powerbars

[Thomas]

A few questions about these nifty little things. Ive had them before and they helped me climb up the tallest mountain at Big Bend National Park. The only problem I had with them was the awful taste. My question is do these bars dehydrate our bodies? And if they do how much water do we need to make up for it? Oh and if anyone here has eaten one of those new snickers powerbars please tell me if they work and if they taste good.

[Tireur]

It's PEEOPLE!!!!!!!! Power Bars are PEEOPLE

[Kodiak Kid]

Tuesday is Soylent Green day!

I was listening to NPR the other day and there was a brief story about power bars and, by and large, they were panned by all the nutritionists as being little more than expensive candy bars. They went into all the gory details about nutrition and how your body uses the fuel we provide it and I started to lose interest. Anyway, the "experts" were in agreement that they were a waste of money.

Congrats on your conquest by the way. Very impressive!

[whtouche]

I don't have one in front of me, but I know actual powerbar brand powerbars specify on the wrapper how much water to drink with them.
I dont think they specifically dehydrate your body(as creatin does..I think?), they're just better absorbed by your muscles if you drink water with them.

[Iwant2bafencer]

I don't really mind the taste of some of them. Granted there are some that aren't exactly pleasing, but they've worked for me. Whenever I eat one I'm usually doing sports or something athletic, so I try to drink a whole water bottle at least when I eat one.

I think whtouche is right though, I believe it says on the package how much to drink.

[FoilyGeezer]

There are a plethora of "Power Bar" type products on the market. They range from high carb "Workout Bars" to high protein "Meal Replacement Bars". They don't dehydrate you, per se, but if you're doing any kind of strenuous activity you should be taking in liquids anyway.

Most of the protein bars taste like dirty socks. Some of them taste worse. Some of the bars are sweetened with aspartame and taste...cloyingly over sweetened. You really need to read the labels and try them. For me, I've used them on occaision as suppliments, or when I was building muscle mass to keep my protein intake up, but I much prefer real food when I can manage it.

[The0ne]

one of the advantages to eating them is the vitamins and minerals that you get, along with carbs protein etc. Candy doesn't have vitamin b12 or all that other good stuff

[Tireur]

That's what Flintstone's chewables are for

[Delmont]

I agree with Tireur, I had to live off of them for a while and I absolutely hate them now. If you like them you have my respect, I can't see how you can stand the taste

[FoilyGeezer]

Originally posted by Tireur
That's what Flintstone's chewables are for

So who do you think tastes better, Fred, Barney, Wilma, or Dino?

[Tireur]

I'd have to say Wilma, shame there's no Betty.

[npkeith]

I find the main problem with powerbars is that they have the consistency of half-dried wood glue (possibly with a little silicone caulk mixed in). Clif bars are better - mostly oatmeal (complex carbs) and they taste like giant cookies.
-Keith

[Peach]

I like the Clif bars because I can throw them in my bag and don't have to depend on the boiled hot dogs, inflatable rubber soft pretzels, or coagulated hamburgers 'n' fries which pass for food at most venues. All I ask of tournament food is that it not upset my stomach.

[Lee Yue Yang]

Has anyone tried taking a banana instead?They're packed full of carbohydrates.Right?

[Peach]

I take bananas to local competitions, but they don't endure well on long trips.

[Soldier]

Originally posted by Lee Yue Yang
Has anyone tried taking a banana instead?They're packed full of carbohydrates.Right?

Even more importantly, they're packed with potassium, which makes a huge difference in athletic performance, and also helps prevent cramps.

[Strytllr]

I just heard the other day that Mars is making a Snickers brand powerbar...

that might improve the taste a bit.

[Thomas]

Read my first post dude. I tryed the snickers bar yesterday. It gave me alot of energy and it didnt taste bad at all.

[MyrddinsPrecint]

yeah, i eat Luna Bars, which are like clif bars, except with frosting- so they taste really really good.

and, i don't eat any sort of powerbar type thing because i think it's better than other food- i eat it because it's good to have food in your stomach during these sorts of things, and because the thought of eating anything more substantial makes me want to vomit.

the consensus, over and over again on this particular message board seems to be:

power bars and the ilk are not the ultimate food to eat during an athletic event. they're simply an easier food. some taste really bad. some taste good. if something else tastes better/seems to work better and you can transport it easily and eat it easily, take that instead.

and hydration is always important, no matter what.

also? breathing.

(somtimes excreting waste.)