Kinds of Energy Bars

Energy bar sales contribute over a billion dollars to the fitness industry each year. They once were designed solely to provide a burst of fuel for athletes, but now come in a plentiful variety. Some types produce increased nutrition and protein while others provide little more health gains than candy bars. Kinds of energy bars include meal replacement, power, snack and low glycemic index bars.

Meal Replacement Bars

• Our fast-moving society often demands quick meals that can be downed on the go. Meal replacement bars aim at substituting for an entire meal. These bars often contain calorie counts between 200 and 600, and often offer high levels of protein. Some brands market meal replacement bars to dieters attempting to lose weight. Consumers should check labels to ensure their bar doesn't include high amounts of sugar or saturated fats.

Sports Bars

• Athletes and fitness enthusiasts consume sports bars (also referred to as power bars) shortly before or after workouts, and occasionally during routines. The body quickly absorbs their large carbohydrate levels, and many supply protein as well. Popular brands of sports bars include PowerBar, Clif Bar and those marketed by Gatorade.

Snack Bars

• Snack bars intend to provide an alternative to staples like chips or candy between meals. Cereal giants such as Kellogg's and Quaker populate this market, and the bars come under several banners including tie-ins to their already-successful cereal products.

Low Glycemic Bars

• Low glycemic energy bars look to provide similar effects as standard bars without spiking blood sugar levels. Low glycemic bars release sugar into the blood stream at a slower pace than higher glycemic bars, and the body absorbs carbohydrates of low glycemic bars more gradually. This makes low glycemic bars a great choice for diabetics.