Do Protein Bars Give You Energy: Unwrapping The Truth

When most people think of getting energy from something, it’s usually from something like a coffee, pre-workout, or an energy drink.

Protein bars can give you energy the same way food can from macronutrients like protein, carbs, and fats. The energy you get from a protein bar will be from your body’s ability to digest and use those calories for the activities you will perform throughout the day.

But unlike the boost of energy you get from drinking a coffee or downing an energy drink, a protein bar will not give you those same effects.

Below, we’ll dive deeper into how a protein bar gives you energy, what the typical uses are for a protein bar, what’s considered a protein bar, what happens when you eat one without working out, and more…

Does A Protein Bar Give You Energy

This really depends on what you consider energy. Some people say they feel more awake after eating a protein bar, while others feel like they need to nap. So what’s the deal?

The energy you get from a protein bar is from the nutritional content of the bar. Unlike coffee or pre-workout, protein bars usually don’t contain any stimulants that will give you a burst of energy. You can eat protein bars before bedtime and still get a good night’s sleep.

If you are looking for something with a stimulant like caffeine to give you energy. Then you are better off going with a coffee, energy drink, etc.

But if you are looking for energy as a fuel source to get you through physical activity like running, hiking, working out, etc.

Then, a meal from actual food or a protein bar will better serve you since it’ll contain a balance of fats, carbs, and protein to fuel your body with that type of energy.

Now that we’ve cleared up those two different types of “energy” let’s talk about the uses of these bars…

Uses For Protein Bars

There are plenty of uses for them, and you don’t have to be a powerlifter or crazy gym rat to use protein bars.

Below are the popular reasons why you might consider using these bars in your daily routines.

Increase Protein Intake

If you are looking for additional ways to boost your daily protein intake. Eating a protein bar is one way to achieve your goal.

Especially if you have a certain protein goal, you are trying to hit on a daily basis. It can be hard trying to get all of it from whole food sources.

Curb Appetite

Protein is a macronutrient that can help you stay satiated (feeling full) for longer periods of time.

People trying to stick to a diet or lose weight can benefit from eating protein bars since it’ll help curb their appetite a little bit, making it easier to stick to their diets.

Healthy Alternative

Another use for these bars is as a substitute for candy bars. Some protein bars can taste really good. It’s almost like an actual candy bar.

So, there are some people who use protein bars as a healthier substitute for eating candy or chocolate bars.

Convenient

Last but not least is their convenience to take on the go as a snack. If you don’t have time to make something to eat. It’s fairly easy to run into the pantry and grab a protein bar to stuff in your pocket for later.

Great for those who are really busy and need a quick snack to hold them over for a real meal later on.

What Does A Protein Bar Do For Your Body

If you think there is something magical or special that happens to your body when you eat a protein bar, then I’m sorry to burst your bubble, but…

A protein bar gets digested in your body just like any other type of food you consume. Your body will then break down the bar and absorb all the macronutrients in the bar for your body to use later on as fuel.

Yup, just like any other food. Your body will digest and absorb it. The benefit you get is from the additional protein content you’ll get from the protein bar.

This can be used by your body to help grow, recover, or retain your lean muscle mass. This is especially important if you are pushing your body through physical exercise on a daily basis.

What’s Considered A Protein Bar

This is a great question that I get asked about frequently. Especially from my friends and family just getting started on their fitness journey.

If you want a deeper dive into this topic. Check out this post on how much protein is considered a protein bar.

The protein content is what will differentiate a protein bar from other types of bars like cereal bars, energy bars, granola bars, etc.

Most of those bars can be loaded with carbs and sugars with very little protein content. And you have to be careful about the bars that claim to be protein bars but contain just a tiny amount of protein.

Read that article if you want to know the recommended amount of protein a bar should contain and how many calories to look for.

Can You Eat Protein Bars Without Working Out

You absolutely can eat a protein bar without working out. But there are a few things you want to consider.

What are your fitness goals? Are you tracking your calorie intake, and are you working out?

See this post for more information on eating protein bars without working out.

It’s essential to track what you eat on days you do and don’t work out. Especially if you have specific fitness goals you want to hit.

That article will help you understand everything you need to know about eating protein bars on off days and still hitting your fitness goals.

Final Thoughts About Protein Bars Giving You Energy

Now, you should know that protein bars will not give you energy like caffeine and coffee will.

Protein bars will give you energy the same way eating food will give you energy by allowing your body to digest and absorb its nutritional value and use that throughout the day as an energy source.

This is great if you plan on hiking, working out, or any other physical activity and need a quick and convenient healthy snack to fuel you along.

But if you are looking for a stimulant like coffee or caffeine for an energy boost. Then, eating a protein bar will not give you the energy you are looking for.

I hope I was able to answer your question about energy and protein bars!