{"id":4608,"date":"2023-06-08T04:59:33","date_gmt":"2023-06-07T21:59:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/i-ate-belliwelli-bars-for-a-week-heres-why\/"},"modified":"2023-06-08T04:59:33","modified_gmt":"2023-06-07T21:59:33","slug":"i-ate-belliwelli-bars-for-a-week-heres-why","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/?p=4608","title":{"rendered":"I Ate BelliWelli Bars for a Week\u2014Here&#8217;s Why"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p> <span class=\"drop-cap__first text-dropcap \">I<\/span>\u2019ve been a big-time snacker for as long as I can remember, so convenience and paramount for me when it comes to picking up provisions at the grocery store. But if I can&#8217;t make it there on any given weekend (hey, the line outside of Trader Joe&#8217;s is no joke), I generally go for some form of caffeine and candy situation. A bandaid, if you will.<\/p>\n<p>Lately, though, I\u2019ve been committed to leveling up my snacking game. For instance, I\u2019ve actually enjoyed replacing candies and fruit snacks with fresh or dried apples and a smidge of honey, or by munching on mixed berries. While I\u2019m less partial to decadent desserts and pastries, sometimes the mood for baked goods strikes, which had me wondering if there was a healthier dupe to keep on hand. Enter: <a href=\"https:\/\/clicks.trx-hub.com\/xid\/leafgroup_ca5e0_wellgood?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FBelliWelli-Plant-Based-Snack-Assortment-8-Pack%2Fdp%2FB0948M6GLZ%3Ftag%3Dwgtrx1039-20%26asc_refurl%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.wellandgood.com%252Fbelliwelli-bars%252F%26asc_source%3Ddirect%26asc_campaign%3Dno-campaign&amp;p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wellandgood.com%2Fbelliwelli-bars%2F&amp;event_type=click\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/BelliWelli-Plant-Based-Snack-Assortment-8-Pack\/dp\/B0948M6GLZ\">BelliWelli<\/a> soft-baked snack bars.They\u2019re gluten-free, probiotic-packed, low-FODMAP, and vegan\u2014as well as specifically crafted for people who struggle with digestive issues.<\/p>\n<p>As a veritable snack aficionado on a mission to forge more gut-friendly habits\u2014not to mention an enthusiast for anything and everything related to the microbiome\u2014I was intrigued to see for myself just how beneficial these bars could be. With that in mind, I ate one BelliWelli bar a day for a week straight to see how my cravings and digestion fared. I\u2019ll leave you with my final BelliWelli review later on; but first, let\u2019s cover how nutritious and GI-friendly these snacks truly are.<\/p>\n<h2>What makes BelliWeli a snack with belly benefits<\/h2>\n<p>Before we cover the good-for-you ingredients BelliWelli bars contain, it\u2019s worth noting what they steer clear of. They omit dairy and gluten, both of which can trigger digestive issues for some. (Lactose intolerance affects <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/28421381\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/28421381\/\">as much as 70 percent of adults globally<\/a>. In the United States, celiac disease affects about one percent of people, while non-celiac gluten sensitivity affects about 6 percent of people, according to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5677194\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5677194\/\">2017 review<\/a> in the <em>World Journal of Gastroenterology<\/em>.)<\/p>\n<p>These bars are also free of sugar alcohols, which can exacerbate digestive distress in people with gut imbalances. \u201cIt is thought that sugar alcohols are poorly absorbed in the body and feed bacteria residing in the large intestines \u2026 [which can] create more gas and fermentation, thus promoting the imbalance that already exists,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/fearlessfig.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/fearlessfig.com\/\">Sarah Greenfield, RD, CSSD<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/sugar-alcohols\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/sugar-alcohols\/\">previously told Well+Good<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>With these potential red flags out of the way, which specific ingredients make BelliWelli bars a gut-friendly, healthy snack? To start, a single bar contains four grams of protein and three grams of fiber. (ICYMI, only <a href=\"https:\/\/nutrition.org\/most-americans-are-not-getting-enough-fiber-in-our-diets\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/nutrition.org\/most-americans-are-not-getting-enough-fiber-in-our-diets\/\">seven percent of adults in the United States<\/a> get enough fiber daily, despite its benefits for supporting regular BMs, cardiovascular health, and more.) \u201cThe bars also contain 500 million CFU probiotics\u2014which is more than certain yogurts and kombuchas\u2014so they keep your gut in check,\u201d says <a href=\"https:\/\/clicks.trx-hub.com\/xid\/leafgroup_ca5e0_wellgood?q=https%3A%2F%2Fgo.skimresources.com%3Fid%3D104860X1561639%26xs%3D1%26xcust%3DSTMSFD-1052031%26url%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.linkedin.com%252Fin%252Fgidoctor%252F&amp;p=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wellandgood.com%2Fbelliwelli-bars%2F&amp;event_type=click\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/gidoctor\/\">Peyton Berookim, MD, MA, FACG, AGAF<\/a>, a BelliWelli advisor and double-board certified gastroenterologist at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gidoctor.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.gidoctor.com\/\">Gastroenterology Institute of Southern California<\/a>.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cThe bars also contain 500 million CFU probiotics\u2014which is more than certain yogurts and kombuchas\u2014so they keep your gut in check,&#8221; says Peyton Berookim, MD, MA, FACG, AGAF, double-board certified gastroenterologist<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Dr. Berookim also notes the brand\u2019s emphasis on employing high-quality ingredients. \u201cTraditional bars usually contain preservatives to maintain shape, but BelliWelli lacks these artificial ingredients,\u201d he says. As a note, the BelliWelli bars I sampled contained eight to nine grams of sugar\u2014including six to seven grams of added sugar\u2014the latter of which should be capped at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hsph.harvard.edu\/nutritionsource\/carbohydrates\/added-sugar-in-the-diet\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.hsph.harvard.edu\/nutritionsource\/carbohydrates\/added-sugar-in-the-diet\/\">24 to 50 grams daily<\/a>.)<\/p>\n<div class=\"related-content \" style=\"\" data-module-init=\"related-content\" data-module-immediate=\"\" v-cloak=\"\">\n<div class=\"related-content__wrapper \" v-cloak=\"\" :class=\"{'is-loaded':isLoaded}\">\n<p> <span class=\"inline pr-6 text-seafoam-dark\">Related Stories<\/span> <\/p>\n<p> <related-content class=\"related-content__links\" parent-article-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/belliwelli-bars\/\" current-title=\"I Ate One Probiotic-Packed Belliwelli Bar (Designed for Those with Digestive Issues) Daily for a Week\u2014Here\u2019s How My Gut Responded\" current-image=\"Stocksy_txpccb2165e3Bg300_Small_870368-425x285.jpg\" v-on:parsely-posts-loaded=\"onPostsLoaded\" start-date=\"2022-12-07\" tag=\"div\" inline-template=\"\" url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/belliwelli-bars\/\" secret=\"w5ztterVB03LGZJLfXS0hf3EvQBuFFIWew9hmVQxthU\" apikey=\"wellandgood.com\" limit=\"3\"> <\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"related-content__card mb-[10px] sm:mb-[20px]\" :class=\"{'related-content__card--full':posts.length === 1}\" v-for=\"(post, key) in posts\"> <a v-on:click.prevent=\"trackLinkGA($event, key)\" :href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/belliwelli-bars\/post.url\" data-url-source=\"related-content\" class=\"related-content__link\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"\"> <\/p>\n<div class=\"related-content__card--image bg-tan\" :style=\"{ backgroundImage: 'url(' + post.image_url + ')' }\"> <img :src=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/belliwelli-bars\/post.image_url\" :alt=\"post.title\"\/> <\/div>\n<p> <\/a>  <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <\/related-content> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Dr. Berookim calls out a few noteworthy ingredients that stand to support your gut and overall health, including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Cinnamon (which he deems as anti-inflammatory)<\/li>\n<li>Chia seeds (a rich source of plant protein, insoluble fiber, and omega-3s)<\/li>\n<li>Oats (a whole-grain soluble fiber)<\/li>\n<li>Acacia fiber (which he says is anti-inflammatory)<\/li>\n<li>Almond butter (another great source of plant protein)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Lastly, the GI doctor shares that these snacks are certified low FODMAP by Monash University. (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/what-are-fodmaps-foods\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/what-are-fodmaps-foods\/\">FODMAPs<\/a> include carbohydrates and sugar alcohols that can trigger digestive distress in the form of bloating, diarrhea, constipation, gas, and stomach pain.) All things considered, Dr. Berookim says the bars are much better tolerated than conventional treats for people who:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Suffer from small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)<\/li>\n<li>Experience bloat or any kind of digestive issues<\/li>\n<li>Have gluten or dairy sensitivities<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u201cBelliWelli bars are a really great nutrient-dense alternative for anyone looking for a truly healthier and gut-friendly snack bar,\u201d Dr. Berookim concludes.<\/p>\n<h2>My BelliWelli review<\/h2>\n<p>To start, let\u2019s cover how these bars taste. At present, BelliWelli offers seven flavors. I sampled four of them\u2014chocolate chip cookie, birthday cake, cinnamon swirl, and strawberry shortcake\u2014during my week-long trial. I was surprised that each turned out to be tastier than I\u2019d expected, and successfully hit the spot as far as my cravings were concerned. I\u2019d say that they strike a happy medium between a conventional cookie and a protein bar, packing the satisfying sweetness of the former and lacking the typically chalky (or worse, cardboard-like) taste of the latter.<\/p>\n<p>Now, for the million-dollar question: Did these bars yield discernible benefits for my digestion? On this point, I can\u2019t say that they were complete game-changers, but I definitely think the results will vary from one person to the next. For instance, my digestion tends to be regular more often than not and I\u2019m fortunate enough to say that I only experience <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/stress-ibs\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/stress-ibs\/\">stress IBS<\/a> circumstantially (*knocks on wood*). I also consume and\/or take probiotics daily\u2014including <em>Bacillus coagulans<\/em>, the strain BelliWelli uses. (I did, however, pause taking probiotic supplements to better gauge my results from the bars alone.) And while I don\u2019t track my fiber intake to a T, I\u2019ve made a recent effort to make sure I have fiber-rich fruits and veggies daily, and always throw a hefty serving of chia seeds into my smoothies.<\/p>\n<p>However, I <em>do<\/em> think that BelliWelli bars have the potential to move the needle for some people\u2014namely those who are highly sensitive to gluten and\/or dairy, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/increase-fiber-intake\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-vars-event=\"body text\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.wellandgood.com\/increase-fiber-intake\/\">lack fiber<\/a> and\/or probiotics in their diets, and experience ongoing digestive issues. Still, I was pleased to discover that these bars could actually be a decent dupe for cookies and similar sweet treats, all the while offering a balance of macros and probiotic perks. At the end of the day (literally and figuratively), I\u2019ll gladly reach for one the next time I get a snack attack so I can continue the trend of satisfying my sweet tooth with nutritious fare.<\/p>\n<div class=\"disclaimers__after_content mb-[18px] mt-[16px] pt-[16px]\">\n<div class=\"outline-earmark relative mt-[8px] pt-[10px] pl-[20px]\">\n<p>\n            Our editors independently select these products. Making a purchase through our links may earn Well+Good a commission.          <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div data-type=\"_mgwidget\" data-widget-id=\"1675549\">\r\n<\/div>\r\n<script>(function(w,q){w[q]=w[q]||[];w[q].push([\"_mgc.load\"])})(window,\"_mgq\");\r\n<\/script>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I\u2019ve been a big-time snacker for as long as I can remember, so convenience and paramount for me when it comes to picking up provisions at the grocery store. But if I can&#8217;t make it there on any given weekend (hey, the line outside of Trader Joe&#8217;s is no joke), I generally go for some &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":4609,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4608","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4608","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4608"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4608\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4609"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4608"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4608"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudhdtv.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4608"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}