Are IQ Bars Keto-Friendly?

If you’ve been to the grocery store recently, you may have seen IQ Bars, a popular low-carb snack bar.

And, you might be wondering if they’re keto-friendly or not.

In this article, I’ll discuss the amount of carbs in IQ Bars, as well as if they’re keto-friendly or not.

*Note: Some of these links are Amazon affiliate links which make me a small commission if you buy from.*

What Are IQ Bars?

IQ Bars are low-carb, plant-based snack bars. But, their biggest difference between normal snack bars is that they contain brain-supporting ingredients, like lion’s mane, choline, and vitamin E.

I personally started eating IQ Bars when I found out how natural their ingredients were.

IQ Bars come in these delicious flavors:

• Chocolate Sea Salt
• Lemon Blueberry
• Almond Butter Chip
• Peanut Butter Chip
• Matcha Chai
• Banana Nut
• Wild Blueberry

How Many Carbs Are In IQ Bars?

Each IQ Bar contains 11 grams of total carbs, but since 8 of those grams are fiber, each bar only contains 3 grams of net carbs.

The carbs in IQ Bars mostly come from their main ingredient, almonds, which contain 5 grams of carbs in 1/4 cup.

But, since most of this is fiber, this is basically a negligible amount of carbs.

Are IQ Bars Keto-Friendly?

Yes, IQ Bars are keto-friendly since each bar only contains 3 grams of net carbs.

IQ Bars also contain many natural ingredients, unlike most other snack bars.

For example, Quest protein bars, which are a popular low-carb snack, contain sucralose, an artificial sweetener, as their main sweetener.

But, the issue with using artificial sweeteners, like sucralose as an alternative to sugar is that artificial sweeteners have been shown to cause neurotoxic effects on the brain and body.

One study with around 3,000 people found that those who regularly consumed artificial sweeteners increased their risk for developing stroke and dementia by 3x!

Because of that, most people, including me, look to avoid artificial sweeteners whenever possible.

However, IQ Bars are sweetened with non-GMO stevia, which is a natural sweetener that doesn’t cause any harmful effects.

So, for that reason, IQ Bars great for healthy ketogenic dieters who’re looking to avoid both sugar and artificial sweeteners.

How Much Protein Is In an IQ Bar?

One IQ Bar contains 12 grams of protein. 

This is a pretty moderate amount, which is perfect for a ketogenic diet.

But, since this protein comes from pea protein, which is plant-based, only ~20% of it would get absorbed to create new tissue.

The rest of it would get turned into sugar through gluconeogenesis.

This happens because the amino acids in plant-based proteins are less complete, so the body can’t use them as effectivelyto create new tissue.

Basically, amino acids are like letters in a word, like the word “protein.”

But, if one letter or amino acid is missing from the word or amino acid chain, then all of the other letters or amino acids get converted to sugar through gluconeogenesis to be used for fuel.

And, since the absorption rate for pea protein, is only ~20%, only 20% of it would be used to create new tissues, like muscle.

The rest would just be turned into sugar, which could slightly raise your insulin.

Contrast that with an animal protein source, like eggs, which have an absorption rate of ~50%.

But, if you’re just a normal person on keto who doesn’t care about optimal muscle building, this doesn’t matter too much.

However, if your goal is to build muscle, just make sure that you don’t only use IQ Bars for your protein since you may gain less muscle.

What Ingredients Are In IQ Bars?

IQ Bars are made of: Almonds, Tapioca Fiber, Plant-Based Protein Crisps (Pea Protein, Tapioca Starch), Natural Flavors, Pea Protein, Flaxseeds, Unsweetened Chocolate, Gum Acacia, Coconut Oil, Cocoa Butter, Sunflower Lecithin, Water, Cinnamon, Vanilla Extract, Sea Salt, Non-GMO Steviol Glycosides, Lion’s Mane, and Vitamin E.

These are all natural, healthy ingredients and are much better compared to most other snack bars.

Do IQ Bars Have Sugar Alcohols?

IQ Bars don’t contain sugar alcohols. Instead, they’re sweetened with stevia.

Which Flavor of IQ Bar Tastes the Best?

After tasting all of the flavors of IQ Bars *what I do for you guys ;)* I think that the Chocolate Sea Salt flavor is the best.

It has a slightly salty taste, but it tastes mostly like chocolate.

But, it’s really good! 

It tastes like something that your grandma would make; warm, nutty, and dark chocolatey.

My second favorite flavor was the Lemon Blueberry one since it was refreshing and fruity.

And my third favorite flavor was the Almond Butter Chip one, even though it had a slightly bitter aftertaste, because it tasted like a cinnamon-y churro.

FAQ

Do IQ Bars Need to Be Refrigerated?

Though IQ Bars don’t need to be refrigerated, they do last longer when refrigerated. At room temperature, they can stay fresh for around three weeks. But, if they’re refrigerated, they can last up to six months

How Many Calories Are In an IQ Bar?

IQ Bars contain 180 calories per bar, which is a pretty low amount for how satisfying it is.

Are IQ Bars Healthy?

Yes, IQ Bars are healthy. Their ingredients are natural, sugar-free, and compliant with most diets, like keto, vegan, and Paleo. 

And since they’re low in carbs, they can help to satisfy your sweet tooth without causing weight gain.

Are IQ Bars Paleo?

IQ Bars are mostly Paleo-friendly, but they aren’t 100% Paleo because they contain pea protein and sunflower lecithin, which are two ingredients that didn’t exist during the Paleolithic Era.

The main protein in IQ Bars is pea protein, which is a legume, so it might not be fully compliant with a Paleo diet due to its lectin and phytates.

And sunflower lecithin is also not 100% Paleo.

So, if you’re a strict Paleo dieter, then avoid IQ Bars. 

But, if you’re okay with consuming small amounts of legumes and sunflower lecithin, then you can consume IQ Bars.

Are IQ Bars Organic?

IQ Bars are 100% non-GMO, but only some of their ingredients are organic, so they aren’t 100% organic.

Are IQ Bars Low-FODMAP?

Most of the ingredients in IQ Bars are low-FODMAP, so it’s generally okay for people on low-FODMAP diets. But, since IQ Bars contain tapioca fiber, it could cause some digestive issues in some people.

Are IQ Bars Good for Weight Loss?

IQ Bars are good for weight loss since they’re low in carbs, so they don’t raise insulin. And since insulin is the fat storage hormone, when you don’t raise it, you’ll start to lose weight.

IQ Bars also help to satisfy your sweet tooth without adding any sugar into your diet.

Conclusion

In conclusion, IQ Bars are a great, low-carb snack bar.

And since they’re low in carbs, they won’t kick you out of ketosis.

They’re also a great way to satisfy your sweet tooth without adding any unnatural ingredients into your body.

If you want to find out how I lost 40 pounds with keto and intermittent fasting and how you can too, you can read my article here where I share everything I’ve learned over my weight loss journey.

Hope this helped!