There’s no substitute for a well-balanced meal, but there may be times when you can’t get the nutrition you need from ideal sources.

Here’s where having an organic nutritional bar comes in handy. Organic simply means made or produced without using any unnatural materials and processes. Organic food is superior to conventionally grown food in so many ways. Organic farming is efficient, earth-friendly, and doesn’t use any pesticides or harsh chemicals. That’s why organic produce is safer, tastes better, and contains more nutrients.

In the same way, organic energy bars taste better and contain more nutritious ingredients than regular energy bars. A natural health bar with organic ingredients that has excellent sources of fat, fiber, and protein is always a good choice.

Essential fatty acids, fiber, and protein naturally provide you with instant energy. Look for an energy bar that uses complex carbohydrates and doesn’t rely on added sugar to provide energy. A sugar rush is not a real energy rush and is always accompanied with a resounding crash.

If you want a natural energy bar that is made from wholesome ingredients and tastes great at the same time, then Dr. Mercola’s Organic Cocoa Cassava Bar is just what you’ve been looking for. Organic Cocoa Cassava Bars are great-tasting and loaded with health-promoting, non-GMO, energy-producing organic ingredients.

Key Features:

USDA-certified organic, gluten-free, soy-free, no high-fructose corn syrup, excellent source of antioxidants, calcium, magnesium, vegetable protein, omega-3 fat and fiber.

Additional Benefits:

Uses organic tapioca dextrose, a natural sweetener, and two sources of organic dark chocolate. Flavor is enhanced by organic unsweetened coconut and organic raw almond butter.

But we live in a fast-paced world. Eating healthy meals on time is not always possible. And count yourself lucky if you can squeeze in some exercise and adequate sleep.

When it comes to food, Americans tend to put convenience first. That is why energy bars have become popular over the last decade, with sales exceeding $700 million.

Finding a healthy energy bar, however, is like finding a needle in a haystack. Most bars hide behind flashy packaging, offering big promises that are all hype, and offer little to no nutritional value.

When looking for a healthy protein bar, two of the most important things to consider are the protein and sugar content.

Protein

Some protein meal replacement bars may not contain as much protein as indicated on the label. You may find gelatin, hydrolyzed collagen, or hydrolyzed gelatin instead. Collagen and gelatin do not contain an essential amino acid necessary for them to become a complete protein. That means energy bars that contain gelatin or collagen give you inferior protein.

Beware when you see “all-natural protein” on the fine print, which is the name soy often hides under. Soy proteins may be contaminated with hexane, a neurotoxin. They may also contain genistein and daidzein, two phytoestrogens which may cause gynocomastia – the abnormal enlargement of the male mammary glands.

Soy has been linked to severe allergies, breast cancer, kidney stones, and thyroid disorders.

Sugar

A nutritional bar is not health-promoting if it contains high fructose corn syrup, which food manufacturers try to pass off as a “natural sweetener.” In reality, high fructose corn syrup is a heavily-processed sugar that turns into fat faster than any other sweetener. It is associated with increasing the risk of obesity, diabetes, and other health conditions. Avoid bars containing brown rice syrup, which is a euphemism for sugar.

Should you eat reduced-sugar or sugar-free bars then? “Reduced sugar” doesn’t necessarily mean you get fewer calories. Protein bars may contain sugar alcohols like malitol and sorbitol, which are used to reduce the total calorie count as they contain fewer calories than sugar. But the calorie reduction is minimal. Malitol has 75 percent the calories of sugar. Since it’s not as sweet as sugar, more malitol is needed to achieve the same taste. When consumed in large amounts, sugar alcohols can cause uncomfortable side effects such as bloating, diarrhea, and gas because your body can’t absorb them completely.

Some low-carb protein bars use artificial sweeteners like aspartame and sucralose because they contain zero calories. Studies suggest, however, that artificial sweeteners may actually lead to an increased consumption of calories and weight gain.

Animal studies also show that sucralose may cause agitation, birth defects, cancer, fertility issues, gastrointestinal problems, headaches, irregular heartbeat, kidney and liver damage, shortness of breath and a weakened immune system.

If you’re looking for a healthy protein bar, try the New and Improved Organic Cocoa Cassava Bar. Organic Cocoa Cassava Bars use only the finest all-natural ingredients, including organic raw chia seeds, a high-quality, non-dairy source of protein containing essential amino acids for building muscle; and organic tapioca syrup, a natural sweetener and carbohydrate source.

The Organic Cocoa Cassava Bar is free of gluten, GMOs and MSG. What you’ll get are omega-3 fats, fiber, minerals, and one of the richest sources of free-radical fighting antioxidants – organic dark chocolate.

How’s that for a healthy energy bar?

Convenience, sleek packaging, and flashy marketing make energy bars very appealing to consumers. But look more closely and cut through the hype, because most energy bars don’t live up to their promises.

When choosing an energy bar, take time to look at the label and take note of the following:

1. Calories
Energy bars are popular because they provide you with a quick and convenient source of energy. But many energy bars give you the same empty calories from simple sugars that you get from candy bars. Look for a bar with a good balance of protein, fats, and fiber for sustained energy and satiety.

2. Carbohydrates
Some bars contain as much as 41 grams of carbohydrates while others have as little as 3 grams. More than 30 grams is too much for a snack. That’s more carbohydrates than 3 slices of bread. You may also find “net carbs” on the label, as some food manufacturers don’t count certain kinds of carbohydrates as being important. But make no mistake about it: your waistline will count them.

3. Fat
Avoid bars containing hydrogenated oil because it forms trans fat. Trans fat can trigger: weight gain, inflammation, blood clotting, a decrease in good cholesterol (HDL) while increasing bad cholesterol (LDL), damage to your arteries, weakened cell walls, and can also prevent your body from assimilating nutrients, such as essential fatty acids.

4. Fiber
Less than 10 percent of Americans consume their daily recommended amount of fiber. Eating a natural energy bar is a novel way of increasing fiber intake. Aside from improving digestion, studies show that fiber can promote the growth of probiotics (beneficial bacteria) in your intestinal tract, and help maintain blood glucose and cholesterol levels already in the normal range.

5. Gluten
Gluten is a protein found in grains such as wheat, barley, and rye. It has been associated with more than 50 illnesses: including anemia, anxiety, autism, chronic reoccurring canker sores, fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, lupus, migraines, multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis, and many other autoimmune diseases.

6. Protein
Some performance bars have over 30 grams of protein. You won’t need a lot of protein if you’re not doing muscle-building exercises that require quick muscle recovery. Avoid bars containing soy protein as soy protein may be contaminated with hexane, a neurotoxic industrial chemical. Soy has been linked to certain conditions including cancer, kidney stones, serious food allergies, and thyroid disorders.

7. Sweeteners
Too much sugar is bad in any food. In energy bars, sugar is usually disguised as brown rice syrup, corn syrup, dextrose, high-fructose corn syrup, and sucrose. High-fructose corn syrup turns into fat faster than any other sugar and has been linked to diabetes, higher levels of LDL cholesterol, triglycerides and uric acid, metabolic syndrome, and obesity. Avoid bars with artificial sweeteners and sugar alcohols. Eating an energy bar sweetened with aspartame or sucralose may expose you to adverse side effects instead of helping you lose weight. Maltitol, sorbitol, mannitol – sugar alcohols found in many popular bars – can cause gas and bloating.

As a healthier option to sugary, nutritionally unbalanced energy bars, Dr. Joseph Mercola created the USDA Certified Organic Cocoa Cassava Bar. This tasty snack bar uses only the finest natural organic ingredients from reputable sources.

For Dr. Mercola, a natural energy bar must be as health-promoting at it is tasty. The Organic Cocoa Cassava Bar is formulated to tickle your taste buds and provide a balance of fiber smart fats and other important nutrients from:

• Organic Dark Chocolate
• Organic Cassava Flour
• Organic Raw Chia Seeds
• Organic Raw Almond Butter
• Organic Unsweetened Coconut

It does not contain any soy, high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated vegetable oil, casein, gluten, artificial sweeteners, or MSG.

Organic Cocoa Cassava Bars offer great taste, excellent value and wholesome nutrition, not empty calories and misleading claims. Try one now!

Organic refers to how foods are grown and processed. Organic foods must be produced without antibiotics, artificial ingredients, chemical preservatives and toxins, genetic engineering, irradiation, synthetic fertilizers, synthetic hormones or pesticides, Dr. Joseph Mercola explains.

But be careful when shopping for organic food. The word “organic” is used loosely on the labels of food products as well as restaurant menus because food manufacturers and restaurateurs are not above embellishing the truth about the food they provide.

As far as organic foods are concerned, there is only one organic label that matters: the USDA Certified Organic seal.

The USDA’s National Organic Program (NOP) took effect in 2002 and regulates the standards for any farm, wild crop harvesting, or handling operation that wants to sell an agricultural product as organically produced.

The NOP’s labeling requirements apply to raw, fresh products, and processed products that contain organic agricultural ingredients. Products labeled:

• “100 percent organic” must contain only organically produced materials
• “Organic” must contain at least 95 percent organic ingredients
• “Made with organic ingredients” can contain anywhere between 70 to 95 percent organic ingredients

In order to be USDA certified as organic, a product must be grown and processed using organic farming methods that recycle resources and promote biodiversity. Crops must be grown without bioengineered genes, petroleum-based and/or sewage sludge-based fertilizers, and synthetic pesticides.

Organic livestock must not be given antibiotics or growth hormones and must be allowed to roam freely outdoors. Organic products are not irradiated, do not contain preservatives or flavor enhancing chemicals, nor contain traces of contaminants, heavy metals and pesticides in excess of tolerances set by the Food and Drug Administration and Environmental Protection Agency.

Buy organic meat, fruits and vegetables because they’re safer, taste better, and are nutritionally superior to conventional produce. An organic snack like Dr. Mercola’s New and Improved Organic Cocoa Cassava Bar is a quick, convenient and health promoting food bar. Unlike other nutritional bars available, Organic Cocoa Cassava Bars are USDA certified organic, non-allergenic and non-genetically modified. Dr. Mercola guarantees that his Organic Cocoa Cassava Bars will satisfy your discriminating taste and provide you with nutrition from real, high quality ingredients.

Strokes or “brain attacks” occur when the blood supply to the brain is blocked or reduced, depriving the brain of oxygen and necessary nutrients–causing the death of brain cells within minutes.

Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States. It can be devastating those who survive it because it can cause permanent neurological damage.

Scientists at John Hopkins University were searching for a way to prevent brain damage after having a stroke. So, first they fed a group of mice a single dose of epicatechin. After 90 minutes, they cut off blood supply to the animals’ brains to induce an ischemic stroke. They discovered that the mice that had ingested epicatechin suffered significantly less brain damage than the ones that had not been given the compound.

Every second counts when dealing with a stroke. This study suggests that epicatechin stimulates two previously well-established pathways known to shield nerve cells in your brain from damage; so when the stroke hits, your brain is ready to protect itself.

Because the epicatechin needed to activate the protective pathway is already within your cells, even just a small amount of cacao may be enough to help you reap these protective health benefits.

Among chocolate products, raw cocoa powder and dark chocolate rank the highest in terms of antioxidant properties and potential health benefits. If you want to maximize the health advantages from chocolate, choose products that use USDA-certified organic raw cacao powder and organic dark chocolate.

According to a review in The New England Journal of Medicine, consuming gluten can cause at least 55 illnesses including: chronic reoccurring canker sores, fatigue, anemia, cancer, irritable bowel syndrome, lupus, multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis, and many other autoimmune diseases.

Gluten is also linked to a number of psychiatric and neurological conditions, including anxiety, autism, dementia, depression, epilepsy, migraines, and neuropathy.

A decade ago, it was believed that one out of every 10,000 Americans had Celiac disease, the most serious form of gluten sensitivity. It is now estimated that as many as one in every 100 – roughly 3 million people – are suffering from Celiac disease, and as many as one-third of the U.S. population is affected by some form of gluten sensitivity.

Celiac disease is difficult to diagnose because symptoms vary greatly in type and intensity. Some people don’t have any symptoms at all. What is clear, however, is that gluten can cause serious health problems, even to those who do not have full-blown Celiac disease.

A recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed that people with diagnosed, undiagnosed, and “latent” Celiac disease or gluten sensitivity increased their risk of death, particularly from cancer and heart disease.

The study looked at some 30,000 patients from 1969 to 2008, examining deaths in three groups: those with Celiac disease, those with inflammation of the intestines but without full-blown Celiac disease, and those with latent celiac disease or gluten sensitivity. Those with Celiac disease increased their risk of death by 39 percent, those with gluten-related gut inflammation by 72 percent, and those with gluten sensitivity, but no Celiac disease by 35 percent.

Go Gluten-free

Gluten is difficult to avoid because it is present in so many processed foods. It’s found in bread, cereal, cookies, flour, pizza, pasta, and even energy bars. The only known treatment for gluten intolerance is not eating anything with gluten because even a small amount can damage your intestines.

You can start eliminating gluten from your diet by choosing gluten-free snacks like Dr. Mercola’s new Organic Cocoa Cassava Bar. This natural energy bar uses organic cassava flour, which is safe for gluten-intolerant people. With gluten-free organic cassava flour, fiber from organic raw chia seeds and organic unsweetened coconut, and wholesome sweetness from organic dark chocolate, pound-for-pound, the Organic Cocoa Cassava Bar is easily one of the most nutritious and delicious snacks in the market.

But why is fiber important to your good health?

Fiber has long been associated with promoting digestive regularity, easing occasional discomfort in your stomach because it absorbs water and adds bulk to your stool. Numerous studies, however, show that a fiber-rich diet:

• Helps scrub your colon of debris and toxins
• Helps support blood sugar levels in the normal range
• Promotes the growth of probiotics or beneficial bacteria in your intestinal tract to help support your immune system and overall wellness
• Helps slow down digestion for better absorption of nutrients
• Helps keep you feeling full longer

Recognizing the many benefits of fiber, Dr. Joseph Mercola sprinkled his new natural energy bar, the Organic Cocoa Cassava Bar, with organic raw chia seeds. The fiber content of chia seeds is composed of about 75 percent insoluble fiber and 25 percent soluble fiber.

Insoluble fiber passes through your digestive system largely unchanged and helps it function better while soluble fiber absorbs water and is converted into a gel-like substance which traps food, sugars, cholesterol, and fats in your stomach, leads them to your gastrointestinal tract and slows down their absorption into your body.

Chia seeds’ soluble fiber has a higher viscosity than other dietary fibers, which means it has significantly increased transit time, delayed gastric emptying, and a slower rate of glucose absorption.

Organic raw chia seeds also contain more antioxidants than blueberries, more calcium and protein than flaxseeds, and more omega-3 fats than salmon, which is why it is considered a superfood. Chia’s nutty flavor also complements the overall taste of the Organic Cocoa Cassava Bar, which is packed with other delicious and nutritious ingredients.

Experience the health benefits of this superfood in every bite of the Organic Cocoa Cassava Bar. Try one now!

Though mainly composed of fat, lecithin is actually a fat emulsifier, adhering to your cells and nerve linings to prevent cholesterol and other fats from sticking. By helping hinder the accumulation and movement of fat, lecithin helps enhance your cardiovascular health.

Studies also show that lecithin may help positively influence:

• Gallbladder and liver health
• Reproduction and child development
• Memory, learning and reaction time
• Hair and skin
• Cell communication
• Physical performance and muscle endurance

Soy: Not a Healthy Lecithin Source

Lecithin is found in many foods such as cruciferous vegetables like cabbage and cauliflower, egg yolks, legumes, nuts, organic meat, seeds and soybeans.

In the food industry, soy lecithin is used as an emulsifier in energy bars and candy bars to keep the cocoa and cocoa butter from separating. Soy lecithin is also an important ingredient in baking because it keeps the other ingredients together.

Soy, however, is not a healthy source of lecithin because soy lecithin is extracted from soybeans using a neurotoxic, highly-flammable solvent known as hexane. A byproduct of gasoline, hexane is classified by the Environmental Protection Agency as a major air pollutant.

Soy is also not the health food everyone thought it was because studies show that it:

• Is included in the eight food groups found to cause 90 percent of all food-allergic reactions, including severe and potentially fatal ones
• Contains goitrogens, which contribute to thyroid disorders, particularly in women
• Contains phytates, which block the absorption of life enhancing minerals
• Contains phytoestrogens, which mimic estrogen and cause adverse effects on human tissues
• Increases the risk of breast cancer in women, brain damage in both men and women, and abnormalities in babies
• Promotes kidney stones
• Weakens the immune system

A Natural Energy Bar Needs a Wholesome Lecithin Source

Soy-based ingredients have no place in a natural energy bar, or in your diet. This is why the New Organic Cocoa Cassava Bars use sunflower lecithin instead of soy lecithin. Sunflower lecithin is arguably the best plant source of lecithin. It is cold pressed and no harmful substances like hexane are used during extraction. It also has neutral taste, is more stable than soy lecithin and contains more phosphatidylcholine, the substance which gives lecithin its dispersing and emulsifying properties.

Sunflower lecithin improves the digestibility, consistency and taste of the Organic Cocoa Cassava Bar. This natural health bar contains only the finest quality ingredients because it was made to tickle your taste buds and promote your good health at the same time. Try one now!

High fructose corn syrup can destroy your health in many different ways. This chemically-converted sweetener is the main source of calories in the American diet and is also believed to be one of the major contributors to the obesity epidemic.

It’s virtually impossible to avoid this unhealthy sweetener because it’s found in the most common foods and beverages, including soda, fruit juice, cereal, ice cream, cookies, soups, sauces, even in diet foods and that supposedly wholesome nutritional bar.

Dr. Joseph Mercola is flabbergasted at the fact that most of the energy bars still contain high fructose corn syrup when it is metabolized into fat faster than any other sugar-based sweetener. How can these food bars claim to be ideal snacks when they contain something that slowly destroys health?

Dr. Mercola takes sweeteners and food bars very seriously. That is why his new natural energy bar, the Organic Cocoa Cassava Bar, does not contain HFCS, artificial sweeteners or sugar alcohols. The only sweetener found in his Organic Cocoa Cassava Bars is organic tapioca syrup.

Tapioca syrup, also known as cassava syrup, is a unique and naturally-produced sweetener made by converting the cassava tuber or root into syrup using natural enzymes. Tapioca syrup provides a sweetness, body and humectancy that’s similar to high fructose corn syrup but this natural sweetener is hypoallergenic and not genetically- modified.

Tapioca syrup provides a hint of natural sweetness to the Organic Cocoa Cassava Bar, and at the same time, keeps it moist and naturally helps preserve the product’s shelf life.

The organic cocoa cassava bar succeeds where most energy bars fail – using a natural and wholesome sweetener. But this natural energy bar doesn’t just provide wholesome sweetness and serious taste; it’s also densely packed with serious nutrition and backed by a USDA-certified organic seal.

Don’t settle for inferior energy bars that just rely on sleek marketing but offer no nutritional value. Try an Organic Cocoa Cassava Bar now and discover one of the best health bargains available!

A nutritional bar satisfies the need for a convenient, delicious and filling meal or snack for people who are always on-the-go, those who workout, or whenever someone needs a quick source of energy.

That is why in recent years, Dr. Joseph Mercola has spent quite a bit of time and resources developing the best possible natural energy bar. Because let’s face it, most of the energy and protein bars on the market are no better than candy bars as they contain far too much sugar, unhealthy fats and other questionable ingredients.

Dr. Mercola’s original cocoa cassava bar was one of his most popular products. But there’s always room for improvement. Because energy bars are a part of so many people’s diets, Dr. Mercola was highly motivated to create a new product that will provide real taste and real nutritional value.

Back to the lab and the kitchen he went and after more than three dozen recipe variations, he finally came up with arguably one of the best-tasting and health-promoting energy bars in the market today – the Organic Cocoa Cassava Bar.

Why You Can’t Go Wrong with this New Health Bar

The organic cocoa cassava bar offers great taste, excellent value and honest, wholesome nutrition. For Dr. Mercola, a nutritional bar must taste as good as it is good for your health. The new organic cocoa cassava bar provides just that as it:

• Is made using all natural, USDA-certified organic ingredients
• Uses high quality vegetable protein to provide essential amino acids
• Contains free-radical fighting antioxidants, healthy omega 3 fats, fiber, calcium and magnesium
• Does not contain dangerous high fructose corn syrup or artificial sweeteners like aspartame and sucralose
• Does not contain soy, gluten, preservatives or sulfites

But how does a bar containing all these healthy ingredients manage to taste great? Simple – by covering it with not one but two sources of chocolate: rich organic dark chocolate and organic raw cacao powder. Throw in raw organic almond butter, organic unsweetened coconut and organic raw chia seeds (both white and black) and you have a chewy, moist, delicious and nutritious natural health bar that tastes like a leading coconut candy bar we all know.

The organic cocoa cassava bar is a snack that will provide you with convenience, delicious taste, longer energy, lasting satiety with the least guilt. Experience great taste and big nutrition in one small package. Grab one now!