MET-Rx is a nutritional supply company which produces food bars, protein shakes, and a few other knick-knacks besides.
A MET-Rx food bar is an energy bar, somewhat similar to PowerBar or Oodwalla, but patronized more by the thick-necked weightlifter crowd than the crunchy hiker crowd. Many collegiate rowing teams eat these after practice; the muscular microtears caused by any endurance work increase the body's need for amino acids to rebuild.
The recommended daily intake of protein is between .5g per pound of lean body mass for a sedentary individual to .9g -- 1.1g for a growing adolescent or a power/endurance athlete (e.g. rowing, wrestling, swimming).
A MET-Rx bar is very heavy on protein and on vitamins. The typical PowerBar is about 220 calories, with 8 grams of protein. The MET-Rx has 27 grams, which is comparable to what you would get in a 5 ounce serving of lean chicken breast. It is a popular "replenishment" food (which you eat after a workout) rather than a "prefueling" food (eaten before, which is a common use of a PowerBar).
MET-Rx bars are more difficult to find than PowerBars or Oodwalla, which can be picked up in most convenience or drugstores. MET-Rx can be found on the east coast in CVS drugstores and in GNC (General Nutrition Center). A 100g bar is fairly pricey ($2.35), especially compared to a $.99 PowerBar, but for those who believe in post-excersise protein loading, there isn't any comparison. In the past year, market leader PowerBar has tried to get in on this market, introducing PowerBar ProteinPlus (24g protein per bar), which enjoy wider distribution than MET-Rx.
Here is the nutrition information from the back of a Chocolate Chip MET-Rx bar:
Nutrition Information
- Calories: 340
- Calories from fat: 35
- Total Fat: 4g
- Saturate Fat: 2g
- Cholesterol: 10mg
- Sodium: 110mg
- Potassium: 700mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 50g
- Protein: 27g
Vitamin Information
- Vitamin A: 90%
- Calcium: 70%
- Vitamin D: 60%
- Vitamin K: 50%
- Riboflavin: 60%
- Vitamin B6: 60%
- Vitamin B12:50%
- Pantothenic Acid: 40%
- Iodine: 35%
- Zinc: 40%
- Copper: 40%
- Chromium: 40%
- Vitamin C: 100%
- Iron: 40%
- Vitamin E: 150%
- Thiamin: 60%
- Niacin: 100%
- Folate: 100%
- Biotin: 60%
- Phosphorus: 45%
- Magnesium: 40%
- Selenium: 40%
- Manganese: 50%
- Molybdenum: 80%