Ask Liz...

 

Welcome to Ask Liz. I am an independent qualified nutritional therapist, health advisor and stress councellor and each month on behalf of 9Bar I will be answering up to 3 readers questions. If you have found the general health tips in the 9Bar lifestyle section helpful and would like to know more about something specific then please write in.

 

Sorry I cannot reply personally to your questions or answer them all but I hope that by sharing your interest in health matters it can help others with theirs.

 

Do you have a question for Liz? If so then click here...

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Question...

Are 9 bars safe to eat in pregnancy?

 

Liz Says...

I have no idea why they wouldnt be - seeds are packed full of nutrition and especially if you are vegetarian supply essential amino acids which are even more essentila during pregnancy.

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Question...

I like 9 bars but i notice it has trans fats in themwhat is the point in saying they are healthy when the have something the united nations says is toxic and is banned in some countries including new york state?

 

Liz Says...

I am not sure how you have jumped to this conclusion but we can assure you there are no transfats in a 9bar which is why we are happy to say it is a healthy bar.

I think your misunderstanding comes from the terms we are obliged to use in food labelling. When food is scientifically analysed. If they can find no trace of something we use the term <0.1g (less than 0.1g) because this is the minimum quantity that the tests can analyse to. This is a trace amount so 
basically what they are saying is we tested the food to 0.1g and found no transfats so as far as we can say there are none in the product - it is annoying we cant just say 0 but unfortunately thats how
we have to present in the nutritional information box.

None of our ingredients contain transfat and the method of cooking doesnt produce them - food that are fried are the most likely transfat converters.

We are more than aware transfats are very unhealthy which is why we make sure there are none in our product. On saying that a healthy diet is all about eating in moderation so there are good and bad elements in individual foods, even ones we class as healthy if they are eaten in excess. I can see this is something that concerns you greatly and suggest you target those who dont care about the health of their products.

We are very proud of 9bar, it is loved by many not just for its nutritional status but just because they love the taste so my advice to you is just enjoy.

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Question...

I have high cholesterol and am wondering if 9 bars are suitable. I tried the original bar and loved it but noticed that it has over 10g saturated fat per 100g. On cholesterol diet sheets the advice is to avoid anything with over 5g. I''m not sure if this comes from the carob or vegetable oil included. Also I''d like to know if there are other varieties of 9 bar which have less saturated fat.

 

Liz Says...

The fat in 9bar is mainly due to the amount of seeds. Seeds are nutritionally dense and are rich in essential fatty acids - unsaturated fats especially PUFAs - polyunsaturated fatty acids and MUFAs - monunsaturated fatty acids - are what are often referred to as "good fats." These include things like omega 3 which has many healthy properties. Research also shows MUFAs and PUFAs can help reduce cholesterol.

With cholesterol it is more about ratio. Some foods such as deep fried foods are high in satfats but have little or no healthier unsat fats. Foods that contain "good fats" often contain a level of satfat but at a much lower level. If good fats can lower cholesterol then those rich in unsatfat can counter balance the lower level of satfat. 

The information you have is correct and any advice you get from a health professional should be followed but as is often found with blanket advice it does not consider other nutritional values. 9bars are made from seeds and and we know they are generally a much healthier option than many other snack foods which do not contain healthy fats but are predominately saturated.

A healthy diet comes from a blanced diet, eating moderately and selecting foods that are nutritionally rich over those containing "empty calories." For the average person 9bar is a healthier treat than many others on the market. As a treat is should be eaten in moderation as part of a healthy balanced diet.

An important point to remember when comparing nutritional values - A 9bar weights 50g - due to labeling guidelines we have to put 100g figures but at a glance this could be confused with whats in the bar when in fact you need to halve the values shown. 

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Question...

Dear Liz I am currently on a low GI diet which I intend to maintain and wondered if the 9 bar would fit into this diet?

 

Liz Says...

We know seeds have a low GI so establishing a GI value is something we are looking into. We have done initial calculations although we suspect testing will produce a lower reading. These are figures based on basic calculations so we cannot say they are accurate but they do give you a rough idea.

nutty 34, original  and flax 39, pumpkin 39 - not bad for a tasty snack bar!

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Question...

I would love to know how the 9bar got its name!

 

Liz Says...

Hemp which is our "star" ingredient contains all the 9 essential amino acids - this is rare for plant based foods as complete proteins are normally only found in animal food sources which is why 9bar is an idea choice for vegetarians and is endorsed by the vegetarian society. it also so happens to contain 9 natural ingredients.

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Question...

Hi thereI often find seeds difficult to digest unless they are ground up. Are you bars quite digestable? Also what is teh percentage of honey adn cane sugar in your pumpkinn bar I am not a fan of carob and this seems to be the only bar without carob please correct me if I am wrong.Thanks so muchAnna

 

Liz Says...

Hi Anna

seeds are better nutritionally if they are either cooked to soften the husk or crushed because if whole they can just pass straight through digestion without the nutritional benefits being released. 9Bar is very popular in the sports community and one of the comments we regulary get is they like them because they find them easy to digest. Everyone is individual so I cannot comment on your personal situation nutritionally, it is a matter of try it and see. The bars contain around 10% cane sugar and 10% honey, any remaining sugar is found naturally in the other ingredients like the seeds. As for carob, many don't beleive us when we say it is carob, they think it is so chocolatey but if you have tried a carob coated 9Bar and still dont like it yes you do have the option of carob free pumpkin variety but we also have a new peanut one coming out in June which is carob free also. It is delicious so more news to follow.....

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Question...

Hello Liz I have been eating 9Bar for a while. To my suprise I found them is Holland. My problem is have just been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. Do you make a low suger bar for diabetics?Best RegardsBrian Bell

 

Liz Says...

Thanks for taking the trouble to write in and tell us about how much you love 9Bar. 9Bars do contain sugar so they are not specifically advisable for diabetics. We have debated the diabetic issue many times and certainly have considered a diabetic option but we do have problems with construction and taste by reducing the sugar and certainly dont want to use artificial sweetners. Also 9Bars are loved by the sports community who need lots of energy and often nag us unsuccessfully to put even more in! Approx 10% of a 9Bar is cane sugar and 10% is honey the rest of the sugar content is found naturally in the other ingredients such as nuts, seeds and carob.  A suggestion we have from some of our diabetic supporters is they cut 9bars up and have smaller amounts over the day rather than a whole bar and of course for type 1 in particular if you have problems will falling blood sugar levels they are much more nutritious than many other sweet confectionary. Type 2 diabetes responds greatly to following a healthy balanced diet with plenty of veg and wholegrains but it is also about eating in moderation a whole range of nutritious and tasty food.

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Question...

Hi Liz.I suffer from a persistent cough persistent in that when it starts it takes an age to reduce and eventually go away which has been occurring off and on for several years now.My local GP diagnoses Asthma many years ago but I''m not sure if this is the case as inhalers make no difference to me at all when I start coughing and when it gets very severe I am put on Prednisilone which I''m rather reluctant to do but at times it''s the only recourse.I am investigating ''food combining'' which seems to help at times but then the coughing starts again and through my food food combining ''experiments'' which I intend to keep up by the way I can pinpoint some food and drink products such as apples quite dry at times red wine white bread and sometimes soda bread think it''s the dryness which irritates my chest or throat leading to the coughing.However I''m wondering if the underlying cause is acid reflux?Based on my history above I hope you can advise.Yours sincerelyDave Shields

 

Liz Says...

Hi Dave

Persistent coughing is a complex topic and as you know I can only give general advice in these circumstances but my first suggestion is definately to go back to your GP and start afresh with tests and diagnosis as often the cause of the initial condition is not the thing that is keeping it in a chronic state. I would also suggest you kept a detailed diary for two weeks listing when the coughing is worse, what you are eating and doing and combine it with other information such as a seasonal link to see if you can spot a pattern.

Nutrition can certainly be a factor but it may not be something as complex as an allergy. Firstly make sure you are following a balanced diet of unprocessed foods such as vegetables, fish, meat, fruit and seeds - the food standards agency have an eatwell plate which is a good guide on thier website. Cut down on processed and refind foods such as white bread and processed cereals, meat products and ready meals. Also cut down on fizzy drinks, caffeine and alcohol as these can dehydrate. Two simple guidelines to healthy eating is make sure 80% of your daily fluid intake is water and 50% of your dinner plate is coloured vegetables. If your diet is healthy and you suspect an allergy allergyUK have details of how to do an elimination diet which is advisable to do with the help of a qualified professional.

There will be more irritation if you try and swollow too bigger chunks of food so try taking smaller nibbles and spoonfuls and chew throughly. Finally stress is also an irritant and this may well become evident when you do your diary. It is not uncommon to get into a habit of coughing so before you actually cough try swallowing, having a drink and hold back the cough. It may be difficult at first but is worth trying as chronic conditions are more likely a combination of factors than just one thing.

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Question...

Liz I am in my late twenties and still suffering from spots / acne. They are often deep under the skin becoming itchy and inflamed. They take forever to go down and when they do another one often pops up. In addition they are leaving deep pink marks behind. I get these spots generally running down just under my cheek bones and around the sides of my chin.This situation is really getting me down. I don''t want to consume medication from the doctors as I have done in the past. I am now heading down a more holistic route as I think I need to address the cause whatever that is. I have recently given up milk and turned over to soya. The spots seem to have calmed down a bit but not completely.I was wondering if you had any advice?Hope to hear from you soonAndrea

 

Liz Says...

Hi Andrea

Our skin is usually the first noticable thing to be negatively effected by lifestyle, biological and dietary imbalances. Like every other cells in the body, skins cells need energy, nutrients and protection and this is supplied through the lymphatic and cardivascular system. Firsty resources have to travel a long distance to get to skin cells and also they are exposed to the outside world. You must keep following your doctors advice but you are right to look at a more holistic approach as so many things influence the skin condition. It may be hormonal, your doctor can test for this. From a dietary perspective it could also be an allergy or it could be an imbalance. I am concerned about too much soya as this can enhance female hormones also you don't want to become calcium deficient. If you suspect an allergy, try an elimination diet. Select one food group at a time eg dairy/cereals and avoid for no more than 10 days. If there is no change, its not that, if there is try introducing individual foods eg wheat/ oats one at a time for 3 days to see if things get worse again. Before you consider this you must be sure that your diet is a healthy balanced diet. Food that helps the skin stay healthy are vegetables, fruit, nuts, seeds and fish, especially oily fish containing Omega 3. I would certainly advice you to see a nutritional expert.

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Question...

At 50 I started doing a degree in my spare time and I really enjoy it except the exams. My nerves made me fail the last one and now I have to re-sit I am terrified help!

 

Liz Says...

I have had my fair share of adult exams so I know how you feel. The way I cope is to plan and prepare well in advance. Try taking a virtual exam at home, then you can address problems before hand and formulate a back up plan. Memory loss is the biggest when nerves take over, leading to panic. Perhaps you need a more effective way of retaining information when revising. Nerves can stimulate brain responses, enhancing your memory and focus if the information is channelled in the right way. Make notes, tape them, keep listening back and condensing until eventually you just have a list of bullet points. These are your memory triggers which hold the key to masses of retained information under pressure. Regular deep breathing exercises can help keep nerves down.

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Disclaimer
It is always advised that professional medical advice is obtained on all personal health matters. The information given here is a general guideline only. Any changes to diet or health regime should be done so under the supervision of a health professional. Neither the publisher or author accepts any legal responsibility for any personal injury or other damage or loss arising from the use or misuse of the information supplied. Please read our legal disclaimer