New York-based food company Balance Bar has conveniently combined nutrition and beauty in its new snack bar. This new product, called nimble, is said to be a first of its kind.
Nimble Balance Bar is an indulgent snack bar that has been fortified with a lot of antioxidants, lutein and beta-carotene. Beta-carotene is a substance that protects the body from damage caused by UV rays and lutein, a carotenoid found in green and leafy vegetables, is also important to the body for fighting against damage. In fact, a study that was recently conducted found that Lutein (FloraGlo brand) considerably increased the hydration of the skin by 38%. It was also found that Lutein increased the skin’s elasticity.
Aside from these nutrients that are vital for a healthy skin, nimble also has other important nutrients like carbohydrates, protein (10 grams), fiber (5 grams), calcium, iron, folate, vitamin D and vitamin B6. This snack bar contains 40% carbohydrates, 30% protein and 30% fat. According to nutritionist and author Joyce Daoust, this ratio helps stabilize sugars in the blood, reduce the development of inflammation, improve a person’s energy and steadies his mood as well. Daoust also added that the vitamins, carotenoids, minerals and antioxidants found in the snack bar all plays an important role in order to maintain a healthy skin.
The nimble balance bar contains only 120 calories. It is the first snack bar that has been sweetened with zero-calorie sweetener Truvia rebiana. This snack bar is also a certified kosher product. The nimble balance bar is already available in retail stores nationwide. Varieties of this snack item are “Yogurt Orange Swirl” and “Peanut Butter”. A single-serve bar (1.16-ounce) is sold for a price of $1.69.
Lutein was traditionally used in chicken feed to provide the yellow color of broiler chicken skin. Polled consumers viewed yellow chicken skin more favorably than white chicken skin. Such lutein fortification also results in a darker yellow egg yolk. Today the coloring of the egg yolk has become the primary reason for feed fortification. Lutein is not used as a colorant in other foods due to its limited stability, especially in the presence of other dyes.