Human Food Bars position themselves as a gut health–focused protein bar. Made with a blend of plant-based protein and prebiotic fibres, the brand claims its ingredients are inspired by what “hunter-gatherers and ancient tribes” once ate, with an emphasis on prebiotic sources with “proven health benefits.” But are Human Food Bars healthy? Or is it just good marketing? I break down everything you need to know to make an informed choice.
About Human Food Bars
Human Food Bars are made with a blend of plant-based proteins (mainly almond and hemp) and prebiotic fibres from ingredients like chicory root, green banana flour, and tigernut flour. They are available in four flavours: Chocolate Almond Coconut, Blueberry Muffin, Chocolate Brownie, and Lemon.
Human Food Bar Ingredients
Blanched Almonds: a nutrient-dense primary ingredient providing healthy fats, plant-based protein, and vitamin E.
Fibre Blend (Chicory Root Fiber, Green Banana Flour, Tigernut Flour, Baobab Fruit Powder, Ground Flaxseed): A mix of prebiotic fibres that support gut health and help keep you full.
Protein Blend (Blanched Almond Protein Powder, Raw Hemp Protein): Adds plant-based protein.
Allulose: Allulose is a natural sugar found in small amounts in some fruit. Since it is naturally occurring in small quantities, it is most often manufactured from fructose for use in the food industry. When consumed, 70% of allulose is absorbed through the small intestine, and the remaining 30% is excreted. The absorbed allulose is not metabolized by the body, so it is considered a zero-calorie sweetener (0.4 calories per gram) and can act as a sugar substitute in foods. It is approved for use by the FDA in foods in America, but has not yet been approved for use in Canada or Europe.
Cocoa Butter: Contributes a smooth texture and mild chocolatey richness, providing some saturated fat.
Blueberries: Add natural sweetness and antioxidants, along with trace amounts of fibre and vitamin C.
Coconut Oil: A plant-based fat source that adds texture and flavour, containing mostly saturated fats.
Sunflower Lecithin: An emulsifier that helps blend fats and liquids for a consistent texture. Check out my full review of Lecithin here.
Natural Flavours: A blanket term for any combination of extracts from plant or animal products. Check out our blog post, What are Natural Flavours and Should you Avoid them, for more information on natural flavours.
Sea Salt: Enhances flavour and provides a small amount of sodium.
Monk Fruit Extract: A sugar substitute and low-calorie sweetener. To produce monk fruit extract, monk fruits are boiled and the extract is removed and then purified to produce the final sugar substitute.
Human Food Bar Nutrition Facts
Human Food Bar Blueberry Muffin flavour contains 17 g of fat, including 4.5 g of saturated fat, primarily sourced from almonds, with smaller contributions from flaxseed, hemp protein, cocoa butter, and coconut oil. It provides 135 mg of sodium from sea salt and 23 g of total carbohydrates, coming from its fibre blend (chicory root, green banana flour, tigernut flour, baobab fruit, and ground flaxseed), allulose, and blueberries. Of those carbs, 12 g are fibre and 4 g are naturally occurring sugars from blueberries and trace amounts in other ingredients. Each bar also delivers 10 g of protein, primarily from almonds and hemp.
Are Human Food bars healthy? Dietitian Review
We gave Human Food Bars a score of 85 out of 100, making them an excellent choice. They are rich in healthy fats from nuts and seeds, and contain 10 g of protein, which is on the lower end of the typical range for protein bars (12–21 g), but still adequate as a satisfying snack for the average adult.
A key marketing claim is the bar’s gut-health benefit, which relates directly to its fibre blend. The effects of prebiotics depend on the type and dose of prebiotic, as well as an individual’s gut microbiota. However, consuming a variety of prebiotic sources is generally thought to better support microbial diversity and its associated health benefits. In that sense, this bar likely does offer some gut-health support.
The protein in these bars comes from almonds, almond flour, and hemp flour. I’m a big fan of hemp seeds – they provide protein along with omega-3 fats, which can be harder to get in the diet. But one reason they’re not commonly used in packaged foods is their distinct earthy flavour, which can be tough to mask. But if you can get past it, they’re an excellent source of plant-based nutrition.
The bar is also low in sugar, and is able to keep its low-sugar status by using monk fruit extract – a natural, relatively new, and often pricey sweetener.
Finally, the bar includes two additives, sunflower lecithin (an emulsifier) and natural flavours, both of which I have reviewed previously and are not a concern.
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Sources:
- Biproduction of D-allulose: Properties, applications, purifications, and future perspectives. Comprehensive Review in Food Science and Food Safety (2021). DOI: 10.1111/1541-4337.12859.
- Research Advances of d-allulose: An Overview of Physiological Functions, Enzymatic Biotransformation Technologies, and Production Process. Foods (2021). DOI: 10.3390/foods10092186
- United States Food and Drug Administration. Guidance for Industry: The Declaration of Allulose and Calories from Allulose on Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels (2020).
- Food and Drug Administration. GRAS Notice D-Allulose (2021).
- Food and Drug Administration. GRAS Notice Monk Fruit (2017).
