The Unhealthy Side of Granola Bars and Cereal

While the granola bars and cereals filling up any health nut's shopping cart look innocent enough, there's a good chance that the latest roundup of crunchy treats may actually be an obstacle to good health. Granola has earned it's earthy reputation thanks to many a Whole Foods and natural food co-op touting the benefits of this energy-packed snack and hearty breakfast choice. However, there are dozens of varieties that are full of sugar, corn syrup, and saturated fat instead--a far cry from the authentic recipes that do provide a solid source of nutrition.

Granola first enjoyed it's positive health status in the early 1860's when Dr. James Calbe Jackson found Granula--a cereal similar to today's Grape Nuts--and deemed it a healthy choice for the day's first meal. In it's natural form, this cereal is made from whole wheat flour and bran , and back then it proved to be wholesome alternative to bread, baked goods, and even eggs for breakfast. As it made its way to the commercial market, the cereal has evolved with the addition of oatmeal, dried fruit, sweeteners, nuts, and a medley of assorted cereals designed to pack a punch. Athletes, fitness enthusiasts, and natural food lovers tout the benefits of granola and count on it for a a steady supply of energy.

However, Granola bars today are chock full of nuts, chocolate morsels, and extra sugar to increase their 'snack' value and may offer little nutrition in return. How do you choose the right mix? Here's a summary of ingredients to avoid in today's 'healthy' snacks and cereals:

• High fructose corn syrup: one of the quickest ways to experience a sugar high, and an ingredient that can give you a boost of energy followed by a crash--and most likely followed with another calorie-laden granola bar just to feel better
• Coconut: used as an additive sweetener in many granola bars, coconut contains a hefty dose of fat per serving. Look for granola that's free of this extra ingredient
• Hydrogenated oil: often used in cheaper brands and some generic granola bars, this is a source of unhealthy fat
• Artificial sweeteners: 'low-sugar' or 'low-calorie' granola bars and cereals may be sweetened with harmful artificial sweeteners such as aspartame. These can be just as addictive as real sugar and a precursor to a variety of ailments
• Chocolate: a few brands of all-natural granola do contain small amounts of carob, a healthy alternative to chocolate. However, many commercial granola bars with chocolate coatings and large chunks of chocolate resemble a bakery cookie instead.
• Puffed rice: whole grain oats should be the basis of healthy granola, but many commercial brands contain a large proportion of rice instead. This is usually used as a 'filler' and can add extra calories with little nutrition.

Brands including Quaker, Sunrise, and Nature Valley offer a range of sweet and crunchy variations of the classic, but often at a price. Quaker granola bars are loaded with sugar and corn syrup, making them near-equivalents of a real cookie or biscuit for nutrition content. Sunbelt brands of 'granola' also contain enough additives, sugar, and fat, to put them in a league of their own. While organic and all-natural granola brands such as Nature Valley, Bear Naked and Health Valley offer a few alternatives, you'll still find some flavors loaded with sugar in each serving--enough to add excess calories and fat to your diet under the guise of health.

As you cruise through the health food aisle or pick up a pound of 'natural' granola at the farmer's market, a quick look at the ingredient's list is all it takes to make a wiser--and healthier--selection.