THERE’S nothing like the words ‘high protein’ to create a buzz and push sales.
Once restricted to the realm of fitness trainers and committed gym-goers, the protein contents of a food or drink item are now of interest to nearly everyone.
As a personal trainer, nutrition coach and someone who has worked on producing protein drinks, it’s something I have a lot of interest in.
I know what it takes to make a protein product taste amazing – and the health compromises that brings. So, how do Grenade Carb Killa protein bars measure up?
- Shop protein bars at Grenade here
Pros
- High in protein
- Low in sugar
- Good carb content for endurance training
- Taste amazing
- Great range of flavours
- Next day delivery
Cons
- Very high in calories
- High in artificial sweeteners
- Expensive
Grenade Carb Killa protein bar review: Quick summary
Carb Killa bars are a protein snack that can be used before, during or after exercise. They can work as a snack between meals and can also be an alternative to a regular chocolate bar, or are a tasty dessert when you fancy something sweet after a meal.
They are promoted as being “low sugar” and in comparison to regular chocolate bars this is the case, but at around 214 to 242 calories each they are still quite calorific due to a weighty protein and carb content.
In fact, they are super high in protein with approximately 20g packed into each bar, making them perfect for post-workout recovery. This also makes it easy to increase overall protein consumption, which is ideal for everyone from normal people who aren’t hitting their everyday protein targets to bodybuilders and weightlifters who need very high amounts of the stuff to build muscle.
One thing to be aware of is that the bars are pretty stacked with sweeteners, which can have a laxative effect if you consume a lot of them over the day. This could also prove problematic if you suffer from gut issues such as irritable bowel syndrome, or from diabetes (due to the risk of blood sugar spikes).
Overall, though, they’re a good gym snack. They’re ideal for use during endurance exercise and they’re better for you than a regular chocolate bar; although they have pretty much the same amount of calories, those calories come from a healthier protein- and carb-heavy source rather than a high fat and sugar source.
- Shop protein bars at Grenade here
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Grenade Carb Killa protein bar review: full review
What is Grenade?
Grenade actually started out as a company producing a weight-loss product, a version of which is now called the Thermo Detonator and is still a top seller.
Protein powders followed and in 2015 the Carb Killa protein bars were launched as a healthy alternative to regular snacks and as pre- and post-workout aids.
Many other products including ready-made protein shakes and energy drinks have also been added to their offering, and Grenade products are currently available in over 80 countries.
What are Grenade Carb Killa protein bars?
The Carb Killa Protein Bars are one of Grenade’s biggest-selling products. Resembling a chocolate bar in size, texture and taste, they come in 15 different flavours and are marketed as high protein, high fibre and low sugar alternatives to unhealthy snacks.
With 19g of carbohydrate, they also make a good post-workout snack or mini-meal to help restore depleted glycogen stores and the high protein is great for repairing muscle.
The combination of carbs and protein also makes them ideal for endurance sports where you need to refuel on the go; I tried one towards the end of a 15-mile run and I definitely felt energised afterwards. While the bar is quite chewy to eat while running, it didn’t feel too heavy on the stomach, and they would also work well for triathlons, ultramarathons and multi-day races.
The bars contain whey protein isolate which makes them unsuitable for vegans. Many bars also contain beef gelatine so they’re not suitable for vegetarians either, and could also be incompatible with certain religious food restrictions. This is a real shame as protein bars and shakes, in general, are a really good way for vegetarians to top up their protein intake.
Also, be aware of peanut and nut content — I would advise steering clear if you have an allergy as all bars are made on the same premises, where nuts are used.
The bars use sustainable palm oil, are GMO-free and are Informed Sport-Approved, which means they don’t contain any banned substances and are cleared for professional athletes and bodybuilders.
- Shop protein bars at Grenade here
What do Grenade Carb Killa protein bars taste like?
Overall, the bars taste really really good and very much resemble a gooey chocolate bar. The 15 different flavours include Lemon Cheesecake, Peanut Butter and Jelly, Chocolate Chip Salted Caramel, White Chocolate Cookie, Jaffa Quake, Peanut Nutter, Dark Chocolate Mint, Cookies and Cream, Caramel Chaos, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and Fudge Brownie.
I sampled the following flavours: Dark Chocolate Raspberry, Birthday Cake, Salted Caramel, Salted Peanut and Fudged up, and have to say there are no real complaints at all on taste. It needs to be said that all the flavours are VERY sweet, and at times I did struggle to eat a whole bar.
The nicest flavours for me were Fudged Up and Salted Caramel – both have the taste and texture of a premium chocolate bar; coated with a layer of harder chocolate on the outside with a fudge or caramel nougat-style centre.
If you have a very sweet tooth then I would recommend the Birthday Cake flavour which still has all the chewy choc middle but has a white chocolate outer which is then coated in colourful and crunchy sprinkles of hundreds and thousands on the outside.
It’s so sweet I could feel the sweetness on my teeth, and I couldn’t eat the whole bar in one go — it’s a real treat and not for the faint-hearted!
Are Grenade Carb Killa protein bars healthy?
This is a good question, and the simple answer is that they are healthier than regular chocolate bars because they contain more protein, are higher in fibre and are much lower in sugar and in fat.
However, they are almost identical when it comes to calories. The Grenade Carb Killa protein bars range from 214 calories to 242 calories, which is around the same — or indeed more — calories than you get in a regular Twix, Mars, Kit Kat Chunky or Snickers bar.
So if you’re swapping one for the other you won’t be cutting calories but you are likely to stay fuller for longer due to the high protein and fibre content which may still lead to weight loss over time if that is your goal.
The Carb Killa bars are generally better for your body as they contain macronutrients that the body can use in a healthy way, such as protein for muscle repair and building new cells, carbs for energy and fibre which keeps you regular and also helps protect the body from many health conditions. Regular chocolate bars, on the other hand, are filled with fats and sugars and rarely contain anything helpful!
The one caveat, as mentioned earlier, is the high use of sweeteners which is clearly what gives the Carb Killa bars their delicious taste. The sweeteners, non-natural flavourings, the small amount of sugar and the addition of palm oil is where the brand has compromised on healthy ingredients, and the truth is that it’s almost impossible to bypass sweeteners when making a health product that tastes good and has good texture.
While studies have shown that sweeteners such as the Sucralose and Maltodextrin used in the Carb Killa bars are safe for consumption, they can have a laxative effect and also cause spikes in your blood sugar, so if you suffer from gut issues or are diabetic or pre-diabetic I would advise speaking to your doctor first.
I do suffer from gut issues myself and stuck to one bar a day when testing the products. I didn’t have any issues but I did endure a laxative effect on the day I consumed a bar before and after my gym session, which is not a problem if you’re near a loo but could be an issue if you’re consuming multiple bars during an outdoor endurance exercise or race! I would advise testing out your limit before race day.
How much do Grenade Carb Killa protein bars cost?
- Shop protein bars at Grenade here
The bars are sold in boxes of 12 on the website and are priced at £34.20 (plus delivery), or you can select a Pick'n'Mix option that allows you to get 24 bars of your choice for £48.
You get free delivery if you spend over £35, which tempts you into spending more money.
The bars work out costing £2.85 if you buy a box of 12, which is very pricey as most protein bars do tend to sit around the £2 to £2.50 mark, and you would expect them to be cheaper when buying in bulk like this.
However, do look out for deals on the website to get a better price:
- Two boxes for £45 (working out at £1.85 per bar) – buy here
- 12x Birthday Cake Protein Bar, £18 (saving £16.20) – buy here
- Protein Bar Selection Box, £25 (saving £9.20) – buy here
It's also worth noting that if you sign up to Grenade's mailing list, you can get 20% off your first order.
Grenade Carb Killa protein bars: the verdict
Overall, I would say Grenade Carb Killa protein bars are worth a try, especially if you can get one of the website deals to get a better price per bar.
They really are super tasty and a good alternative to protein shakes and a healthier option instead of chocolate bars and treats. They’re a good pre-workout option or post-workout snack and work well for endurance training and races.
I even had one for breakfast when I was in a rush one of the days, and didn’t need to feel too guilty as I knew I was getting a high source of protein and carbs to start the day.
- Shop protein bars at Grenade here
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