Are Nutty Bars Bad For You?
Short answer
Nutty Bars are bad for you. The chocolate bars are extremely processed, contain multiple additives, and are filled with fats and sugars.
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.
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
If you’re looking for a highly processed, additive-packed barely-counts-as-food snack, here it is. Nutty Bars contain high amounts of sugar, saturated fats, trans fats, and the additives TBHQ, soy lecithin, glycerides, and artificial flavors. With all these ingredients, the flavor of this candy bar is great when fresh, and great when having sat in your cabinet for months.
Everyone knows that the health consequences of sugar, saturated and trans fats can be numerous. Sugar spikes your blood sugar levels and can lead to issues with insulin resistance, obesity, and diabetes.
Excessive amounts of saturated fats, and more importantly trans fats, raise your cholesterol and can cause heart disease long-term. Regardless of what the label reads, just remember that “partially hydrogenated” oils of any kind means I contain trans fats thanks to the FDA guidelines that only require trans fat labeling on products that contain greater than 0.49 grams per serving.
Now let’s look at the additives. Tertiary butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) is added to Nutty Bars to protect the oils from going rancid and preserve color. This substance has been linked to visual disturbances, liver enlargement, neurotoxic effects, convulsion, and paralysis. Yikes!! Why is this in any food, let alone one that’s typically consumed by kids?
Soy lecithin consumed in large amount can have an estrogen-like effect on the body causing issues for men and women alike. The extraction of soy lecithin from the soy plant involves the use of hexane, both of which many people are allergic. Furthermore, it should be noted that 93% of soy found in the United States is genetically modified.
Nutty Bars also contain mono- and diglycerides used as a stabilizer and extender of shelf life. It’s also important to recognize that glycerides are formed from hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils and come with many of the same health concerns.
Artificial flavors are added to Nutty Bars for extra flavor, of course. Synthetically produced in a lab and designed to be highly addictive, artificial flavors can result in a wide range of unwanted side effects including hyperactivity, CNS damage, and the worsening of allergies. Various studies also show a link between artificial flavors and cancer.
Lastly, Nutty Bars contain peanut butter and dairy substances which are common allergens and can lead to intestinal inflammation, skin and respiratory reactions such as difficulty breathing.
Possible short-term side effects
- allergic reaction
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rash
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breathing difficulty
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gastrointestinal inflammation
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blood sugar spike
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hyperactivity
Possible long-term side effects
- heart disease
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high cholesterol
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diabetes
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obesity
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fertility issues
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cancer
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cns damage
Ingredients to be aware of
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