Friday, February 3, 2012

PureFit Nutrition Bars

I don't know about you, but I am always on the lookout for new protein bars. For me, a good protein bar needs to be lower in calories, high in protein, no artificial sweeteners, taste delicious, be reasonable in cost, and preferably have mostly natural ingredients.

I had the pleasure of sampling PureFit Nutrition Bars. Granola crunch and Almond crunch were the first two I tried because I thought they looked delicious. The Granola crunch was really, really good and the Almond crunch was good - but also a little dry for my taste. Then I moved on to the Berry Almond crunch. I'm not sure why I didn't save this one for last. Normally I do not like bars with fruit in them, but this one was SOOOO good! Next was on to the brownie crunch. It really did taste like a brownie! This one upset my tummy a little bit, but chocolate can have that effect on me anyway. So, if you don't have issues with chocolate, this is an amazing bar. Last but not least was the Peanut butter crunch bar. This one was good, but a little dry also like the Almond crunch.

Overall, my favorite of them would have been a tie between the Granola crunch and the Berry Almond crunch.

Here are the stats on the bars:
Calories: 210-220
Fat: 6-7
Saturated Fat: 0.5-1.5
Trans Fat: 0
Cholesterol: 0
Sodium: 150-180
Carbs: 24-26
Fiber: 2-4
Sugar: 13-14
Protein: 18

Overall, I highly recommend these bars. They do not have artificial sweeteners, they taste delicious, they're lower calorie and they have a decent amount of protein. The ONLY thing that may prevent me from getting these again in the future is the price. Even with a discount, they run about $2/bar. I tend to wait until my normal protein bars go on sale (they get all the way down to $1) and then I stock up. With all of the other benefits of these bars, if you are okay with paying $2/bar - they are definitely worth it.

PureFit sent me these products free for review. All opinions expressed in this post are my own, honest opinions.

Guest Post

Hello everyone - today I'm excited to have a guest blogger :) Liz seems very passionate about the benefits of exercise to cancer patients.

Liz Davies is a recent college graduate and aspiring writer especially interested in health and wellness. She wants to make a difference in people’s lives because she sees how cancer has devastated so many people in this world. Liz also likes running, playing lacrosse, reading and playing with her dog, April.
Enjoy!

Exercise for Cancer Patients

Being diagnosed with cancer is a life changing event. All patients getting cancer treatment should be told to do three hours of exercise every week. Recent studies have shown that exercising at least two hours and a half per week could reduce a breast cancer patient's risk of recurrence by up to 40 percent. Exercise also helps reduce the side effects of chemotherapy and other cancer treatments.

The New Natural Wonder Drug for Cancer

Scientists refer to exercise as the latest "wonder drug" for cancer. Exercise should be a regular part of lifestyle for all cancer patients, regardless of their age. Several studies have associated physical activity with a reduced risk of breast, colon, mesothelioma, prostate, and endometrial cancers. Research suggests that regular physical activity can improve health by promoting psychological well-being and reducing the risk of premature death. Exercise can is a good thing to turn attention to after receiving a pancreatic cancer or mesothelioma diagnosis, or another cancer with low survival rates since it has the ability to increase mental well-being so much.

Exercise helps maintain healthy bones, muscles, and joints. It also lowers the risk of heart disease and diabetes. Studies indicate that physical activity can reduce the risk of developing colon cancer by up to 40 percent. Exercise may protect against cancer through its role in hormone metabolism, energy balance, and insulin regulation.

Getting active can help cancer patients overcome the effects of the disease and its treatments such as nausea, fatigue, and muscle weakness. Physical activity is safe during and after most types of cancer treatment. Exercising three to four hours a week reduces the odds of dying from breast cancer by over 50 percent. Prostate cancer patients who exercise moderately have 30 percent more changes of recovery.

Exercise Improves Quality of Life

Researchers have found that being overweight after completing treatment increases the risk of cancer recurrence. An understanding of the benefits of physical activity is helpful. People who are fit experience less fatigue, feel happier, and have greater cardiovascular endurance. Even a modest amount of exercise is beneficial and can improve quality of life in cancer patients.

Some cancers, such as neck and gastrointestinal cancers, are associated with body wasting. Exercise can help prevent muscle loss and reduce pain. Studies have shown that physical activity can boost energy after treatment and help patients combat fatigue and nausea. Exercise and diet recommendation for each cancer patient should be based on his age, weight, general health, and type of treatment. Physical activity after a diagnosis of cancer may be beneficial in assisting with energy balance and reducing symptoms. Patients who exercise on a regular basis are less likely to have a cancer recurrence.