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Orgain Protein Bar Review

Just Because It’s Organic Doesn’t Make It Healthy (Nutritionist Reacts)
Remy
Remy has reviewed over 100 protein bars. He's the founder of Human Food Bar.

Protein bars can provide you with quick nutrition on the go.

They make perfect pre and post-workout snacks. They also come in handy as meal replacement options or mid-afternoon pick-me-up snacks.

When you have a hectic lifestyle, protein bars can help keep you satiated and energized.

However, not all protein bars are created equal. Some products on the market use ingredients that may be harmful to your health.

To ensure that you’re not putting harmful ingredients into your body, it makes sense to go for organic food products—even when it comes to protein bars.

Orgain Protein Bars claim to be the perfect solution for those looking for an organic protein bar.

Today, let’s explore the Orgain bar to establish whether it’s as healthy and organic as it claims to be. As always, I will include my taste test and photos.

I’ll use a scale of 1 to 5 to rate indicators including taste and texture, macros, ingredients, protein content, sugar content, and overall value.

What Is the Orgain Organic Protein Bar?

Protein bars, like those made by Orgain, can help you meet your daily protein requirements, keep up your energy, and boost your metabolism.

Orgain promises to provide good, clean nutrition. Their bars contain 10 grams of organic plant-based protein including brown rice, pea, and chia seeds.

The Orgain Protein Bar comes with 3 grams of organic dietary fiber and 5 grams of sugar. To support your weight loss and fitness goals, each bar contains only 140 calories.

The bars are designed to suit a variety of dietary restrictions, including diets that are:

  • Vegan
  • Gluten-free
  • Lactose-free
  • Kosher
  • Soy-free
  • Non-GMO
  • Dairy-free

Orgain bars are also free of all artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives.

When it comes to taste and texture, Orgain’s organic protein bar doesn’t disappoint. The texture is chewy and they’re quite tasty—although you may have to try a few flavors to find something that suits your palate.

There are six wonderful flavors to choose from including:

  • Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
  • Chocolate Brownie
  • Chocolate Coconut
  • Peanut Butter
  • Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk
  • S’Mores

Here’s a review of the Orgain organic protein bar from a verified buyer:

“…This bar tastes great, chocolaty and chewy, but doesn’t stick in your teeth. No after-taste, and the size is just right.”

BP (Verified buyer)

Orgain Organic Protein Bars Nutritional Macros

Orgain Protein Bar

Let’s take a look at the nutritional macros in a 40 gram Orgain organic protein bar in the table below:

Macros Amount Daily Value
Total fat 5 g 6%
Saturated fat 1.5 g 8%
Trans fats 0 g 0%
Cholesterol 0 mg 0%
Sodium 120 mg 5%
Total carbohydrate 19 g 7%
Dietary fiber 2 g 7%
Total sugar (includes 6 g added sugars) 6 g 12%
Erythritol 3 g  
Protein 10 g 10 %

Note: There are slight variations in the nutritional information of each bar, depending on the flavor. Each bar contains 140–150 calories.

However, just because a bar is labeled “organic” doesn’t mean it’s healthy.

You still have to carefully read the nutritional information to make sure the bar has a good balance of macros.

Since Orgain is a protein bar, you want to ensure that it has enough protein to energize your body before or after a grueling workout—or curb hunger and cravings until your next meal.

It’s also up to you to find out where the protein and other nutrients come from, especially if you’re on a restrictive diet.

Pros and Cons of Orgain Protein Bars

One Bar taste test
Orgain Protein Bars Review
The Takeaway
Orgain Protein bars are a classic case of “Just because it’s organic doesn’t make it good for you.:
Taste and Texture Rating:
Macros Rating:
Protein Content Rating:
Fiber Rating:
Ingredients Rating:
Sugar Content Rating:
Value Rating:
PROS
High in protein (10 grams) which will keep you satiated promote fat burning and support metabolism
Low in fat (5 grams) to support your weight loss and fitness goals
Low-carb (19 grams) to curb food cravings and promote weight loss
Low sugar content (6 grams) to prevent blood sugar spikes that hinder weight loss
Doesn’t contain trans fats or cholesterol which could be harmful to your health
Suitable for restrictive diets such as vegan dairy-free gluten-free GMO-free Kosher soy-free and lactose-free
CONS
Low in dietary fiber (2 grams). This amount of fiber is very low and isn’t enough to keep you full or curb cravings for long
Contains added sugar (6 grams) which provides no nutritional value but increases heart disease risk factors such as obesity high blood pressure and inflammation
Contains some saturated fats (1.5 grams). High consumption of saturated fats increases heart disease risk factors
Contains erythritol a sugar alcohol. While erythritol is safe in small amounts it can cause digestive problems in some people—especially when eaten in large amounts
3.5
Remy
Founder
Human Food Bar

Psst! Got a moment?

If you're reading this, you came here for one my many protein bar reviews, which means you're a fellow bar eater. 

If you found my article helpful, I hope you'll take a look at Human Food Bar, which I created after testing over 100 bars.

The bar's unique formulation can help you cut cravings, lose weight, sleep better, have more energy, regulate digestion, and more. It does this by balancing your gut biome.

Human Food Bar comes recommended by New York Times best-selling author Dr. Steven Gundry, MD.

Scroll through the gallery to learn more!

Rating Orgain Protein Bars

Orgain Protein Bar

Orgain, the company that makes Orgain Protein Bars, takes pride in providing good, clean nutrition.

Let’s analyze the bar’s nutritional macros, taste, texture, protein content, ingredients, sugar content, and overall value to see whether these claims are valid. 

Taste and Texture

Orgain Protein Bar

The Orgain Protein Bar is a tasty bar that you can easily pack in kids’ lunch boxes or use as a meal replacement.

With organic pea protein and organic rice flour, Orgain has a pleasantly chewy texture. Sweetened with erythritol, these organic protein bars taste amazing.

Of course, taste is very subjective. You might have to try different flavors to find your personal favorite.

I highly recommend starting with the Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk or Peanut Butter flavors.

Macros

The Orgain organic protein bar contains 10 grams of protein, which will significantly help you meet your daily requirements.

However, you also need to think about the other macros in the bar to find out if it’s really healthy.

On the plus side, the bar is low-carb (19 grams), low-fat (5 grams), and has a low sugar content (5 grams).

The downside, however, is that Orgain organic protein bars are rather low in dietary fiber (2 grams), which isn’t enough to keep you satiated and curb cravings.

Protein Content

For a protein bar, the most important macronutrient to track is protein.

Each Orgain organic protein bar contains 10 grams of protein. This amount is enough to keep you energized and satiated while you’re waiting for your next meal.

Adequate protein intake also supports your metabolism and promotes fat burning.

The Orgain Protein Bar is made using organic plant-based proteins such as organic rice protein, organic ground chia seeds, organic almonds, and pea protein.

Fiber Content

With plant-based protein from sources such as organic brown rice protein, organic almonds, and peanut butter, you’d expect this bar to be full of organic fiber.

However, the Orgain Protein Bar scores quite low on fiber. It contains only 2 grams of dietary fiber, which is too low to keep you full when you eat it as a mid-morning snack or a meal replacement.

Ingredients

Orgain aims to offer good, clean plant-based nutrition.

The Orgain Protein Bar is made using plant-based protein sources such as organic protein crisps, organic ground chia seeds, organic rice flour, and organic pea protein. Other ingredients include organic tapioca syrup, sunflower lecithin, and organic erythritol.

The product has met the necessary requirements to receive the USDA organic seal.

The downside, however, is that they use sugar alcohols—which are known to cause digestive issues in some people.

Sugar Content

Orgain organic protein bars have low sugar content (6 grams). 

A setback of these bars is that some of their sugar content is derived from sugar alcohols like erythritol. These sugar alcohols can cause gastrointestinal issues, like bloating and gassiness, when consumed in large quantities.

Additionally, added sugars have been linked to increasing heart disease risk factors such as obesity, high blood pressure and inflammation.

Value

The Orgain Protein Bar is truly organic, contains adequate amounts of protein, and is made with high-quality ingredients. The plant-based bars also have great taste and texture.

The downside, however, is that Orgain uses added natural and artificial sweeteners. This brings down the overall value of the protein bar.

Orgain Protein Bar vs the Human Food Bar

the Human Food Bar

Orgain Protein Bars score decently overall. However, if you’re looking for an alternative that doesn’t contain sugar alcohols or added sweeteners, the Human Food Bar is for you.

Inspired by the hunter-gatherer diet, the Human Food Bar is a microbiome booster made from high-quality ingredients such as:

Unlike most bars, the Human Food Bar is lectin-free. It was specially designed for compatibility with the lectin-free Dr. Gundry Plant Paradox diet.

Lectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins that have been associated with disrupting digestion, interfering with nutrient absorption, and causing chronic inflammation.

The Human Food Bar also uses plant-based protein and is gluten-free, soy-free, non-GMO, and dairy-free.

Sweetened using only chicory root, allulose,monk fruit, the Human Food Bar truly offers good, clean nutrition.

In the table below, let’s compare the two bars:

The Human Food Bar Orgain Protein Bars
  • Has natural flavor and sweetness from allulose, monk fruit, and other high-quality ingredients
  • Has optimum fiber content (8 grams) to meet your dietary needs without causing digestive issues
  • Contains superfood ingredients such as tiger nut flour, green banana flour, baobab fruit powder, and cacao
  • Suitable for a lectin-free diet
  • Uses sugar alcohols and added sugars that can be harmful to your health
  • Has very low fiber content (2 grams), which is not enough to keep you satiated between meals
  • Doesn’t contain any notable superfoods
  • Isn’t suitable for a lectin-free diet
Human Food Bar wrapper

The Verdict

The Orgain Protein Bar is pretty amazing if you’re not finicky about sweeteners. It tastes great, is made from plant-based protein, and uses healthy organic ingredients.

However, if you want a bar that truly provides clean nutrition, the Human Food Bar is the best option.

With no added sugars and artificial sweeteners, coupled with its superfood content, the Human Food Bar is a clear winner.

With microbiome-boosting ingredients, the Human Food Bar can support the following health and wellness goals:

  • Decreases hunger and food cravings
  • Aids in the maintenance of a healthy digestive system
  • Boosts the immune system
  • Reduces inflammation
  • Improves your body’s ability to absorb calcium for stronger bones
  • Improves your general well-being

 

Still not sure? Check out these reviews of other fiber rich bars we tested:

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Orgain Protein Bars gluten-free?

Yes. Orgain organic protein bars are 100% gluten-free.

Are Orgain Protein Bars tested for heavy metals?

Yes. Orgain makes sure that any ingredients that are at risk of heavy metal contamination are tested. They also carefully source their ingredients to ensure there’s no contamination.

Are Orgain Protein Bars good for weight loss?

Yes. Containing only 140–150 calories in each bar, Orgain Protein Bars are a good snack or meal replacement to help you meet your weight loss goals. They’re also low-carb, low-sugar, and low-fat.

Founder
Remy is the founder of Human Food Bar. A health and wellness enthusiast based in Berkeley, California with a deep interest in dietary nutrition, he's well versed in the Plant Paradox, Keto, Paleo and Vegan diets. He has a borderline obsession with nutrition bars that eventually gave birth to the Human Food Bar. In his free time he likes to blog, cook, mixologize, garden and mountain bike.
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Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Nutritional Synergy
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Kathy is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist with a Master of Science degree from Michigan State University in Human Nutrition. She's been a Registered Dietitian for 32 years serving in all capacities of my profession from clinical nutrition to public health and education. She's passionate about helping people change their lives for the better using medical nutrition therapy and in the art and practice of writing about all aspects of functional and integrative nutrition.
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Founder
Remy is the founder of Human Food Bar. A health and wellness enthusiast based in Berkeley, California with a deep interest in dietary nutrition, he's well versed in the Plant Paradox, Keto, Paleo and Vegan diets. He has a borderline obsession with nutrition bars that eventually gave birth to the Human Food Bar. In his free time he likes to blog, cook, mixologize, garden and mountain bike.
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