About MARK BARS™
Each MARK BAR™ is all natural, contains no preservatives and contains very few ingredients and are sweetened naturally, with dates and honey. We use gluten-free products in every MARK BAR™. Each MARK BAR™ contains a specific combination of Rolled Oats, Quinoa, Nuts and Dried Fruit. In the case of the Peanut Butter Chocolate bar, we add a little bit of dairy-free chocolate because, let's face it, you can't live without a little chocolate!
Why Quinoa?
Quinoa, (pronounced keen-wah) is an ancient "super-grain" and although treated like a grain in many current applications, it is actually a seed. It's high in protein, more than most other grains and includes all nine essential amino acids, making it a complete protein. Quinoa contains a significant amount of the amino acid lysine, which is essential for tissue growth and repair. Quinoa is an excellent source of fiber, iron, phosphorus and magnesium.
What Is Pre-Workout Fuel?
Pre-workout nutrition is often overlooked, as most people are more concerned with what they put in their bodies after they exercise. However, it is just as important that you provide your body with the proper nutrition before working out as it is to replenish nutrients after, especially if you are working out for an hour or more. Most people workout on an empty stomach because they don't want the calories or they don't want to feel full. However, it is proven that a small amount of food in the form of a snack about 1 hour prior to a workout will help the body use those calories to get more out of that workout and help to repair the muscle tissue that has been broken down during the workout.
If you plan on working out for an hour or more, it is especially important to make sure you have a pre-workout snack that gives your body the fuel it needs to power your workout. A snack that contains some high glycemic carbs (like honey and dates) and low glycemic carbohydrates (like rolled oats and quinoa), healthy fats (like nuts) and lean protein (like quinoa) is ideal. All three digest at slow but varying rates, so you have more staying power during your workout.
According to Elizabeth Somer, M.A., R.D., "A pre-workout snack should deliver constant glucose (the body's number one energy source) to your muscles, so it needs to include quality carbs." However, carbs alone can cause blood sugar to nose-dive mid-workout. According to Susan Kleiner, Ph.D., R.D., author of Power Eating (HumanKinetics, 2001), a bit of protein helps shuttle carbs into muscle cells where they're needed most and aids in repairing and building muscle. Your carb-protein snack should be lowfat and light to avoid digestive problems.