ENERGY FOR SALE: CONSUMERS ARE TAKING A BIG BITE OF ENERGY BARS AND DRINKS

Energy bars and protein drinks can give people a healthy lift, say health food advocates.

Mike and Becky Brown are among such advocates. They operate Natural Health Organic Foods in Cape Girardeau. The store sells a variety of health foods, including energy bars, protein drinks and fresh juice.

And the owners are selling more and more energy bars as the concept of eating them becomes more popular.

Becky Brown said many of their customers who buy energy bars and powder mix for protein drinks are on diets.

"There are a lot of people on the Atkins diet and the Zone diet," said Becky Brown.

Atkins-based energy bars and food products have a high protein, high fat, low carbohydrate ratio, generally about 18 grams of protein, 19 grams of fat and 2.6 grams of carbohydrates. Other diet energy bars have a high carbohydrate, low fat ratio.

Balance Bar Co., based in California, models its bars and beverages after the nutrition plan popularized by Barry Sears in the Zone diet. In that diet, 40 percent of total calories are derived from carbohydrates, 30 percent from protein and 30 percent from fat.

So-called "energy" powders include a number of herbs and vitamins that help boost energy, Becky Brown said. Some of the powders are flavored.

"Some people use them as a meal replacement for breakfast," she said. "You get a good amount of nutrition."

Powders that have a soy base have been touted as helping to lower cholesterol, Mike Brown said.

Read the labels

Energy bars have become a popular term, but Mike Brown said it is important for consumers to read the ingredients listed on the labels.

"A lot of energy bars are nothing more than souped-up Snickers bars," he said. "We tend to steer clear of these."

Brown said healthy bars are ones that are low in sugar and high in protein and fiber. Many of the bars come in a variety of flavors, everything from chocolate raspberry to oatmeal raisin.

A number of brands are targeted to specific audiences such as hikers, athletes and women. Luna bars, for example, are marketed to women. They contain green tea extract.

Mike Brown said the energy bars are a convenient way to grab a healthy bite.

Healthy herbs make sense to Brown. "People have been using herbs since the beginning of time."

Energy bars and protein drinks aren't just a gimmick, he insisted. "If people did not get results, they wouldn't spend money on this type of thing."

But Mike Brown said such products aren't a substitute for a healthy diet.

No substitute

Scott Givens agrees. Givens is assistant manager of Main Street Fitness Center in Jackson, which stocks several energy bars for its customers.

"I think they have their purpose if you need a snack in between meals," Givens said.

But he said energy bars and drinks are no substitute for real food. Many of the advertised energy bars are similar to a "straight up candy bar," Givens said.

Givens said the fitness center and its associated Southeast Missouri Hospital Wellness Center prefer energy bars that have moderate calories, carbohydrates and protein. "We tend to go by moderate everything."

Givens said the biggest problem with many energy bars is taste. "They don't taste all that great."