Are Nature Valley Protein Bars Gluten-Free? (Best Tips!)

Do you know if Nature Valley Protein Bars are gluten-free? this is one of the questions our readers ask a lot. Well, we´ve got you covered.

When you need a quick pick-me-up after a workout, reach for a Nature Valley protein bar. They’re delicious, come in a variety of flavors, and are packed full of essential nutrients.

With 10g of protein, as well as iron, calcium, and potassium, they’re a surefire way to quickly recover after exercise. But what about gluten? Are they safe to eat if you’re gluten intolerant?

So, are Nature Valley protein bars gluten-free? Nature Valley Protein bars are made using 100% gluten-free ingredients. Depending on which flavor bar you choose, you can enjoy a healthy boost of nutrients made using nuts, soy isolates, chocolates, caramels, and rice.

Let’s take a closer look at what gluten is, why some people can’t eat it, and how Nature Valley manages to make delicious protein bars that just about anyone can enjoy.

Is Gluten Dangerous?

In recent years, gluten has gotten a bad rap for causing digestive illnesses around the world but it isn’t inherently bad—only for a select demographic of people.

Gluten is essentially just a class of proteins commonly found in grains. When it’s kneaded into a dough, the proteins create a sticky structure that holds bread and cakes together.

As crucial as gluten is to many of our favorite baked goods, though, not everyone can digest it so easily.

This presents a problem since most of these foods are baked using one of these gluten-rich grains:

• Barley
• Rye
• Wheat

Therefore, a small percentage of the world has to go without.

Read also: Are Herbalife Protein Bars Gluten-Free?

Why Can Some People Not Consume Gluten?

For some people, their bodies struggle to process gluten—an illness known as gluten intolerance.

Just like lactose intolerance, gluten allergies and intolerances cause a host of digestive problems including:

• Intense abdominal pain
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Bloating
• Gas
• Irritable bowel syndrome

While it’s still not clear what causes gluten intolerances, researchers believe it could have something to do with the proteins that make up gluten.

If the body can’t produce the enzymes needed to break down the gluten proteins, they could be reacting badly in the GI tract.

Alternatively, some scientists believe it could be caused by carbohydrates that commonly accompany gluten.

If the stomach fails to break down these complex carbs, they could end up fermenting in the digestive system, causing intense gas, bloating, diarrhea, and pain.

As researchers continue to study gluten and its effects on the body, we’ll surely come closer to understanding how intolerances build up.

Until then, it’s best to avoid gluten if you suffer from celiac disease or any other gluten intolerance.

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Which Grains Don’t Have Gluten?

Cutting out grains entirely likely won’t be possible for the majority of people. Grains make up a major part of the human diet and have even been cited as a reason for humanity settling down into civilization.

Luckily, you don’t have to eliminate all grains. Many of the world’s favorite foods are completely gluten-free.

If you struggle to consume gluten-rich grains, we recommend switching to these foods:

• Rice
• Corn
• Soy
• Flax
• Millet

Most gluten-free baked goods are crafted using a combination of these ingredients. While they won’t create the same bready feeling as gluten, they’re still delicious and full of essential vitamins and proteins.

Identifying Secret Sources of Gluten in Protein Bars

When you go to the store, you won’t be able to find any standardized labels or markings denoting whether your protein bars are gluten-free.

There currently are no regulations requiring manufacturers to state whether their products have gluten, so you’ll have to check the ingredients.

Unfortunately, some ingredients have small amounts of gluten that could make you sick.

Be wary of any product that includes the following ingredients.

They often contain small amounts of gluten that can build up over time and trigger your allergy:

• Dextrin and maltodextrin, which are commonly made from wheat
• Vegetable proteins, which are also commonly made from wheat
• Modified vegetable starches, many of which come from wheat
• Artificial and natural flavorings, which may come from barley.

Some manufacturers also list gluten-rich grains using their scientific names. This can mislead consumers into thinking that the products are gluten-free.

Therefore, look out for any of the following ingredients:

• Triticum vulgare (wheat)
• Triticum spelta (flour)
• Triticale (a wheat and rye crossbreed)
• Hordeum vulgare (barley)
• Secale cereale (rye)

Are Nature Valley Bars Safe?

Alternatively, rather than reading through all of the ingredients on the back of your protein bars, you could just switch to Nature Valley bars.

Nature Valley has 8 different flavors of gluten-free protein bars made from a combination of almonds, cashews, peanuts, soy isolates, puffed rice, chocolate, and caramels.

You won’t find any secret gluten bombs hidden away in the ingredients list, meaning you can snack on Nature Valley protein bars without worry when you come home from the gym.

Enjoy flavors such as honey peanut almonds, peanut butter dark chocolate, blueberry nut, and salted caramel nut.

You can buy Nature Valley bars at most local grocery stores near you or Online.

References

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/spot-secret-sources-gluten-infographic/