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Update 3/3/20. Protein bars. There are a LOT of them out there. While all of them contain protein, others are high in fiber, gluten-free, non-GMO, vegan, and organic. Which protein bar is best? Better yet, which one is best for you? I think the idea of which one is best goes beyond how much protein they contain. I also think all those fancy claims on the wrappers (gluten-free, no trans fat, etc.) make understanding which bar is best for you to difficult because it diverts your attention from how much fat, saturated fat, sugar, etc. it has. So, let me try to cut through the hype and impressive-sounding food label claims. The protein bar table below focuses on what you should be paying attention to calories, fat, saturated fat, fiber, and sugar. My hope is this review will help you more easily decide which protein bar is best for you.

How Did I Pick The Bars?

My criteria for which bars to include in the table below is pretty straight forward. If the front of the wrapper makes a specific reference about how much protein it contains (like “15g” or “high protein,” etc.) I  call it a protein bar. This allows me to cast the widest net possible.

For example, the original Cliff Bar is not listed in the table because it does no prominently reference protein on the front of the wrapper, but the Cliff Builders Bar is listed because it does.

See any I missed? Let me know in the comments below, and I'll update this review.

How To Read The Table

In the table below, here are some things to take notice of:

What does the “H” mean? When you see “H” in a cell of the table, it means the bar is high in the nutrient in question. For example, if you see “H” in the saturated fat box, it means the bar is high in saturated fat. I base this on the FDA guidelines for understanding daily values. When you see 5% or less, it's “low” and 20% or more means “high.”

See the next point about “%” for more information.

What does the “%” mean?  When you see a percentage (%), it refers to the Percent of Daily Value. This refers to the percentage of a nutrient that we are allowed to have per day. For example, if you see 30% in parentheses for saturated fat, it means the bar provides 30% of our daily value (daily allowance) for saturated fat.

When it comes to the Daily Values, you want low numbers for, saturated fat and sodium and high numbers for fiber.

For more on the Percent Daily Values, see this page of the FDA website.

The percent Daily Values are based on eating 2000 calories per day. If you eat more or less than this, the % DV may be different for you.

What About Sugars? I've listed sugars in the table so you can compare how much each bar has to the others.  According to the American Heart Association, men should consume no more than 36 grams of added sugars per day. Women should consume no more than 24 grams of added sugars per day.

Sugar contributes to heart disease and people, generally, eat way too much sugar.

The sugar industry has suppressed this information for decades.

Trans fat. The table does not include trans fat because of most bars list “zero trans fat” on their Nutrition Facts Labels. Information on trans fat and other nutrients is listed in the additional information section below.

What's up with the grams? In the table below, I've told you how much each protein bar weighs in grams (50g, 60g, etc.) so that you can compare how much each weight to the amounts of protein, calories, saturated fat, etc.  Because not everybody likes the metric system, just remember that 28 grams = 1 ounce. So if a bar, weighs 60g, that is about 2 ounces.

What about vitamins? In this review, I've decided not to list the amounts of vitamins and minerals in the protein bars and the reason because is most people are not lacking in vitamins or minerals. Also, extra vitamins do not improve exercise performance in those who already get them in the diet. Those who are indeed deficient in vitamins and minerals should get them from food or a simple multi-vitamin supplement and not rely on protein bars.

What's The Best Protein Bar?

The table below lists Nutrition Facts information for the various protein bars. To make the table easier to read, it contains information on calories, total fat, saturated fat, sugar, fiber, as well as protein. This is important stuff most people need to know.  Below the table, is additional information on sugar alcohols, potassium, etc., for those who want to know more.

For greater insights, don't forget to read the ingredients lists too. While I did not cover all the ingredients in this review, scanning the ingredients of a product you are interested in can often provide useful information.

If you discover a protein bar that is not listed, leave a comment below so I can try to locate it and update this review.

Additional Protein Bar Information

Here is additional information about the protein bars mentioned in this review.

22 Days (walnut fudge brownie) by Co-Exist Nutrition is USDA organic and contains 34g total carbs (11%DV), 0g trans fat, 0mg sodium and is Plant-Based.

Arnold Muscle Bar (Arnold Schwarzenegger) (Muscle Pharm) (Chocolate brownie) has 5g of monounsaturated fat, 2g of polyunsaturated fat, 0g trans fat, 25mg cholesterol (8%DV), 355mg of sodium (15%DV), 85mg potassium (2%DV), 30g of total carbs (10%DV).

Best Protein Bar Apple crunch cake  (BPI Sports) has 10 mg of cholesterol, 29g of total carbs (10%DV),  zero trans fat, 105mg sodium (4%DV) and 6g of sugar alcohols. The Best bar is also gluten-free, has 6g of net carbs and contains stevia.

BHU Fit Bar (BHU Foods) has 0 mg of cholesterol, 250mg of potassium, 14g of total carbs (5%DV) and 75mg sodium (3%DV). The BHU Fit bar is also non-GMO, gluten-free and “grass-fed whey.”

Cliff Bar Builders Bar (chocolate peanut butter). The bar has 0g cholesterol, 340mg sodium (14%DV), 180mg potassium (5%DV), 29g total carbs (10%DV), 2g soluble fiber and 6g of “other carbs.”

Combat Crunch Bar (Muscle Pharm, chocolate chip cookie dough) is gluten-free and has 2g monounsaturated fat, 1g polyunsaturated fat, 18mg cholesterol (6%DV), 160 mg sodium (7%DV), 25g of total carbs (8%DV), 100mg of potassium (2%DV), and 1g sugar alcohols.

Complete Cookie (Lenny & Larry's) chocolate chip flavor.  The cookie contains no eggs, no dairy, no soy, is non-GMO, vegan and kosher. It contains 1g of monounsaturated fat, zero trans fat, 0mg cholesterol 220mg of sodium (9%DV) and has 24g of to total carbs (8%DV).

Detour Simple (salted caramel cookie dough) has 15mg cholesterol (5%DV), zero trans fat, 100mg of potassium (3%DV), 22g of total carbs (7%DV) and 210mg sodium (9% DV). This bar is also gluten-free and non-GMO.

Fit Crunch Bar (Chef Robert Irvine) (Peanut butter flavor).  See the Fit Crunch Bar review for more info.

Fit Elite Bar (Chef Robert Irvine) (birthday cake) also1g polyunsaturated fat, 2g monounsaturated fat,  zero-g trans fat, 10mg cholesterol (3%DV), 250mg sodium  (10%DV), 50mg potassium (1%DV), 24g of total carbs (8%DV) and 5g sugar alcohols.

Fit Joy bar (frosted cinnamon roll) has 10mg cholesterol (3%DV), 170mg sodium (7%DV), 105mg of potassium (3%DV), and 23mg of total carbs (8%DV). The Fit Joy bar is gluten-free, GMO-Free and has no artificial flavors, colors or sweeteners.

Gatorade Whey Protein Bar (chocolate chip). See the Gatorade Protein Bar review for more info.

Gourmet Cheesecake Protein Bar (Ansi) (chocolate peanut butter cheesecake) is naturally flavored, “100% clean,” non-GMO, gluten-free, soy-free, zero sugar alcohols and is hormone-free (rBST/rBGH). It has zero trans fat, 10mg cholesterol (3%DV), 210mg sodium (9%DV), 115mg potassium (3%DV) and 26g total carbs (9%DV).

JERF (Just Eat Real Food) Bar is non-GMO, gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free, vegan, kosher and USDA certified organic. It has zero trans fat, zero cholesterol and 40 mg of sodium (2%DV).

Luna Bar is non-GMO, made with organic chocolate and has 1.5g  polyunsaturated fat, 2.5g monounsaturated fat, zero trans fat, 150mg of potassium, 26g of total carbs (9%DV), 125mg sodium (5%DV), 1g of insoluble fiber and 13g of “other carbohydrate.”

Muscle Sandwich by Muscle Foods (peanut butter graham cracker) has 5 mg of cholesterol (2%DV), zero trans fat, 210 mg of potassium (6%DV), 25 g of total carbs (11%DV) and 140mg sodium (6% DV). The Muscle Sandwich bar is made with 100% real peanut butter.

Muscle Tech Mission 1 (cookies & cream) has zero trans fat, 5 mg cholesterol (2%DV), 180mg sodium (8%DV), 22g of total carbs (7%DV), zero sugar alcohols and is gluten-free with no artificial flavors or colors.

No Cow Bar by D's Nutritionals is all-natural, non-GMO, vegan, high fiber has no sugar added, gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, lactose-free and “guilt-free.” It has zero cholesterol, zero trans fat, 27g total carbs (9%DV), 210mg sodium (9%DV)  and 4g sugar alcohols.

Nogii Bar (Elizabeth Hasselbeck) is gluten-free and has 0mg cholesterol, zero trans fat, 24g total carbs (8%DV) and 150mg sodium (6%DV).

Oatmega (chocolate coconut crisp) has 300mg of EPA and DHA (fish oils), 20mg cholesterol  (7%DV), zero trans fat, 21g of total carbs (7%DV) and 120mg sodium (5%DV). The oatmega bar is also gluten-free and non-GMO.

Oh Yeah! Bar (chocolate caramel) 31g of total carbs (10%DV), 3.5g of polyunsaturated fat, 7g of monounsaturated fat, zero trans fat, 130mg sodium (5%DV), 15 grams of sugar alcohols, 5mg of cholesterol (1% DV) and 76mg of potassium (2% DV).

Oh Yeah! (Almond Fudge Brownie) has 1g of polyunsaturated fat, 2g of monounsaturated fat, 0 mg cholesterol, zero trans fat, 80mg of potassium 2% DV, 18g of total carbs (9% DV), 45mg sodium (2%DV) and 9g of sugar alcohols. This bar is also gluten-free.

Oh Yeah! One (chocolate chip cookie dough) has 1g of polyunsaturated fat, 2g of monounsaturated fat, zero trans fat, 110g of potassium 3% DV), 125 mg sodium (5%DV) and 11 g of sugar alcohols. This Oh Yeah! the bar is also gluten-free.

Opti-bar by ON (chocolate chip cookie dough) has 5mg cholesterol (2%DV), 190 mg sodium (8%DV), 23 g of total carbs (8%DV) and 3g of sugar alcohols.

Orgain Organic Protein Bar (peanut butter chocolate chunk) has 0mg of cholesterol, zero trans fat, 60mg of potassium (2%DV), 18g total carbs (6%DV) 115mg sodium (5%DV) and 3 grams of sugar alcohols. The Orgain bar also is a “plant-based” bar.

Natures Valley Protein Chew Bars (peanut butter dark chocolate) is gluten-free and has zero trans fat, 1g polyunsaturated fat, 7g monounsaturated fat, 0g cholesterol, 180mg sodium (7%DV), and 14g of total carbs (5%DV).

Power Crunch Protein Energy Bar by BioNutritionals (french vanilla cream) has 10 mg cholesterol (4%DV),  zero trans fat, 160mg of potassium (5%DV), 100 mg sodium (4%DV) and 8g of total carbs.

Promax Protein Bar (cookies n cream) is gluten-free and has zero cholesterol, 240mg of sodium (10%DV), 250 mg of potassium (7%DV), and 40g of total carbs (13%DV).

Pure Protein Bar (Dark chocolate coconut) is gluten-free and has zero cholesterol, 160mg of sodium (7%DV), 19 g of total carbs (6%DV) and 6 grams of sugar alcohols.

Quest Bar (chocolate chip cookie dough) has zero trans fat, 5mg of cholesterol (2%DV), 115mg of potassium (3%DV), 20g of total carbs (7%DV), 210mg sodium (9%DV) and 2g of sugar alcohols. The Quest bar is also gluten-free, has no sugar added and has 4 net carbs.

RXBAR Whole Food Protein Bar (chocolate sea salt) is gluten-free, soy-free has no GMO ingredients and is dairy-free. It also has zero cholesterol, 240mg sodium (10%DV), 350mg potassium (10%DV) and 22g total carbs (8%DV).

Think Thin Bar (chocolate fudge) has less than 5mg of cholesterol (o%DV),  zero trans fat, 24g of total carbs, 210mg sodium (9%DV)  and 12g of sugar alcohols. The Think Thin bar is also gluten-free, non-GMO and has a low glycemic index.

Vega Sport Bar (chocolate coconut) has 0 mg of cholesterol, zero trans fat, 29g of total carbs, and 40mg sodium (2%DV). The Vega Sport bar also contains 2.6g of BCAAs, 2 g of glutamine and 1g of omega 3 fatty acids. It's non-GMO verified too.

Sugar Alcohols

Several protein bars reviewed above-listed sugar alcohols on their Nutrition Facts labels. What are they? Sugar alcohols are sugars but they have fewer calories than other carbohydrates.   This is often used to reduce the calorie content of foods.  While sugar has 4 calories per gram, sugar alcohols have less. According to this Fact Sheet, here are the calories in common sugar alcohols:

• Sorbitol  : 2.6 calories/ gram
• Xylitol: 2.4 calories /gram
• Maltitol: 2.1 calories /gram
• Erythritol: 0-.02 calories/gram

Sugar alcohols can also be used to help food taste better or have a better texture.  They also tend to have a lower glycemic index compared to table sugar, so they don't raise blood sugar as fast. That can be good for those with diabetes and pre-diabetes. Despite the name, sugar alcohols are not alcohol so they won't cause people to fail a Breathalyzer test or become impaired while driving, etc.

Sugar alcohols can also be classified as a prebiotic because our bacteria can eat them for energy. This can cause some types to increase gas production. While they might have some health benefits, sugar alcohols might not mesh well with people with digestion issues like irritable bowel syndrome.

Aren't Protein Bars Just Candy Bars?

Protein bars are not all candy bars because. For one thing, they do, tend to have more protein than your typical piece of junk food. Many protein bars have added vitamins and minerals too.

That said, I can understand why some would make the comparison.  For example, here is the nutrition information for a Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bar (43g):

• Calories: 210
• Total Fat: 13g (20% H)
• Saturated fat: 8g (40% H)
• Sugars: 24g
• Fiber: 1g
• Protein: 3g

Protein bars tend to weigh a bit more than candy bars (43 grams in this example. Some bars weigh are over 60g) but this can give readers a rough idea when comparing protein bars to a basic candy bar. In the bullet list, “H” means it's high in the respective nutrient.

Some of the protein bars in the table above have almost as much – if not more – sugar than a candy bar.  Several protein bars summarized above have more calories than a candy bar too.

Readers should judge for themselves if the protein is worth the added calories and fat some bars contain.

What The Bars Have In Common

Many protein bars – although not all – claim that they are gluten-free and contain no genetically modified organisms (Non-GMO). Those with allergies to nuts, wheat, soy and wheat, should check the wrappers.  Many bars alert consumers that they are made in factories that contain ingredients that some may be allergic to.

Most protein bars have very little sodium, containing for the most part, less than 10% of one's daily value for this nutrient. That is good for those watching their salt intake because of high blood pressure.

Generally, the majority of protein bars are lacking in the mineral, potassium. While sodium can raise blood pressure, potassium lowers blood pressure. Fruits and vegetables are good sources of potassium.

While the majority of protein bars make the claim of containing “Zero Trans Fat,” some still contain high amounts of saturated fat.

Some bars have lots of sugar.

Who Needs Extra Protein?

While I'm sure the typical person who buys a protein bar is someone who works out a lot, I think a case can also be made for some older adults. After the age of 50, we tend to start losing muscle tissue at a rate of about 1% to 2% per year. This is due to a condition called sarcopenia. Sarcopenia is defined as muscle loss as we get older and it can actually start in our 30s.

Some things that can contribute to sarcopenia include:

• lower calorie intake
• lower protein intake
• digestion issues
• wearing dentures
• lower anabolic hormone levels
• lack of appropriate types of exercise (strength training)

Because protein bars provide both protein and calories, I think they might be useful to some older adults. That said, remember, some protein bars may be dense and hard to bite into and chew. This can be a challenge for folks who use dentures. In this instance, a protein shake might be preferable.

Most Protein. Fewest Calories

From the table above, the protein bars that have at least 20g of protein, less than 200 calories and are low in fat and saturated fat include:

• No Cow Bar by Ds Naturals: 20g protein and 160 calories.

• Quest Bar: 21g protein and 190 calories.

• Robert Irving's Fit Elite Bar: 20g protein and 180 calories.

Protein Bar Side Effects

For those who are healthy, I don't think there are any really bad side effects. Some protein bars contain sugar alcohols and fiber which might make people gassy. Bars that are dense and hard to bite into can be an issue for those with dentures. Bars that are high in saturated fat should be avoided by those with heart disease.

While protein -as its normally consumed – won't hurt healthy kidneys, those with unhealthy kidneys should seek guidance from a health professional such as an RD. Many bars contain a lot of calories. This can contribute to weight gain in those who are not working out enough.

Which Protein Bar Is Best?

It would be easy to say, grab the bar that has the most protein, but that might not always be best.  Some high bars might also be high in fat, saturated fat and calories, making them basically high protein candy bars. Also, different people may have different needs or wants; some might prefer soy protein while others might look for whey protein. Looking at the ingredients and nutrition facts labels is important.

Don't choose a bar just by what you see displayed on the wrapper. Food label claims can divert your attention from what's important. When you see special claims being made (non-GMO, trans-fat-free, how much protein, etc.) ask yourself “what aren't they telling me?” Checking the Nutrition Facts label (and ingredients list) can often provide insights that could be missed if only looking at the front of the wrapper or box.

If weight loss is the goal look for a protein bar, that has 200 or fewer calories, and at least 15g to 20g of protein some fiber like this one.

What Do You Think?

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Update: 9/10/22. I was checking out at a local convenience store when my eyes caught a glimpse of Chef Robert Irving's Fit Crunch Bar. While I didn't know who chef Robert Irving was (I live under a rock), the word “Fit” caught my attention as did the fact that this bar contained whey protein and was “baked.” So I became curious and purchased it for this review. Is the Fit Crunch bar healthy? Would it be good for someone who wants to stay fit and healthy? Let's look at the ingredients and see what we can discover. See the Gatorade Way Protein Bar review and the FoodBabe TruVani Only Bar review for more insights.

Fit Crunch Protein Bar Nutrition Information

According to the label of the product I purchased (Peanut Butter flavor), each Fit Crunch Bar (88 grams) has 388 calories. Of those, 140 calories come from fat. Here is a breakdown of the nutrition information in each bar:

In the table above, where you don't see a percent daily value (empty box), it means no percent DV has been established.

So what does this table tell us? Here is a quick summary of what I noticed:

1. The Fit Crunch bar has a lot of calories

The Fit Crunch protein bar has 388 calories in just 3 oz (88 grams). That is a lot. Mind you, that's not necessarily a bad thing. It just depends on who you are. For someone who works out a lot (more than 1 hour a day, every day), extra calories can make a positive difference in the gym or on the playing field.

For the person who is on the run occasionally, I could overlook this also. But, for those who sit at a desk 8 hours a day and do minimal exercise activities, there are much better options available.

2. The Fit Crunch bar is high in fat

We know this because each bar has 388 calories and of those, 140 calories come from fat. If we do a little bit of math (140 ÷ 388), we discover that the Fit bar gets 36% of its calories from fat.

The Nutrition Label also tells us it's high in fat too. If you look at the table above (or the bar itself if you have one with you) and look at “Total Fat,” you can see it has 16 grams of fat. Just to the right of that, you also see that those 16 grams contribute 25% of your daily value for fat.

The Daily Value represents the amount of a nutrient you are allowed to consume daily. According to the FDA, anything that is at least 20% is considered “high” in that nutrient. Since the Fit Crunch Bar comes in at 25%, it's also considered a “high fat” product.

Original Fit Crunch Bar Supplement Facts Label

This is the original nutrition facts label for the bar. As you can see, the protein bar originally was 88 grams and had 380 calories.

3. The Fit Crunch Bar is high in saturated fat

The nutrition label above shows that each protein bar contains 8 grams of saturated fat. Remember that whenever you see “20% or more” in the Daily Value column, it means “high.” The Fit Crunch Bar provides a whopping 40% of our daily value for fat. This means it's high in saturated fat.

4. The Fit Crunch Bar is high in sodium

From the nutrition label, we see that this protein bar provides 490 mg of sodium, representing 20% of the amount of sodium we should aim for per day. Anything that is 20% or more is “high” so the Fit Crunch  Bar is high in sodium too.

While athletes might benefit from some extra sodium, the facts are clear that most people in the US (and likely other developed countries too) eat too much sodium already. As I pointed out in my review of how to lower blood pressure naturally, sodium is in a LOT of foods you probably already eat.

Sure, athletes might need more sodium (to offset what they lose in sweat) but if you are not working out for a few hours a day in the heat, odds are you already eat too much sodium.

Most people eat too much sodium and not enough foods that have potassium.

5. The Fit Crunch Bar is low in potassium

The nutrition label above tells us that each bar only has 100 mg of potassium. That gives us only 2% of what we should be getting per day. This lack of potassium in the diet is such a problem, that when the new Food Label rolls out in the US, potassium will be listed. Potassium is a very important mineral. Aim for 4700 mg of potassium per day. Most people don't get this much.

A lot of fitness people are concerned with nitric oxide (NO) which causes vasodilation (opening up) of blood vessels. Potassium causes vasodilation by increasing nitric oxide release. That is one-way potassium helps our blood vessels and blood pressure stay healthy.

To be fair, most fitness and protein bars don't have much potassium.

How Much Protein?

Each Fit Crunch bar provides 30 grams of protein. That's a good amount. The protein comes from a combination of whey protein isolate and whey protein concentrate. This forms what is called a “FortiFX” proprietary blend.  The word “FortiFX” is a trademarked word that is owned by Perich Investments LLC.  That means little to most people. I provide it for those who might be interested.

The Fit Crunch Bar also contains soy protein isolate, although not as much as whey. See the ingredients list below.

Fit Crunch Protein Bar Ingredients

Here are the ingredients in order as they appeared on the product I purchased:

Read the table from left to right. Ingredients listed first are present the most. Those at the bottom of the table are present the least. For example, since baking soda is the last ingredient, it's present in the least amount.

As can be seen, soy protein isolate is the 3rd ingredient on the list. While that means it's present prominently, how much soy makes up the 30 grams of protein in the bar, I can't say.

I don't mention soy to disparage it. While I know soy has its detractors, I'll point out that at least one study noted that while both soy and whey produced similar gains in muscle mass, soy appeared better at maintaining antioxidant levels.

What Are The Sweeteners?

From the ingredients listed above, it looks like the sweeteners in the bar may come primarily from the following ingredients, which I list in order as they appear on the label:

• Sugar
• Sorbitol
• Maltitol
• Corn syrup
• Cocoa
• Dextrose
• Vanilla
• Natural flavors (maybe. It depends on what these are)
• Sucralose (Splenda)

New Improved Robert Irving Fit Crunch Bar

The company may have been listening to criticisms by me and others because the protein bar has been reformulated (sort of). Basically, they decreased the size of the bar from 88 grams to 46 grams (less than 2 oz). Reducing the size of the bar effectively cuts in half the fat, saturated fat etc that it has. Here is the new Nutrition Facts Label

What Does The New Fit Crunch Nutrition Facts Label Tell Us?

The daily values tell us if a food is high or low in key nutrients. If you see 5% or less, it means it's low in nutrients. If you see 20% or more, it means it's high in that nutrient. From the Nutrition Facts label, we can see that this smaller version of the Fit Crunch Bar is:

Still calorie dense with 190 calories in less than 2 oz (46 grams)

• High in saturated fat
• High in protein
• It contains a moderate amount of sodium
• Low in fiber
• Low in potassium
• Low in total carbs

For the average person who does not eat well, to begin with, how is a high calorie/high saturated fat bar qualify as “fit?”Most Americans do not eat enough potassium-rich foods. Potassium is a key electrolyte If Mr. Irving was looking to improve fitness and health, why not add a bit more potassium to the bar?

What About Allergies?

The ingredients list table above also tells us that the product “contains milk, soy, peanut, and almond products and that it was “manufactured in a plant that processes milk, soy, whey, tree nut, peanut and egg products.

Fit Crunch vs. Fit Elite

Chef Robert Irving also has a “Fit Elite” protein bar too. From what I can determine, the Fit Elite Bar tends to have fewer calories and fat than the Fit Crunch Bar.  Here's a quick summary of how they compare to each other:

As can be seen, the Fit Elite bar has significantly fewer calories, fat, saturated fat, and sodium than the Fit Crunch bar. It's a better choice as I see it. Update. The Fit Elite bar no longer appears on FitCrunch.com so it may have been discontinued. The current version of the Fit Crunch bar, however does share some similarities with the Fit Elite bar.

See the Protein Bar Comparison Review for more on many other protein bars.

Who Makes The Fit Crunch Bar?

The product label tells us that the protein bar is “carefully  manufactured by Bakery Barn for Pervine Foods LLC.”  Bakery Barn (Bakery-Barn.com) is located at 111 Terence Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15236 USA. The Bakery Barn website was registered in 2000 by Sean Perich. Chef Robert Irvine's name also is on the label. Therefore, it's possible the company name Per-vine is a combination of last names Mr. Perich and Mr. Irvine. 

As a side note – basically trivia at this point – in 2015 Nestle, the maker of the Nestle Crunch Bar sued Pervine Foods because they said the labels of both items looked similar. Nestle alleged people would confuse the Fit Crunch Bar for the Nestle Crunch Bar. That sounds frivolous to me. I don't think the wrappers look anything like each other, but that's my opinion. Take it for what it's worth.

How Does It Taste?

The Fit Crunch protein bar is crunchy on the outside and had a dry taste on the inside. Overall, I really wasn't wowed by the taste. It didn't taste bad, although I didn't think it tasted good either. Except for the crunch, I thought it tasted kind of bland. Taste is a personal thing and I respect those who feel differently.

Where Can You Buy Fit Crunch Snak Bars

This is a popular product so you can likely get it at local shops such as Walmart, Target, 7-11, WaWa, Sam's Club, Costco, Krogers, Vitamin Shoppe, GNC, Vitamin World, Dollar General, Publix, Giant supermarket, Safeway and at gas stations like Exton and Hess. You Can also purchase it on Amazon and directly from Mr. Irving on his FitCrunch.com website.

Fit Crunch Bar Side Effects

I think the only people who might have immediate side effects would be those who have allergies to the ingredients mentioned above in the Allergies Section. For people watching their weight, eating too many Fit Crunch bars, without limiting other calories and/or exercise could lead to weight gain. Remember this bar is marked to people who are “fit” and that implies those who work out a lot. The fat content could temporarily raise cholesterol and triglyceride levels which may be an issue for some people.

Other Protein Bar Reviews

Here are reviews on other nutrition bars worth looking at

• Gatorade whey protein bar review
• RX Bar review
• Food Babe TruVani Only bar review
• Lipozene weight loss protein bar review

Is The Fit Crunch Bar Healthy?

It's my opinion that most protein bars that make claims about how much protein they have, often contain higher amounts of fat and saturated fat. That is what I've seen before although I'm sure there are exceptions to that rule. While my guess is that most people probably get more than enough protein already, if you think you need more, then the Fit Crunch Bar might suit your needs – once in a while.

I don't feel this is a good bar to eat on a regular basis because it's high in calories, and saturated fat, both of which are things most people already eat too much. Once in a while like on a road trip is fine, but don't eat it every day.

What Do You Think?

Update 3/3/20. Dr. Max Powers provides a line of supplements that appear to be mainly marketed to bodybuilders and those who lift weights. This review will be about  Dr. Max Powers Testosterone Boost, which is billed as “an all-natural herbal alternative to synthetic anabolic testosterone steroids.” The supplement is said to “enhance the production of the luteinizing hormone (LH) for the natural production of testosterone. “ I'll explain what that all means below. The part about enhancing luteinizing hormone is a hint at what's in the Testosterone Boost, but more to the point, does it really work? Does it really raise luteinizing hormone and testosterone levels? In this review, I'm going to look at the research. Keep reading and let's see what we can discover.

Max Powers Testosterone Boost Ingredients

From the product website (Dr.MaxPowers.com) I learned that this supplement has just one ingredient – Tribulus Terrestris. As can be seenfrom the product label, 1 tablet contains 1000 mg (1g gram) of a 20% extract of Tribulus Terrestris (pronounced “Trib-U-less Ter-res-triss”)

Other ingredients listed are:

• Magnesium stearate
• Stearic acid
• Microcrystalline cellulose

These other ingredients play no role in the effectiveness of the product.

What Is Tribulus Terrestris?

It's a plant that has been around a long time and finds its way mainly into bodybuilding supplements, male performance supplements and products marketed to men over 40. In all the cases, the idea is that Tribulus is supposed to raise testosterone levels. By raising testosterone, the hope is that muscles will get bigger and other muscles – “south of the border” – start to work better.

Another name for Tribulus is “puncture vine” a reference to the little spikes of the plant that have been rumored to pop the tires of bicycles that run over it.

Rumor also has it that in olden days, warriors would spread Tribulus out on the field of battle so that it would get stuck in the hooves of the horses, slowing their enemy's attack (think road spikes!).

How Does Tribulus  Work?

The plant is said to increase a hormone called luteinizing hormone (LH). The LH hormone signals the testes to make testosterone. So, the idea is Tribulus stimulates LH, which in turn ramps up testosterone production.

Tip: it's been my experience that whenever a company makes the claim that its supplement can raise luteinzing hormone, it's a tip off that it contains tribulus terrestris.

Sounds simple enough so, does Tribulus really raise luteinizing hormone?

Tribulus Testosterone Research

In a 2016 study of 30 men with fertility problems, noted that 750 mg of Tribulus, given for 3 months, did not raise either testosterone or luteinizing hormone.

In a 2013 study, Rats that were addicted to morphine were given Tribulus for 4 weeks. This study noted that Tribulus increased luteinizing hormone.

So, does Tribulus really raise luteinizing hormone in healthy younger or older men?

Tribulus And Testosterone Levels

Do Tribulus supplements raise testosterone levels?  Here's the research:

In a 2016 study, researchers noted that 750 mg of Tribulus given to 30 men for 3 months did increase testosterone levels. This is odd, however, because this is the same 2016 study of 30 men mentioned above which noted it did not raise testosterone or luteinizing hormone.

This is basically the same study of 30 people mentioned above in the luteinzing hormone section, although it has a different title and published in a different journal. In one journal, tribulus worked, while in another it didn't work.

In a 2008 study of 2 women given 500 mg of Tribulus, 3 times a day (1500 mg total) for 2 days, there was no change in testosterone or other anabolic hormones.  This study was done to see if Tribulus would put athletes over the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) limits for anabolic hormones. It's a very small study but, since it involved humans, I thought it was worth mentioning. Still, because the study only lasted 2 days, I'd like to see this carried out for a longer time period.

In a 2007 study of rugby players, 450 mg a day of Tribulus, given for 5 weeks, did not raise testosterone levels.

In a 2005 study, 21 young men were either given tribulus or a placebo for 4 weeks.  The study noted no differences in testosterone levels or LH levels. While the authors didn't specifically tell us how much Tribulus these men used, they did say that they took between 10 and 20 mg per kilogram.

If Tribulus really does raise testosterone levels, the research so far would suggest that it might take more than 750 mg per day. Dr. Max Powers Testosterone Boost contains 1000 mg of Tribulus per tablet. While this is more than most published research appears to have used, one has to wonder what proof is there that 1000 mg will raise testosterone or the LH hormone?

Does Tribulus Make Muscles Stronger?

I remain unconvinced. Proof the herb improves muscle strength or muscle size is very limited. For more insights see these reviews:

• Nugenix (click to read review)

• Syntheroid  (click to read review)

• Regimen (click to read review)

• GenF20 (click to read review)

• Androzene  (click to read review)

Despite it's use in supplements, uncovering proof that tribulus actually does what it's reputed to do, remains elusive.

See the review of the research of Tribulus and strength training.

Dr. Max Powers Testosterone Boost Research

I searched the product website (DrMaxPowers.com) for published, clinical research conducted on the product showing it raised testosterone levels. I could not find any.  I then performed a general google search for “Dr Max Powers Testosterone Boost Research.” I did not turn up any research.

I then searched ClincalTrials.gov to see if any studies were in the works but not yet completed. I saw none. Likewise, clinical databases did not turn up any research either.

Who Is Dr. Max Powers?

When contacted, the company stated, “Dr. Max Powers is a brand name that was started from a doctor in sports medicine.” In other words, Dr. Max Powers might just be a catchy name rather than an actual person.

Who Makes Max Powers Supplements

The company is called Face Organics LLC. They are located at 310 W 56 Street | New York, NY 10019.   The product website lists this contact phone number: 646 629 1805.

Interestingly, this contact number is also found on the websites “Made From Earth” (MadeFromEarth.com) which has skincare products and Shielo (Shielo.com) which is about hair care products.

How To Contact Max Powers

Face Organics LLC, the company in charge of Max Powers supplements can be reached by calling 646 629 1805.

Does It Contain Sugar?

No. The product website states that Dr. Max Powers Testosterone Boost contains “no yeast, no sugar, no starch, no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives.

Dr. Max Powers Side Effects

Side effects in healthy people may be few and far in between. For more insights see ee My Experiment With Tribulus for more insights.

Here are a few things to consider. This list is not complete

• Start with less than recommended for the first week
• The supplement is not intended for those whose testosterone is already high
• Stop taking at least 2 weeks before surgery
• Talk to your doctor if pregnant or breastfeeding
• If taking any medications, speak to your doctor

Raising Testosterone Naturally

When it comes to natural ways to enhance testosterone levels, the best evidence is for:

• Weight loss

• Resistance training

There's more poof for these than for T booster supplements.

Gaining weight is associated with lower testosterone levels. Weight loss should be slow and gradual. Reduce calorie intake by 250-500 calories per day should be sufficient for many people. There is no best diet. Any lower calorie eating plan you can follow will be best for you.

Exercise does raise testosterone but the effect seems to be short term, maybe lasting a few minutes to an hour or so.  That doesn't mean it's useless because testosterone – even a short increase – might activate various genes that have a wide range of positive effects.

Exercises that use big muscle groups are better than smaller muscle groups. For example, a leg press machine would be better than performing a biceps curl.

Testosterone levels fluctuate throughout the day. They are highest in the morning. Because of this, some might wonder if working out in the morning would result in an even greater surge of testosterone by taking advantage of its naturally higher levels in the morning.

At least one study has noted that the time of day one works out does not alter overall testosterone levels throughout the day. Regardless of when testosterone level is highest, I say workout when you can and don't worry about this.

Is it better to do strength training first or cardio first – some research finds performing aerobic exercise before strength training might lead to a longer elevation of testosterone levels. More research is needed.

Does It Work?

Without research on the product itself, it's not possible to know if Dr. Max Powers Testosterone Boost works or not. Before trying ANY testosterone supplement, know what your baseline levels are first. Measure your T levels first and again a month later.

What Do You Think?