No Cow Protein Bar Review & Ketone Test Results
No Cow Protein Bars are one of the largest dairy-free protein bars available and are well priced, especially considering how filling they are. Although they aren’t specifically advertised as keto bars, they contain only 3 net carbs per bar and are therefore considered keto friendly.
In this article we will breakdown the ingredients and macro content of No Cow Protein Bars, and assess whether or not they support ketosis.
The No Cow Protein Bar Break Down
No Cow Protein Bars are high protein and high fiber snack bars that are also dairy-free, gluten-free, soy-free, and vegan.
With only 4.5g of fat per bar, they don’t independently deliver the standard keto macro ratios, however, with only 3g net carbs, they are considered keto friendly.
No Cow Protein Bars
Ingredients: (Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough) – Protein Blend (Brown Rice Protein, Pea Protein), Soluble Corn Fiber, Glycerin, Almonds, Chocolate Chips (Unsweetened Chocolate, Erythritol, Cocoa Butter, Stevia, Sunflower Lecithin), Sweetener Blend (Erythritol, Stevia, Monk Fruit), Palm Oil (Sustainably Sourced), Natural Flavors, Cocoa Butter, Salt, Water.
Macros: 190 Calories, 4.5g Fat, 21g Protein, (26g Carbs – 16g Dietary Fiber – 7g Sugar Alcohols) = 3g Net Carbs.
Flavors: Birthday Cake, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, Chocolate Fudge Brownie, Sticky Cinnamon Roll, Chocolate Glazed Doughnut, Chunky Peanut Butter, Lemon Meringue Pie, Blueberry Cobbler, Carrot Cake, Chocolate Coconut, Mint Cacao Chip, Cookies & Cream, Pumpkin Pie, Raspberry Truffle, Vanilla Caramel.
Approximate price per bar: $2.33 – $2.50
Where to buy: Available in several grocery stores and health food markets. Save 15% by shopping directly at Nocow.com. No Cow bars are also available online at iherb, Instacart, and Amazon.
Bar weight: 2.12oz (60g)
Description: High rated bar with solid ingredients. Larger than most keto bars that are the same price.
No Cow Protein Bar Review
No Cow Protein Bars are available in 16 dessert style flavors. They are one of the largest keto friendly bars currently on the market, and they are reasonably well priced when compared to other quality protein bars.
I weighed multiple bars as a measure of quality control, and were pleasantly surprised to see that most of the bars sampled actually weighted more than the amount listed on the packaging.
No Cow Protein Bars contain only 1g of sugar. They are primarily sweetened with Erythritol, Stevia, and Monk Fruit.
Although sugar alcohols are generally frowned upon, Erythritol is one of the few sugar alcohols that are accepted within the clean-keto community, and Stevia and Monk Fruit are the top two sugar substitutes recommended for healthy keto.
All ingredients are non-GMO, but they could have selected better options than rice protein, soluble corn fiber, and palm oil.
These bars are soft and chewy, with a firm cookie-like texture. They travel well without melting, and are very filling.
Please note that there are some slight differences in the ingredients and nutritional content between flavors.
Do No Cow Protein Bars Support Ketosis?
No Cow Protein Bars are not specifically advertised as keto bars, and they don’t contain much fat. They are however, low in net carbs which may qualify them as keto friendly.
On the topic of fiber, No Cow Protein Bars are high in corn fiber. Not only is this a poor choice for fiber, but large amounts of fiber, particularly from processed foods, can cause digestive discomfort and bloating.
If you are having difficulty maintaining ketosis or losing weight on keto, fiber may be the culprit. Focusing on total carbs rather than net carbs is strongly recommended if keto doesn’t seem to be working for you.
Ketone Test
To help answer this question, I used my original Keto Mojo Ketone Meter to test my ketone levels immediately prior to consuming a No Cow Protein Bar and one 8oz glass of water. I then tested my ketone levels again 30 minutes later.
On the particular day I did this test, I had been fasting for 16 hours and had just finished a workout, so my initial ketone levels were very low.
Generally a reading of 0.5mmol is considered the minimum cut-off for ketosis, however ketone levels tend to decline after following a keto diet for an extended period of time, and it is also common for them to dip while fasting or after intense exercise.
Don’t get too hung up on the numbers themselves, there are other ways to determine if you are in ketosis. The goal of this test was simply to assess potential changes in ketone levels as a result of eating a No Cow Protein Bar.
Ketones Before
30 Minutes Later
Results
Since No Cow Protein Bars do not contain much fat, I wasn’t expecting them to boost my ketone levels significantly, but I am confident that consuming them won’t kick me out of ketosis.
I also didn’t experience any stomach upset, even after consuming each bar on an empty stomach.
Consuming a high protein, low fat snack or meal after a workout, or to break a fast, is often recommended to promote continued fat loss. For that purpose these bars seem to fit the bill.
Conclusion
The No Cow Protein Bar is an extremely popular keto friendly bar that provides a great post workout or fast breaking snack. They travel well, are very filling, and won’t kick you out of ketosis.
While I didn’t experience any digestive issues, I do prefer to keep my fiber intake low, and I am not impressed with the use of corn fiber in these bars.
Just a heads up, you will want to make sure you have some water, or a beverage of some type to wash these bars down. They do taste pretty good, but due to their texture, I find that they get caught in my throat on the way down.
Have you tried No Cow Protein Bars? Would you recommend them? Please consider sharing your experience by commenting below in order to help others living a fit keto lifestyle.
Thank you for visiting LiveFitKeto.com. Check back often for new content or subscribe to our newsletter to receive updates on new articles, and if you have found this information helpful, please don’t hesitate to share.
