Sport drinks and carbohydrate gels are popular as well. In my mind, energy bars can have an important place in a good sports diet. However, despite what you read and hear, there is no advantage of one bar over another, or over food for that matter. And keep in mind that energy bars are effective only when used for long duration athletic events, not the 30-minute walk or skate around the block. Energy bars usually are packed with 200 to 500 calories.
Some bars also contain protein or fat.
Most are fortified with vitamins and minerals and a few even include herbs. Claims that these bars burn fat, build muscle and decrease your susceptibility to injury are simply unfounded. During exercise, your body derives energy by breaking down carbohydrates and fats. Carbohydrates require less oxygen to break down for energy than do fats. Consuming a large dose of carbohydrates before or soon after starting to exercise means a lot of this nutrient enters the blood and is available for use by the muscles.