Energy Bars, Lip Balms and more!

January 26, 2010

The Best Bar For Your Bod

What’s the deal with energy bars? You asked, and we answered. The DS team did a seven-bar taste test, then consulted Elaine Winslow-Redmond, MS, ATC, EMT-B, the trainer and wellness coach for the Radio City Rockettes, to investigate the nutritional value in each bar.—Ashley Rivers

Clif Bar: Chocolate Chip Peanut Crunch


DS
: “Tastes like peanut butter. Extremely chewy.”

Elaine:
“With 42 grams of energy-providing carbs and 11 grams of muscle replenishing protein, this bar has a great balance. But your body may use up the 21 grams of sugar too quickly, causing a low-energy crash.”

 

Larabar: Chocolate Coconut


DS
:
“It’s brownie-like and surprisingly fruity for a chocolate-flavored bar.”

Elaine:
“The sugar content is high [18 grams], and there is no sodium. If you sweat, you lose sodium, which can cause muscle cramps.”

Kashi: Chocolate Caramel


DS
:
“It tastes like a Rice Krispies treat with chocolate at the bottom.”

Elaine:
“This is one of my favorites. It’s low in calories [only 150], high-fiber [6 grams] and has a great carb-to-protein ratio [28 grams carbs to 8 grams protein]. The whole grains are a bonus.”

Zone: Chocolate Caramel Cluster


DS
:
“Tastes like a crispy Whatchamacallit candy bar.”

Elaine:
“With only 1 gram, the fiber content is low. 25 to 30 grams of fiber a day is ideal.”

Odwalla: Choco-walla


DS
:
“It has a nice gooey-chewy texture and a chocolatey, fruity taste.”

Elaine:
“With low protein [4 grams] and high sugar [16 grams], it’s not a great post-dance choice.”

Luna: Chocolate Peppermint Stick


DS
:
“Minty deliciousness! Candy or energy bar?”

Elaine:
“Con: only 3 grams of fiber. Pros: 13 grams of sugar is pretty low, and it’s made with 70 percent organic products.”

Kind: Fruit and Nut Delight


DS
:
“It tastes like a mix of peanut brittle and jam.”

Elaine:
“Another one I like a lot. It’s all-natural and wheat-free. It has little sugar [11.5 grams] and some fats [10.9 grams], but they’re monounsaturated, which help reduce bad cholesterol. There are also no trans fats—a big bonus.”

Bar Basics


Look For:

– A bar that mimics a well-rounded meal, with 60 percent or more carbs, 30 percent protein and less than 10 percent fat.

– 5 to 7 grams of fiber.

– Fewer than 15 grams of sugar (the lower, the better).

– Some sodium (The Dietetics Association recommends 2,400 milligrams of sodium per day).

Luscious Lips

Are your lips dry and chapped despite the layers of lip balm you’ve been slathering on? You may be missing an essential key on your path to smooth, kissable lips: the right ingredients! When choosing a balm, check labels for beeswax and coconut oil, which will soothe and heal cracked lips. Avoid flavored balms because the tastier your lips are, the more likely you’ll be to lick the balm off, causing more cracking. If you have especially sensitive lips, stay away from formulas with phenol and camphor, which are found in most medicated lip balms and can actually irritate chapped lips. We love Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm. It contains all the ingredients listed above, so it will help you get your lips looking

soft and smooth!—Michael Anne Bailey

Did You Know?

Being in love can reduce your risk of catching a cold! Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University found that people who feel happiness from love are less likely to get sick when they’re exposed to cold or flu viruses. So if the cute guy in your high school production asks you to be his Valentine, say yes!

Research suggests that frequent texting may cause neck pain because your head is always bent down. Stretch your neck muscles by doing a few slow head rolls, or just pick up the phone to make an old-fashioned call!

Photo by Nathan Sayers