CLIF bars stand out among other nutrition bars. The CLIF BAR and Company produces these oat-based bars with lots of flavors. They claim their bars to be nutritious and high-energy bars.
The nutrition bars from CLIF are healthy when you need a lot of energy. If you are doing heavy workouts for more than an hour or cycling more than 150 miles, CLIF Bars are a healthy option to keep your body going. You can consider CLIF Bars unhealthy without heavy exercise because you take more carbs than you need.
Before the 1990s, CLIF bars did not have much taste. But Gary Erickson soon solved the problem and made his company gain a considerable market percentage. We will know more about the bars, their types, nutrition facts, and flavors. Join us in the journey to learn are CLIF bars healthy?
Typical Ingredients In CLIF Bar
CLIF bars are marketed for hiking, sports, and other outdoor activities. They promote having plant-based ingredients and 70 % organic components. The manufacturers also claim that their bars do not contain high fructose corn syrup.
A substantial majority of CLIF bars are vegan, while some include honey or whey protein. The ingredients in a CLIF bar vary depending on the flavor, but they typically have:
- Brown rice syrup
- Rolled oats
- Cane sugar
- Soy protein isolate
- Rice flour
- Soy flour
- Sea salt
- Oat fiber
- Sunflower oil
Vitamins and minerals contents are:
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin B complex
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin D2
- Vitamin E
- Iron
- Magnesium
- Calcium
- Potassium
- Phosphorous
CLIF Bar Flavors
The CLIF bar and company claim that CLIF bars are best for all physical activities. As mentioned earlier, flavors are the main attraction for CLIF bars.
Flavors may include –
- Chocolate chip
- Crunchy peanut butter
- White chocolate macadamia nut
- Chocolate brownie
- Chocolate almond fudge
- Peanut butter banana/ dark chocolate
- Coconut chocolate chip and cool mint
- Blueberry crisp
- Cool mint chocolate
- Caramel macchiato
- Spiced pumpkin pie
CLIF Bars are finest when they’re fresh. They’re now available in 20 different flavors, including three seasonal flavors.
The company says the fan favorite is White Chocolate Macadamia Nut. You may find other flavors tasty too. Pumpkin Pie Spice, Cool Mint Chocolate, Coconut Chocolate, and Chip Carrot Cake are some of the tempting flavors.
Benefits Of CLIF Bars
Are CLIF bars good? They can be convenient in many situations. Here are some benefits you can have from CLIF bars.
Fast Source of Energy
CLIF bars are convenient and easy to carry. You can have one or two while exercising. They give you an energy boost.
Many Ingredients Are Organic
Wherever possible, CLIF utilizes organic ingredients. They even have USDA-certified organic bars. Organic ingredients are great for the environment too.
You’re Getting Benefits From The Oats
A key component in the bars is rolled oats. Oats have several health advantages. They help decrease cholesterol, regulate blood sugar, and even deliver antioxidants.
They Contain Nutrients
A CLIF bar cannot replace a meal. But it does offer a good number of vitamins and minerals.
They Taste Good
Are CLIF bars good in taste? CLIF bars’ appeal stems in part from their delectable flavor. It seems there are a lot of flavors to pick from, but they all appear to go really well together.
They Offer Some Protein
CLIF bars include some protein, with standard bars containing roughly 9 to 10 grams. Protein serves a variety of functions in the body, including muscle building.
What Ingredients Do You Need To Watch For In CLIF Bars?
Are you a CLIF fan? Although the bars aren’t the healthiest snack, they are better than a piece of cake.
Particular CLIF bar tastes are much healthier for you, and some are not. But how will you know? Well, here’s how.
Check Sugar Content
Check the amount of added sugar. CLIF bars have around 20 grams of added sugar per bar, which is top of the ingredient list. Choose bars that have less than 4 grams of added sugar.
The problem is you can’t find many bars with low sugar content. Be careful as the added sugar amount is close to the daily limit for women and children.
As per the American Heart Association, the daily maximum added sugar for women and children is 24 grams/6 percent of the daily diet.
Avoid Soy-based Bars
Avoid soy flour, roasted soybeans, seed oils, or soy lecithin. Also, avoid soy protein isolate.
Soy’s health risks are continually being researched and debated. Soy products such as lecithin and protein isolates are often low-cost ingredients.
5 Best Healthy CLIF Bars
- CLIF Bar Whole Lotta Roasted Peanut Chocolate
- CLIF Bar Fruit Smoothie Filled Tart Cherry Berry
- CLIF Bar Whey Protein Coconut Almond Chocolate
- CLIF Bar Whole Lotta Spiced Almond Ginger
- CLIF Bar Nut Butter Filled Peanut Butter
3 Least Healthy CLIF Bars
- Caramel Toffee with Sea Salt
- Carrot Cake
- Spiced Pumpkin Pie
Serving Suggestions
CLIF bars are ideal for anyone who needs a concentrated supply of carbs for high energy levels, such as athletes or very active people. Here are some nifty serving suggestions for CLIF bars.
Pre-Workout Snack
CLIF bars are great for pre-workout snacks because they are healthier than other desserts.
The exact time is dependent on an individual’s metabolism. Most individuals can stomach a CLIF bar 2 hours before activity.
Mid-Workout Snack
One can eat CLIF bars for low-level endurance exercises like a long trek because they are convenient in these situations.
Post-Workout Snack
These might be suitable as a post-workout snack for athletes or highly active persons looking for a pre-packaged option.
However, an adult athlete needs more protein than he gets from the bars. But eating these as snacks will not be harmful.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Are CLIF bars as good as their marketing claims?
CLIF Bars are an excellent choice for energy bars. The bars complete the suitable nutrition profile. On the plus side, the components appear to be less processed, making them healthier than other bars.
CLIF bars have a nutritional composition ideal for endurance sports like a long trek.
Does CLIF bar cause weight gain?
There is no specific food that will lead you to gain weight. Higher overall calorie consumption than one’s need is the key here. If you eat more than you need, CLIF bars might contribute to weight gain.
Energy-dense meals have less filling and are denser than whole foods, making it simpler to ingest extra calories.
As a result, CLIF bars might benefit people who want to gain weight. Eat your whole food snack if you do want to lose weight.
Is there added sugar in the CLIF bar?
CLIF bars contain from 19 to 21 grams of sugar. Cane sugar and Brown rice syrup are the sugar sources. This is higher than regular snack bars but similar to the energy bars.
Is it good taking a CLIF bar every day?
CLIF bars contain high sugar content. So, you might eat CLIF bars in a low number. But eating a lot every day will make you gain weight.
What are Mini CLIF Bars?
They are little CLIF bars. The ingredients are similar to the original CLIF bars per serving. They include about 100-110 calories and offer you a short burst of energy.
You will have 2 g fat, 2 g fiber, 9 g sugar, and 4 g protein in the chocolate chip bar version per bar.
Conclusion
CLIF bars are one of the great food sources of energy. But are CLIF bars healthy? They are a healthy choice in the context that you can curb your craving for cake or other snacks by eating CLIF bars.
But it would be best if you were careful. Daily consumption of CLIF bars will disrupt your dieting routine and make you fat.
While having CLIF bars, do not forget your daily need for calories. Remember that they are just another energy bar at the end of the day. Taking too many calories while dieting is never a good option!
