I first discovered the Healthspan HiLo Protein Bars at Balance Festival last month and I fell in love with them; not only from a taste point of view but because of their nutritional stats (macros!) too. At the time I didn’t know where you could buy the protein bars from until one day, when I was browsing the Musclefood website, I spotted them!!
I thought a review of the bars might be useful as I tend to get A LOT of questions, especially on social media, about protein bars; so read on to find out if they’re as good as what they’re made out it be..
To give you an introduction, the HiLo bars are high in protein and fibre, and low in sugar (hence their name!). They contain:
- Just 2g of sugar
- A whopping 20g of protein; the ideal amount to consume pre or post workout
- A generous 10g of fibre; that’s 1/3 of our daily need!
When you compare the HiLo bars to others on the market you’ll quickly see that the macros are simply out of this world; other protein bars tend to be lower in protein and fibre and higher in sugar (in addition to calories; the HiLo bars provide under 200 calories).
Protein is essential for growth and repair, and if you’re working out then your protein needs will be increased. This is because exercise increases protein turn-over, i.e. the rate at which your body breaks down protein (catabolism) and rebuilds it (synthesis).
Protein requirements range from 0.8-2g per Kg of body weight a day, with the higher amounts applying to those who are strength training or who are trying to gain muscle mass. You should aim for around 1.6g of protein per Kg of body weight a day if you’re looking to lose weight and preserve lean muscle mass.
People often have a protein bar as a way of topping up their dietary intake if they’re not meeting their protein needs from food alone. In my opinion the HiLo bars taste AMAZING and have a lovely texture (unlike other protein bars which are so hard that you car barely get your teeth into them!). The bars are also fortified with 8 vitamins and minerals including 100% of the recommend nutrients intakes of vitamin B1, B3, B6, B12 and vitamin C in addition to chloride, magnesium and phosphorus.
Out of the two flavours I LOVE the caramel milk chocolate one and I love eating them as a much healthier alternative to a chocolate bar either mid-morning or mid-afternoon, post workout or simply on the go.. I even popped a bar in my handbag before a wedding at the weekend; I always get hungry on the way to the service!!
Have you tried the HiLo protein bars yet? If so what was your favourite flavour?!
*This blog post was written in collaboration with Musclefood. All opinions are 100% honest and are my own. Please read my disclaimer page for more information.