CLIF BUILDERS Protein Bars Review

Protein bars consist of a higher proportion of protein to carbohydrates and fats. Proteins are macronutrients that play a pivotal role in building muscles. Vegan protein bars contain clean protein from plant sources such as peas, brown rice, hemp, and soybeans.

They feed the muscles with high-quality protein from a vegetable source and supplement our protein consumption in breakfast and snacks. They are also easy to carry in the handbag and can be taken to the gym, and camping. It can be part of one of your travel snacks while you are on a short vacation. 

The global vegan protein bar market is anticipated to reach $ 253.00 Million by 2026, at a CAGR of 9.10% from the projected period of 2019 to 2026. The increase in demand for vegan-friendly and rich in protein snacks are the primary growth driver to the forecasted statistics in the vegan protein bars market.

Besides the increasing awareness about fitness and general body wellness, the change in universal dietary patterns towards a healthy cruelty-free feed are factors that influence the global vegan protein bar demand in the market.

However, several types of vegan protein bars in the market specifically cater to serve consumers’ nutritional needs and health goals. No single bar can suit all purposes.

This article will chart out an authentic and unbiased CLIF BUILDERS Protein bar review with everything you need to know about the product. The goal is to help you find the right protein bar according to your nutritional needs.

CLIF BUILDERS Protein Bars Review

What is CLIF BUILDERS Bar?

To give you a clear idea of the CLIF BUILDERS protein bar, I’ll have to take you into its history first. CLIF Bar & Company, founded in 1992, manufactures nutritious food using ingredients that are both organic and sustainable in family-inspired recipes. CLIF currently produces two main types of nutrition bars: CLIF Bar, and CLIF BUILDERS Protein.

The BUILDERS protein bars include twice as much protein and fewer carbs than the standard CLIF Bars. The BUILDERS protein bar’s protein blend also differs slightly, with soy protein concentrate and soy protein isolate in contrast to a no-soy concentrate and whey protein isolate as a base in the CLIF Bar.

Available flavors in CLIF BUILDERS protein bar product line:

• Chocolate
• Chocolate Hazelnut
• Crunchy Peanut Butter
• Chocolate Mint
• Vanilla Almond
• Chocolate Peanut Butter
• Cookies ‘N’ Cream

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Who are CLIF BUILDERS Protein Bars for?

The BUILDERS Protein bar is a great protein component for runners, weightlifters, athletes, or anyone looking for a quick and simple way to increase their protein intake. It is vegan friendly as well. These Protein Bars’ high carb content makes them an ideal option for pre-workout nutrition, or as anytime snacks.

They have a slightly higher calorie count and sugar content which means you cannot overindulge in enjoying these yummy bars. If you are looking for protein bars that help in weight loss, look for the ones with fewer calories than this. If recovery and muscle mass gain (check complete blueprint to gaining weight as a vegan) are your primary goals, you should go for CLIF BUILDERS protein bar.

Are CLIF Protein Bars Vegan?

The range of protein bars and similar products offered by CLIF is pretty interesting. They are designed to be vegan-friendly and serve according to the particular nutritional needs of their customers.

1. CLIF BAR

This protein bar is made of plant-based ingredients like organic rolled oats. It’s also non-GMO, with no high-fructose nor corn syrup or artificial flavors. It has whey protein isolate as the base and is intended for athletes and competitors who look for an ideal mix of fast-acting and long-lasting carbohydrates. The composition includes the required fat and rich protein to help endure long-lasting activity.

2. BUILDERS

The BUILDERS have emerged from CLIF bars with much similar formula but deliver complete protein and essential amino acids to help repair and build muscle.

3. Nut Butter Bar

Who doesn’t love eating peanut butter (check vegan status) straight from the jar? But if you need a portable bar with delicious peanut, hazelnut, almond, or cashew butter filling, there could be no competition to CLIF Nut Butter Bar.  Being USDA organic and made with 5–7g plant protein (8–10% DV), these delicious bars are vegan friendly and good for the planet.

4. BLOKS Energy chew

CLIF BLOKS provide quick, chewable, and concentrated energy to athletes during training and racing. They come in 33 calorie cubes, making it easy to track the caloric and electrolyte intake during the activities. BLOKS are easy to digest and help enduring high-intensity workouts.

CLIF BUILDERS Protein Bars Formula and General Ingredients.

All seven flavors available in the CLIF BUILDERS Protein Bar range are 100% vegan, gluten-free, and contain non-GMO ingredients. To have a better picture of the ingredients, let’s pick one particular bar from the range and find out what’s inside. In the Chocolate Peanut Butter flavor of CLIF BUILDERS protein bar there are:

Soy Protein Isolate, Cane Syrup, Cane Sugar, Brown Rice Syrup, Palm Oil, Vegetable Glycerin, Unsweetened Chocolate, Soy Flour, Rice Flour, Chicory Fiber Syrup, Roasted Soybeans, Cocoa Butter (check Vegan Status), Soy Protein Concentrate, Natural Flavors, High Oleic Sunflower Oil, Rice Starch, Soy Lecithin, Alkalized Cocoa, Sea Salt.

CLIF BUILDERS Protein Bars Nutrition

Before discussing the nutritional pros and cons, let’s pay attention to the nutritional value per 68 g serving of CLIF BUILDERS Protein Bars:

• 20 grams of protein
• 29 grams of carbohydrates
• 10 grams of total fat
• 280 calories
• 2 grams of fiber
• 22 grams of sugar
• 0 milligrams of cholesterol
• 200 milligrams of sodium

The bars include a high protein content, ample amount of carbs, and energy. For days where you struggle with preparing your regular meals per your plant based body building diet, CLIF Bars can make for a convenient meal replacement. Undoubtedly, it is a great pre-workout energy bar. They are also a reliable snacking option but should not be seen as a meal replacement. Wondering why? Note the high amounts of sugar per serving. They’re also not ideal if you’re aiming for weight loss.

On paying close attention to the ingredients list (as mentioned in the previous section), one can easily identify soy as the primary protein source. Though soy is a great protein alternative for vegans, it also goes without saying that some people may have an allergic reaction to soy.

Additionally, the Palm Kernel oil extraction, though communicated to have been sustainably-obtained, is not free of speculation. But should that mean CLIF BUILDERS protein bar is not the best in the market? NO. Your chief focus should be on whether this protein bar is the right one for you and your goals. If you’re not sensitive to soy and have no trouble with weight management, go for it without a doubt!

Are CLIF Protein Bars Healthy?

These could have two sides of equally strong arguments:

Yes! They are healthy to snack on.

CLIF dietary products are purposely designed for the wellness of people and the planet. Since a plant-based diet can be beneficial to our bodies and the environment, CLIF BUILDERS Plant-based protein bars are reliable snacking options and healthier than regular protein bars. It can help boost your energy to carry out a daily performance that needs endurance and strength.

Additionally, BUILDERS is a low-glycemic-index food, so it digests slowly for prolonged levels of energy.  This protein bar helps those looking to recover quickly after a tough workout keeping their diet free of gluten.

Despite being a yummy bar and contributing more than enough macros to help build muscle, this could not be the right one for you. Each bar has a greater amount of added sugar. Consuming high sugar for a prolonged period could result in harmful long-term side effects like weight gain, acne, gastrointestinal issues, and depression. Soy is a known allergen for which you need to be cautious of reactions like hives, swelling in the mouth, and nausea.

Note: If you are not looking forward to compromising taste and flavor for a healthy snacking option, there could be nothing stopping you from having a bar of CLIF BUILDERS!

Others Protein Bars to Consider:

• thinkThin Protein Bars
• Square Bar Review

Conclusion

The chocolate peanut butter, cookies n cream, and crunchy peanut butter flavor out of the seven CLIF BUILDERS Protein Bar flavours have turned out to be the favorite of many customers. On the other hand, the Chocolate mint has received a mixed response since it tastes sweeter than its cousins in the product line.

Hopefully, this CLIF BUILDERS Protein Bar review must have helped you in making an informed decision on whether or not to buy it. If you’re still confused- give it a try! There are but the least chances of you getting disappointed with the protein bar.