Quest Protein Bars - Simply, The Best

A quest can be defined as a long or arduous search for something. If you're reading this blog, then it's a safe bet that for you, much like for me, that 'quest' is defined by a search for greater health, fitness and wellbeing. During my journey, I have ingested all sorts of products ranging from multi-vitamins and amino acids to protein powders / bars and pre-workouts.

Most of these have fallen by the wayside, clumped into the category of 'poisons' based on the plethora of nasty ingredients contained therein. However, one product has stood out for it's unwavering commitment to quality.

Before I give you the skinny on why Quest Protein Bars should replace all other gunk in your protein pantry, let me start by saying that I am writing this review completely unsolicited. Okay, now that we've got that sorted, lets dive right in!

'The Power of Milk'

  Quest Nutrition has used both Whey Protein Isolate (WPI) and Milk Protein Isolate (MPI) in the formulation of their product. Now, before any of you start jumping up and down, beating the drum about the hazardous effects of milk (?), let me direct you to an outstanding review of whether milk is indeed has as many negative side effects as some would like you to believe (SuppVersity). Read it, and make up your own minds!

MPI differs significantly from WPI in that, Milk Protein Isolate should contain all of the proteins naturally found in milk (a.k.a. approx. 80% casein and 20% whey). On the other hand, Whey Protein Isolate is just that, 100% whey protein.

The fact that Quest Nutrition has incorporated both WPI and MPI into their bars will provide a more sustained release of protein, giving your body and muscle the sustenance it requires over a prolonged period.

IMO Fiber

Before you get freaked out by the long-ass name, be aware that iso malto-oligosaccharides are normal components of the human diet that occur naturally in a number of fermented foods including rice miso, and sake

A number of studies have found IMO Fiber exerts numerous benefits on the human digestive tract as a prebiotic. Also, to address the elephant in the room, Quest Nutrition have done their research with regards to the less desirable effects of fiber (i.e. flatulence).

Studies on the fermentation of fiber in the human gut have found that IMO's were effective at increasing beneficial bacteria, whilst generating the least gas.

 

Almonds, Peanuts & Cashews

We've all heard about the magical health properties of nuts (and if we haven't, see below for a summary).




Quest Nutrition Nutrition's use of almonds, cashews and peanuts perfectly accentuates each bar, never overpowering the taste, but creating delicate undertones that leave you feeling like you're eating a decadent dessert (when you're not!).

Sea Salt, Natural Flavours

This is perhaps one of my favourite aspects of the Quest Protein Bar Range. Quest Nutrition uses sea salt which still has all of the trace minerals in tact as well as natural flavours to make an outstanding product.

When I say 'natural flavours', you can be sure that it is exactly that! If you treat your body like a temple, fear not - Quest Nutrition will not defile it. There is no marketing double talk here. After contacting Quest Nutrition for clarification, I was put to ease by the information they provided. For example, Quest's 'Natural Strawberry Flavor' is made from organic fresh strawberries, differentiating it from other products which can often use less than natural ingredients that will make you cringe.

Stevia

For those worried about  potential insulin effects of sweeteners, fear not - stevia does not induce a glycemic response and has been found to enhance insulin levels above baseline without altering blood sugar (Jeppesen, et al,. 2002). If this wasn't enough, here are 5 other reasons why stevia may be a worthwhile investment for any health-conscious reader:

• Antitumor and anticancer activity
• Antihypertensive activity
• Anti-diarrheal activity
• Renal (liver and kidney) protective activity
• Antioxidant activity

Quest Nutrition also uses the Chinese fruit Luo Han Guo as a sweetener. I won't bore you with the nitty gritty; however, this fruit shares many of it's health benefits with stevia.

Erythritol

While I would prefer the lack of any sugar alcohol's in my products, erythritol is general considered safe for consumption. The only side effects of excessive consumption of this and other sugar alcohols is gastric distress.

However, much like chewing gum - you'd need to consume a considerable amount of the product to produce any undesirable effects.

Sucralose

Here, we come to the only product that I would try to avoid. Some sources will argue that artificial sweeteners will likely wreak havoc on your body, impeding your appetite regulation, reducing good bacteria in the intestine, increasing your intestine's pH levels, etc. However, I'll once again point to a great blog post by the SuppVersity author on Sucralose in which he reviews the available evidence for such claims.

Adel concludes his review by commenting that 'derangements that occur in response to changes in the gut microbiome, endocrine system or toxic effects of sucralose would only become visible after weeks or months of chronic ingestion of this globally approved artificial sweetener.'

Meaning, you'd need to ingest a bucket-load daily in order to see the negative reported effects. Personally, I prefer to play it safe with anything artificial. Luckily, Quest Nutrition, unlike other products, gives you a choice. You can buy a range of Quest 'Naturals' which are just as delicious as the original line, which do not use sucralose as a sweetener. Smart product planning at it's best.

How does it compare to Others?

Now that you know what's on the label for Quest Bars, it's important to compare them with some popular products for an understanding of exactly how superior they are. I recommend 'Lean It Up's' excellent ranking of the top 30 protein bars on the market for a snapshot of exactly how much rubbish goes into products.

Quest Nutrition has shown us that you can make a delicious and nutrition protein bar using a handful of wholesome ingredients. A quick Google Search on 'negatives effects of [insert unknown ingredient]' will produce information that will allow you to make an informed decision about the product you're buying.

Remember, if you can't identify it in a supermarket, it's always worth a quick search to see exactly what that item is, how it's produced and what effects it will have on your body in the long-term.


Price Point

At a reasonable $2.00 USD per bar (a far cry from the circa $4.00 you'll expect to pay in supplement shops), the Quest Nutrition website is the best and cheapest place to purchase bars.

For those of you still complaining about the price, remember that you cannot put a price on health. If you're following a well-controlled diet and exercise program and looking for that extra boost - Quest should definitely be the product that gets you there!


Reference:

Rycroft, C. E., Jones, M. R., Gibson, G. R., & Rastall, R. A. (2008). A comparative in vitro evaluation of the fermentation properties of prebiotic oligosaccharides. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 91(5), 878-887.