Protein powders, bars, and supplements are intended to enhance performance with healthy muscle growth, and they can be a valuable dietary supplement for any nutrition program. While CytoSport Muscle Milk offers many benefits on its own, a number of alternatives to Muscle Milk may provide similar results. Soy protein enhanced with amino acids, complete whey protein formulas, and low-carb powders each offer their own set of advantages and nutritional benefits, and are available in a range of flavors to suit your tastes. Read the rest of this entry »

Protein bars are a popular and healthy supplement that fit the lifestyle of many active people. While they’re a great substitute for sugary, fat-laden snacks, they’re also much more than just an alternative to a doughnut. Protein bars are tailored from a variety of ingredients to meet different needs. Let’s take a look at what you’re getting when you unwrap one.

Why Protein Bars?
When you’re shopping for a protein bar, it’s important to consider why you’re getting one. For dieters following a low-carb, high-protein diet, they’re an excellent low-carb alternative to the average snack. Atkins Advantage Bars or Worldwide Pure Protein Bars are great examples of low-carb, high-protein bars that’ll ward off hunger when you’re dieting. Read the rest of this entry »

A few years ago, carb was considered a four-letter word. Today, diet gurus have eased up on their carb bashing and are actually encouraging us to eat the right carbs … in moderation, of course. But if only there were a way to have your cake and eat it, too—without all the guilt of excess carb consumption. Well, there may be, to a point.

First of all, you do need some carbohydrates in your diet, since they’re the preferred source of energy for your muscles and brain. Vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and beans are healthy sources of complex carbohydrates. If these types of foods were our only source of carbs, we probably wouldn’t have the obesity problem we do today. Unfortunately, most of us like to eat products made with refined sugar and flour that are loaded with empty calories, and it’s easy to overindulge in these types of carbohydrates. This can be especially dangerous if you have diabetes or glucose intolerance. Even if you’re trying to adhere to a traditional low-carb diet, there are times when you might slip up and have some bread with dinner. Could a “carb blocker” erase the consequences of your actions?

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