Optimum Nutrition Protein Bars

Managed to grab two Optimum Nutrition products, 100% Whey Crisp bar and Wholly Oats. Decided to post and blog a bit about these protein bars, as someone bought them for me, how nice and thank you. Well, although Optimum Nutrition is a powerhouse of bodybuilding/sports supplements, I have some comments especially both these so called 'high protein bars'.  I wouldn't say a review on both these protein bars, but just some advises and my honest point of view on protein bars. 

Now, let's start with ON 100% Whey Crisp Bar. First impression, its ON, most people who is in bodybuilding industry, or bodybuilder enthusiasts, would think that this award winning brand, would be an ideal choice of protein product or in this case, protein bar. Besides, it's 100% Whey right? How bad can it be? Let's start off with the protein total content, which is 25g. For a protein bar, 25g is quite high and looks good for a either pre or post workout meal. Next, carbohydrates. This protein bar has a whopping 34g of carbs, in which 6g of it is sugar. Unless you just ran a half marathon or completed a strenuous long endurance exercise, consuming a 34g of carbs by itself, is obviously a lot to ingest.  Moving on, fats, total fat for this protein bar is 4.5g, which 2g is of it saturated fat. A plus point for this protein bar, it does not have hydrogenated vegetable oil, and 0g of trans fat. 

Meanwhile, below are the ingredients of ON 100% Whey Crisp bar. 

-Whey Protein Crisps (Whey Protein Isolate & Concentrate, Tapioca Starch, Calcium Carbonate, Soy Lecithin).

-Maltitol

-Glycerin

-Toasted Oats (Rolled Oats, Sugar. Soybean Oil, Honey, Brown Sugar Molasses)

- Brown Rice Syrup

- Whey Protein Concentrate & Isolate

- Chocolate Liquor

- Cocoa Butter

- Soy Lecithin

- Vanilla Extract

- Natural Flavor

- Salt

- Sucralose

- Almond Meal

- Wheat Germ

- Peanut Flour

Verdict: A part from harmful chemically made artificial sweetener sucralose, soybean oil and high carbs (34g),  this protein bar is not cheap as well unless you are a loyal fan of Optimum Nutrition and primarily rely on protein bars for pre and post workoout meals. A quality protein bar should ideally be organic based and less then preferably 7 total ingredients. 

Next protein bar by ON, is Wholly Oats. This bar has 280 calories, with a slightly higher carbs(35g) content then Whey Crisp bar, and but has a lower protein content of 21g. Comparing both protein bars, I have to say that ON Wholly Oats has some really nasty ingredients, such as high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated rapeseed oil, hydrogenated cottonseed oil as well as sucralose. Two extremely evil artifical sweeteners and two trans fat based oils? Thats insane! Well, most people look at the trans fat content of 0g, and they thought that the product does not contain trans fat. Obviously that is not true, as the food manufacturers DO NOT need to declare trans fat in the food packaging if it is less then 1g? Again, as I've mentioned in my earlier trans fat post, look out for ingredients such as hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated vegetable oils. 

I just don't bother typing in the ingredients of ON Wholly Oats, go google and find yourself if you are interested. What I can say, is stay away from this protein bar, and for those who has been consuming this particular protein bar thinking it is oats based protein bar, maybe you should think twice before you chew that next bar of yours. 

Verdict : A protein bar which is definitely not an ideal pre or post workout meal, or even meant to be ingested by any of us. Although the sugar content is only 3g (which you think is good), this protein bar is compensated with much stronger and dangerous artificial sweeteners HFCS and sucralose. Wonder why sugar content is low yet taste so delicious and sweet?