Nutrition
Facts
Natural
Energy: Sugars
and Carbohydrates
Cheetah Bar’s main sources of energy are the sugars and carbohydrates
in the cane juice, figs, oats, soy beans and brown rice. The simple sugar in
the cane juice provides a quick jump in blood sugar – which means immediate
energy. Then, the moderate and low glycemic index foods kick in – the
carbohydrates in the figs, oats and brown rice. These carbs, with the help
of the bar’s fiber, will provide a sustained amount of glucose in your
muscles for about 3 hours – energy for the long haul. All this means
fast, sustained energy, with no crash.
Beneficial Minerals:
Potassium, Sodium,
Iron and Calcium
Potassium is an essential mineral in human nutrition; it assists in muscle
contraction and in maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance in body cells.
Potassium is also important in sending nerve impulses as well as releasing
energy from protein, fat, and carbohydrates during metabolism. As potassium
is lost in sweat, it is important to have a source like Cheetah Bar around
to help your body maintain its optimal levels.
Sodium is a major cation in the body, involved
in nerve impulse transmission, muscle tone and
nutrient transport, in processes very interrelated
with Potassium. It is also lost through sweat,
and replenishing it is important. Unfortunately
most Americans consume about four times more
sodium every day than potassium, even though
researchers suggest that the ratio should be
four or five times more potassium than sodium.
Fortunately for athletes, Cheetah Bar has that
suggested ratio.
 Iron is an essential mineral, as it is necessary
in the hemoglobin of our red blood cells and
myoglobin in our muscles. The role of both of
these molecules is to carry oxygen to the parts
of our body that need energy. Iron also makes
up part of many proteins and enzymes in the body.
Aside from the importance of Calcium in our
bones and teeth, Calcium helps to control blood
pressure, nerve transmission, release of neurotransmitters
and is essential for muscle contraction. Calcium
also is an essential component in the production
of enzymes and hormones that regulate digestion,
energy, and fat metabolism, which is part of
the reason it is important in an energy bar.
Dietary
Fiber Advantage
Dietary fibers – of which there are two,
soluble and insoluble – have a myriad of
uses in the human body. Soluble fiber, which
counts for about ¼ of the fiber in a Cheetah
Bar, helps to control blood sugar and lower blood
cholesterol by binding it to the digestive tract,
which has been shown in a number of studies to
lower the risk of heart disease. Insoluble fiber
aids digestion, encourages less absorption of
fats in digestion, and encourages the “full” feeling
after being consumed.
Facts about our Organic California Figs:
Organic
Figs are naturally a very healthy food, full
of energy, and the minerals that your body needs
to perform mentally and athletically, it’s
no wonder that Plato
suggested them to Achaean athletes, and that
we made them the key ingredient for Cheetah Bar.
- Figs
are fat free,
very low in sodium
and
cholesterol free.
- Figs
have the highest
mineral content of
all
common fruits, and
are
an excellent source
of calcium, iron,
magnesium,
phosphorus, potassium,
copper and manganese.
- The triple shot of
fiber, potassium and
magnesium in figs
gives their eaters
extra protection against
strokes and high blood
pressure.
- Figs help to naturally
combat kidney stones
with their large amounts
of calcium an potassium.
- Figs have a large
concentration
of fiber. Over 10%
of
the weight of dried
figs is in soluble
and insoluble dietary
fibers.
- Figs
contain a large
amount of polyphenols – complex
organic molecules
that
have antioxidant
effects,
and may help to reduce
the risk of heart
disease
and cancers. Polyphenols
are the same antioxidants
contained in red
wine
and green tea.
- Benzadehyde is also
present in figs. This
organic compound is
reported to have anti-cancer
activity and has been
used to treat terminal
human carcinomas.
- Finally, figs have
a large concentration
of molecules called
coumarins,
which are used for
the
treatment of prostate
and skin cancers.
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SOURCES
http://www.diagnose-me.com/cond/C424831.html | http://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/nutrition/factsheets/iron.html
Whitney EN, Rolfes SR. Water and the Major Minerals.
In: Understanding Nutrition. Seventh Edition, St. Paul, MN: West Publishing
Company; 1996; 448-454. http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/fiber.html Vinson,
J.A., Ph.D., “The
Functional Food Properties of Figs,” Cereal Foods World, pgs 82-86,
February 1999, Vol. 44, No. 2. http://www.bouquetoffruits.com/fruit-facts/fig-facts.html
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