A fan of ours asked us to evaluate a cereal bar that is marketed as a “healthier” option for snacks, and weighs in at 90 calories. We discussed it on the show, but here it is for you visual folks. The ingredients are:
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Ingredients
Cereal (Rice, Sugar, Whole Grain Wheat, Wheat Gluten, Defatted Wheat Germ, Salt, Wheat Flour, Malt Flavoring, Maltodextrin, Riboflavin [Vitamin B2]Thiamin Hydrochloride [Vitamin B1]Corn Syrup, Fruit Pieces, Sugar, Blueberry, Juice Solids, Cranberries, Sunflower Oil)Fructose, Sugar, Partially Hydrogenated Vegetable Oils (Soybean and/or Cottonseed, and Palm Kernel)Dextrose, Nonfat Dry Milk, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Sorbitol, Glycerin, Soy Lecithin, Calcium Carbonate, Citric Acid, Salt, Niacinamide, BHT (Preservative)Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6)
Cereal is the first ingredient which then has a parentheses and a list of ingredients in the cereal. Sugar is number 2. At the end of the parentheses, meaning we’re now continuing on with the ingredients in the bar itself, Fructose (fruit sugar) is ingredient number 2 and Sugar is ingredient number 3.
For 90 calories, you’re better off having an apple. With the water content and soluble and insoluble fiber, your blood sugar and tummy will be much happier overall.
Remember, do NOT believe anything on the front of any box or can of food. To get the skinny on what you’re eating, turn the box around and read the ingredients. Everything you NEED to know (and much you don’t want to know, probably!) is right there. Synonyms for sugar include: Sugar, fructose, sucrose, maltose, maltodextrin, corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, and high maltose corn syrup. I’m sure I missed a few. Feel free to add them as a comment!
We’ll talk with you Monday at 11 am when it’s all about chronic pain! Have a fantastic weekend. AM1380 or www.Newstalk1380.com
~Dr. M
It's A Pair-A-Docs 