Powerbar Performance Bars

Product Name:  PowerBar Performance Bar
Manufacturer:  PowerBar Oceania (Nestle)
Category: Sports Products & Supplements (Fortified Energy Bar)
Cost: $3.50/ bar or $40/ box 12
Available from: Leading supermarkets, Sport shops (bike, running, triathlon etc)
Ingredients: Syrup [fructose-glucose (from wheat)], oat bran, maltodextrin, milk protein, rice crisps (rice, sugar, wheat gluten, barley malt, vegetable fat, salt, vanillin), cocoa mass, flavour, minerals (calcium phosphate, magnesium carbonate, zinc gluconate, ferrous fumarate), humectant (422), cocoa powder, vitamins [C, E, B3, H, B5, B6, folate, B2, B12, B1], l-leucine, l-valine, l-isoleucine.
Flavours Available: Chocolate, Vanilla, Cappuccino, (coming soon - Cookies & Cream)

Also contains vitamins: B1, B2, B5, B6, B12, C, E, Folate, minerals: Fe, Zn, Mg, Ca

Analysis based on Cappuccino flavour

Comments

• PowerBar Performance Bars contain at least 40g carbohydrate to provide fuel for your brain and working muscles, 10g of high quality protein, 30-90% of the RDIs for 15 vitamins and minerals.
• Performance Bars are of a chewy texture and can be particularly hard to chew if stored in a cold environment.
• Best consumed with fluid to assist digestion/absorption.
• If intended to consume during a competitive event, this strategy should be practised and assessed during training sessions.
• Overuse may lead to inappropriate replacement of whole foods. Limit to 1/day

Suitable for:

• Snack: athletes with high-energy requirements. Given energy-density, for weight conscious athletes limit to sport-specific uses.
• Pre-exercise: low residue and carbohydrate-rich, therefore useful as part of a pre-event meal for athletes at high risk of GI problems
• During exercise: portable, convenient source of carbohydrate that can help satisfy hunger during prolonged training sessions and competitive events (e.g. road cycling)
• Post-exercise: ideal for refuelling energy and nutrients following exercise when appetite is suppressed, access to food is limited, or the athlete has minimal time to eat between exercise sessions. Useful between events or in multi-event competition. Although the nutritional recipe for optimal post-exercise protein synthesis is yet to be determined, performance bars may not provide sufficient protein to meet the post-exercise needs of resistance training
• Making Weight: low residue which can be used by weight-making athletes to replace meals in the period before weigh-in. By reducing fibre intake, the athlete can reduce the weight of their gastrointestinal contents and overall body mass while still consuming fuel and nutrients.
• Travel: portable and non-perishable food alternative for travelling athlete who has minimal facilities for food preparation/storage or is travelling to locations where food availability is limited.

Rating

4/5

The rating system is on a scale of 1-5.  Below are the classifications for these.
1 = Very Poor choice
2 = Not recommended
3 = Suitable for some individuals /athletes in specific situations
4 = Overall a good product. Meets the majority of requirements and will suit most situations
5 = Great product, well formulated and will suit most individuals and situations.

Reviewed by: Lesley Farthing, Sports Dietitian (ACT)

Disclaimer: Statements and opinions expressed in product reviews are personal views of individual SDA members, and do not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions of SDA, nor does SDA accept responsibility for the nature or accuracy of such statement and opinion.