Are Fiber One Bars Bad For You?
Short answer
Yes, Fiber One bars are bad for you. Although they contain around nine grams of fiber, they also have up to 10 grams of sugar—plus artificial colors and flavors. There are better ways to get your daily recommended serving of fiber.
Harmful to your health. Very few, if any, benefits are present. Things in this category should be avoided as much as possible.
View Full Grading System
Category 'A'
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Side effects are rare. Things rated an 'A+' are typically necessary for survival (for example, water).
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. A few harmful qualities may be associated, but only under certain circumstances such as an allergic reaction.
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Harmful qualities may be associated, but aren't usually serious.
It is important to note that even the best things in life can become bad in immoderate amounts. So, although something may be rated an 'A+', overconsumption/overdoing can bring unwanted effects.
Category 'B'
Very beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B+' may have a few harmful qualities to pay attention to.
Overall beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B' may have some harmful qualities to pay attention to.
More beneficial to your health than not. However, harmful qualities are most likely associated and shouldn't be overlooked.
The main difference between category 'A' and category 'B' is the harmful qualities typically present in 'B' items. Serious side effects are usually uncommon, but are still possible and should be taken note of.
Category 'C'
Both beneficial and harmful qualities associated. Things rated a 'C+' are typically a bit more on the beneficial side. Still, moderation is important.
A fairly even ratio of beneficial and harmful qualities. Moderation is important. Very general topics that can lean towards both sides of the spectrum will be placed here as well. Rice, for example, can be good or bad depending on the type.
More harmful than beneficial. Side effects are common, especially when consumed/done excessively. Moderation is very important.
Category 'C' usually denotes to both good and bad qualities. When it comes to this category, it is important to keep this word in mind: moderation.
Category 'D'
Harmful to your health. Although benefits may be associated, the bad most likely outweighs the good. Moderation is very important.
Harmful to your health. A few benefits may be associated, but the bad outweighs the good. Moderation is extremely important.
Harmful to your health. Very few, if any, benefits are present. Things in this category should be avoided as much as possible.
Category 'D' is typically for things that are more harmful than beneficial. While consuming/doing something unhealthy once in a blue moon shouldn't hurt, we definitely recommend eliminating 'D' items as a regular part of your routine/diet.
Category 'F'
Category 'F' is for things that fail to bring anything beneficial to the table, and are very harmful to your health. We recommend completely avoiding anything in this category. Long-term side effects of 'F' items are usually very serious.
Category 'N'
'N' stands for neutral. Things placed into this category are generally (a) neither good nor bad for you, or (b) lack the necessary evidence to reach any conclusions.
Long answer
Dietary fiber is an essential nutrient. Most notably, your body needs it for healthy digestion; it helps prevent or even relieve constipation. But fiber-rich foods provide a lot of other health benefits as well. They help promote a healthy weight and can even reduce your risk of developing heart disease and diabetes.
So where can you find fiber? Most commonly, fiber is naturally abundant in fruits and vegetables. And typically, the darker the veggie, the more fiber it contains—artichokes pack up to 10 grams of fiber per serving, while spinach weighs in around 7. However, dietary fiber is not exclusive to fruits and vegetables; it’s also found in whole grains and legumes.
If you’re looking to get more fiber in your diet, you might consider Fiber One bars. As the name suggests, these products contain a good amount of fiber: approximately 9 grams per 140-calorie bar. That’s about 24 percent of the daily recommended value for men, and 36 percent for women.
But if something seems to be too good to be true, it probably is.
In addition to providing up to 9 grams of dietary fiber, Fiber One bars also contain around 10 grams of sugar per serving. That’s quite a big of sugar for something marketed as a health bar.
Sugar should be avoided whenever possible because it spikes insulin levels, which leads to an energy crash shortly thereafter. And that’s only the short-term. Regular overconsumption of sugar can lead to fat storage, which is the basis for obesity and the slew of health problems that come along with it.
In addition to the high amount of sugar in Fiber One bars, there are many other concerning ingredients, such as high maltose corn syrup, caramel coloring and “natural flavors.” High maltose corn syrup is not as bad for you than high fructose corn syrup—but it does contain fructose which can lead to tooth decay if consumed frequently. Caramel coloring is questionable as well. It’s most commonly used in soda, and some types include 4-methylimidazole (4-MeI), a potential carcinogen. “Natural flavors” is perhaps the most suspicious ingredient. This is an umbrella term which can mean pretty much anything that is "derived" from a natural source.
Our advice: skip the Fiber One bars. If you need more fiber in your diet, try to get as much of it as possible from fresh fruits and vegetables. You may have to eat more of them—but at least you know what you’re eating.
Possible short-term side effects
- spikes insulin
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sugar crash
Possible long-term side effects
- tooth decay
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obesity
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diabetes
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heart disease
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cancer (from carcinogenic 4-mei)
Ingredients to be aware of
Benefits
- convenience
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9 grams of fiber
Healthier alternatives
- get your fiber from fruits & veggies
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