙌 Psst! You'll only find natural, better-for-you sugars like honey and coconut nectar in Rise Bars!
6. Soy
Did you know that over 95% of soybeans in the US are genetically modified?[*]
Besides being ultra-processed and a common allergy trigger, research has linked soy protein to hormonal disturbances, cancer, and even organ toxicity.[*]
In one study, mice fed soybean oil showed greater increases in weight gain, fat mass, diabetes, and insulin resistance than mice eating coconut oil.[*]
7. Grains and Gluten
Granola bars and whole-grain protein bars often rely on refined grains and flours as bulking agents. These are much more processed than whole foods like nuts, seeds, and nut/seed butters.
Worse? Some people experience bloating or discomfort from grains, especially those containing gluten (a protein in wheat, barley, and rye). It's not only difficult to digest but harmful for those with a gluten allergy or sensitivity, celiac disease, or other health conditions.
Good news? Nuts are naturally high in protein and healthy fats, which can be more beneficial for satiety, blood sugar control, and overall health than grains. They also taste way better and are naturally gluten-free!
🤔 Deep dive: Why Eat Gluten-Free
By choosing a protein bar without these ingredients, you're saying See ya! to a potential health headache and Hello! to a cleaner, more natural way to fuel your body.
6 Benefits of Minimally Processed Protein Bars (Like Rise Bars!)
So, why should you care about a shorter ingredient list? Here's the science-backed truth:
1. Your Body's Made To Run On Real Food
Choose a protein bar made with whole ingredients, and you give your body the stuff it recognizes and knows how to use efficiently.
Compared to the mystery ingredients that come out of a chemistry lab, you’ll find almonds, cashews, honey, coconut shreds, etc., at your local farmer's market. Bars made with these are as close as you can get to homemade.
Plus, these real ingredients are loaded with essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to keep you healthy.
Minimal-ingredient protein bars avoid all the unnecessary baggage that can weigh you down (literally and figuratively) and prioritize the clean fuel you need to thrive.
2. They're a Convenient, Easy Clean Eating Option
The mantra for clean eating is simple: whole foods, natural ingredients, nothing artificial. Minimal ingredient bars offer a convenient way to grab a clean, protein-packed snack without the guilt. It's like having a mini pantry of whole foods in your pocket!
🚀 Explore The Top 5 Benefits of Eating Protein Bars next!
3. Better Nutrient Absorption + Overall Health
Our bodies absorb more nutrients from whole foods (and do so more efficiently!) than from processed ones.[*] A minimal ingredient bar gives you more bang for your buck.
Research also proves that noshing ultra-processed foods can lead to eating more daily calories, weight gain, obesity, poor heart health, gastrointestinal disorders, depression, and cancer.[*]
4. Minimize Blood Sugar Spikes + Crashes for Steady Energy
Highly processed foods often lead to blood sugar spikes and crashes, leaving you tired and hangry.
Whole food ingredients in protein bars tend to have a lower glycemic index, meaning they provide a slow, steady, sustained release of energy without the harsh freefall of the blood sugar rollercoaster. And stable blood sugar levels keep you feeling focused and satisfied for longer.
5. Transparency = Trust + Empowerment
When you recognize all the ingredients on the label, you know exactly what you're putting into your body. No mystery fillers or hidden sugars — just pure, honest goodness.
This transparency empowers you to make informed choices that align with your clean-eating goals, especially if you're on an elimination diet, trying to identify potential allergic triggers, or avoiding known ones.
6. Minimalist Doesn't Mean Bland
Some healthy snacks taste like cardboard. But here's the beauty of whole foods: they're naturally delicious! When combined creatively, you'll score flavor explosions that put sugary, processed bars to shame.
Bonus: A minimalist approach allows you to taste the quality of each ingredient, and each takes center stage. Nuts offer a satisfying crunch, honey adds a touch of natural sweetness, cinnamon adds a deep warmth to each bite, and so on.
Clean eating shouldn't feel like punishment. You deserve a snack that tastes as good as it is for you. Rise Bars deliver!
✨ Your Body is a Temple, Not a Landfill
When it comes to protein bars, less is truly more. So the next time you reach for one, be a mindful muncher. Flip that label over and see what's lurking inside. Choose a bar that celebrates whole foods and lets their natural goodness shine through.
Rise Bars contain no more than five whole-food ingredients — our Almond Honey flavor is the simplest protein bar ever, clocking in just three ingredients (almonds, honey, and whey protein isolate)!
Every Rise Bar is soy-free, gluten-free, grain-free, and free of artificial sweeteners, sugar alcohols, and preservatives. They’re everything you need in a protein bar and nothing you don’t.
💪 Ditch the mystery ingredients and try a 100% real food Rise Bar now!
Author: Devan Ciccarelli
Email: devan@behappynothangry.com
Instagram/Facebook Group: @behappynothangry/Be Happy Not Hangry
Website: www.behappynothangry.com
