Clif Builder's Bar

(Looking for a more substantial protein bar? Try the full size Builder's Bar!)

The Protein Bar That Works as Hard as You Do

• High in Protein
• No Trans Fat
• 23 Vitamins & Minerals

Clif Builder's is the great-tasting protein bar that makes every ingredient count – so you can get the most out of your workout. Clif Builder's Snack Size has 10g of complete protein, the vitamins and minerals you need to boost protein metabolism, and carbohydrates for sustained energy. Builder's never contains ingredients like artificial sweeteners, sugar alcohols or trans fats. When you want something smaller that also packs a protein punch, Clif Builder's Snack Size delivers with 130-140 calories, carbohydrates for sustained energy, 10 grams of complete protein, and the vitamins and minerals you need to boost protein metabolism.*

Clif Builder's Bar Ingredient Breakdown

Carbohydrates and Strength

Into strength training? Then you may know about the importance of protein for your muscles. But you may be less aware of the role that carbohydrates play when it comes to total body fitness. Carbohydrates are to your body what sunlight is to a solar panel. They are energy for hard-working muscles. Carbohydrates take on the form of glucose, which is stored as glycogen in the body. Stored glycogen is your reservoir of energy. It is needed for your body to perform strength-building activities and other exercise. Making sure your reservoir is full helps muscle tissue build and rebuild after intense workouts. If you are not energizing your muscles with carbohydrate, your body will begin breaking down muscle tissue in a desperate attempt to find energy.*

In addition to energy for muscular activity, carbohydrates also increase the production of insulin. Insulin is a hormone that promotes protein synthesis, decreases protein breakdown, aids glucose uptake into working muscle, and stimulates glycogen storage. All of these actions are vital for muscle building and repairing. *

So when is the right time to consume carbohydrates? The answer depends on the length of your workout. In general, however, eating carbohydrates before and after exercise will help energize your body while saving unnecessary wear and tear on your muscles. Eating carbohydrates before you work out helps provide energy you’ll burn up while you train. And eating carbohydrates after you work out helps replenish both your energy and your muscles. Because strength training uses up energy from food you have recently eaten, which is in your bloodstream in the form of glucose, you have to replenish that energy or it can lead to reduced muscle force, diminished strength, and muscle weakness. This replenishment period continues for 24 hours after exercise, which is why, if you’re training hard, it’s especially important to incorporate carbohydrates into your daily diet before and after your workouts. In fact, if you’re exercising for more than an hour at a time, you will also want to eat some form of carbohydrate during your workout. Energy gels, chews, and drinks are useful here. *

One thing's for sure: working muscles need energy. And there’s no better energy source for a serious workout than carbohydrates. In addition to focusing on protein in your diet, be sure to find a place for carbohydrates. If you’re including plenty of fruit, dairy, and whole grains, you’re on the right track. Sugar also has its place because it is rapidly digested and absorbed. Foods like granola and bananas, crackers with peanut butter, CLIF Builder’s Bars, and trail mix made with fruit and nuts are also easy ways to load up. So don’t forget the carbohydrates, and you will find you have more energy and will see greater results from all the hard work you put into your workouts.*

Builder's contains an adequate carbohydrate source to promote muscle movement and replenish muscles post-workout. Watch out for protein bars that contain artificial sweeteners that provide zero energy or claim ‘low carb’ as they may not provide the energy needed to get through your workout and activate the protein needed to build and repair muscle.*

Beet Juice Concentrate

A sugar made from beets that provides carbohydrates to muscles for energy.

Inulin

A type of fiber found in onions, leeks, artichokes, garlic, and chicory plant.

Organic Brown Rice Syrup

A sweetener made from organic brown rice, brown rice syrup is less refined than other sugars like high fructose corn syrup. Along with dried cane syrup, this sweetener supplies carbohydrates to muscles for energy.*

Organic Dried Can Syrup

A sugar from sugar cane that supplies carbohydrates to muscles for energy.*

Organic Oat Fiber

A concentrated source of fiber.

Organic Rolled Oats

A source of carbohydrate that supplies energy to muscles in addition to fiber which helps to slow digestion and the release of carbohydrate into the blood stream.*

Rice Starch

A form of carbohydrate known as polysaccharide that has a very mild taste and supplies energy to working muscles.*

Powerful Protein

With all the press it gets, protein seems to be on everyone's minds these days, but did you know that protein is also in every cell of your body? In fact, if you take away water the human body is mostly made up of protein. Protein is essential for promoting growth, repairing damaged cells and tissues, rebuilding muscle, enabling critical chemical reactions to occur, and maintaining the proper functioning of hormones.*

Is it any wonder that protein is essential in your diet? Fortunately, eating protein isn't that hard. Foods like meat, fish, and eggs are all considered high in protein. But you don’t have to be a carnivore to eat enough protein. Vegetarians can easily meet their protein needs by consuming a wide variety of non-animal sources, such as beans, nuts, and whole grains.*

The need for dietary protein really comes down to a need for essential amino acids. Protein is considered “complete” if it contains all the essential amino acids and incomplete if it is missing one or more of the essential amino acids. All animal-based sources of protein (like beef or chicken) are complete sources.*

So what happens if you don’t get enough protein? The body doesn't store amino acids, so if it doesn't get the protein it needs it takes it from muscle tissue. This can lead to muscle wasting, poor circulation, anemia, and fatigue. And if you get too much? Because there is no place in the body to store amino acids, excess protein is broken down and stored as sugar or fat, or excreted from the body.*

How much protein is enough? A general rule of thumb is that your average person can meet his or her protein needs by consuming 0.8–1.0 grams of protein, per kilogram of body weight, per day, but athletes should aim for 1.2–2.0 grams. An easy way to make sure your needs are met is to keep protein snacks on hand. No, you probably can’t travel around with meat. But you can keep easily portable protein with you, such as snacks like trail mix, hard-boiled eggs, string cheese, and CLIF Builder’s Bars.*

It’s important to make sure you eat protein daily, and in amounts that suit your needs. Whether you’re into heaving kettle bells, lifting weights, or running the basketball court, there is no doubt having a little protein before, after, and sometimes evening during activity can bolster muscle recovery and repair as well strengthen your body’s immune response. After a major workout, protein combined with carbohydrate can really help to reduce the effects of muscle damage that occurs during exercise.*

With all protein does for your body, it's no coincidence that it seems to be center stage. Knowing how to get great-tasting and healthy protein will serve your body well when it comes to replenishing, recovering, and rebuilding every day.*

Builder’s contains 20g of protein in each bar, just the right amount to kick start ‘repair mode’. There are ten essential amino acids required by the body, and proteins that contain all ten are considered “complete”. Complete proteins vary in the level of amino acids they provide which is why it is important to consume a variety of protein sources each day. Builder’s provides complete protein from soy, the only non-animal protein containing all of the essential amino acids.*

Soy Protein Isolate and Organic Soy Protein Concentrate

A plant derived source of protein that supplies all the essential amino acids necessary for building and repairing muscles.

Nutrients for Muscle Health

Vitamins and minerals serve many roles in the body. Many are essential for protein and energy metabolism to occur while others play a key role in the body’s ability to recover from physical stress such as injury or even surgery. To help you meet your daily requirements, Builder's is fortified with a carefully considered blend of vitamins and minerals functioning in 3 key areas of muscle health and total body fitness: Energy metabolism, protein metabolism, and recovery from physical stress.*

If you're working out and interested in building and repairing your muscles, you’ll be happy to know that you're probably getting enough of most of the vitamins and minerals that play a role in building and repairing muscle tissue. However, if you're like a lot of men, you may be falling a little short when it comes to vitamin D and magnesium. Both of which happen to be extremely important for your muscles.*

So what role does Vitamin D play in the building and health of muscle? Vitamin D plays a role in muscle power. A possible reason is the influence of vitamin D on muscle size. Some studies have shown that low levels of vitamin D in the blood correlate with less muscle power and force.*

Several studies have shown that the average male, age 20 or older, isn't getting enough vitamin D from food. And it's even worse for men who live in northern latitudes, workout primarily indoors, avoid sun, or use sunblock. Even athletes who aren't deficient in the summer months (because they are getting enough sun—nature’s source of vitamin D) appear to be deficient in the winter.*

Okay, so with all this talk about vitamin D, what is the role of magnesium? Research shows that magnesium maintains normal muscle functioning, muscle strength, and muscle metabolism. Early studies show it is also helpful in muscle functioning in young men participating in strength training. A lack of magnesium, however, may be associated with muscle contractions, cramps, and spasms.*

As with vitamin D, the average male, age 20 or older, isn't getting enough magnesium from food. This is especially true among men who restrict calories or consume a diet of magnesium-poor foods such as meat, eggs, and refined carbohydrates. And overall, many male athletes seem to be coming up short when it comes to their daily intake of magnesium through food.*

So what's a guy to do to make sure he’s getting enough of what he needs? Fortunately, you can meet your needs for vitamin D and magnesium simply by eating the right foods and getting a healthy amount of sunlight. Seafood, eggs, beef liver, mushrooms, and milk fortified with vitamin D are excellent sources of vitamin D, while nuts, beans, fortified cereals, and CLIF Builder’s Bars are easy ways to keep up with your magnesium requirements.*

Remember, vitamin D and magnesium are essential for working muscles. Make sure you get plenty of both in your diet and you’ll keep going strong long after your workout.*

B Vitamins

A group of vitamins (also known as thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid, and cyanocobalamin) that play an important role in metabolism of carbohydrate, protein, and fat. Supports delivery of energy to muscles and protein metabolism.*

Calcium

A mineral that builds bones and teeth and keeps them strong. Muscles, nerves, and all parts of the body need calcium to work well. Supports recovery from physical stress.*

Iodine

A trace element that works in the development and function of the thyroid gland, which regulates energy systems in the body and promotes growth and development. Supports delivery of energy to muscles.*

Iron

An essential mineral involved in oxygen transport which is critical for energy delivery to muscles. Supports delivery of energy to muscles.*

Magnesium

A mineral used in hundreds of reactions in the body, including those involving the nervous system as well as fat, carbohydrate, and protein metabolism. It also works with vitamin D and calcium to create strong bones. Supports delivery of energy to muscles and protein metabolism.*

Pantothenic Acid

A component of coenzyme A (CoA), an essential coenzyme required for chemical reactions that generate energy from food (fats, carbohydrates, and proteins). Supports delivery of energy to muscles and protein metabolism.*

Phosphorus

A major component of cells in the body. It buffers acid as well as helps with energy transfer in metabolism. Supports delivery of energy to muscles.*

Salt

An electrolyte also known as sodium chloride that works to balance fluid in the body. It is necessary to replace sodium lost in sweat.

Organic Sunflower Oil

An oil extracted from sunflower seeds that is high in monounsaturated fat. Sunflower seeds are a source of vitamin E and protein.

Palm Kernel Oil

A saturated fat from the pulpy portion of the seed from palm trees. It contains no trans fats.

Vegetable Glycerin

A form of fat that is metabolized like a carbohydrate and supplies energy to working muscles.*

Vitamin A

A fat-soluble vitamin that maintains mucus membranes throughout the body’s bones, skin, cartilage, ligaments, and connective and nerve tissues – a necessary nutrient for recovering from physical injury. It is also involved in healthy vision.*

Vitamin C

A fat-soluble vitamin that maintains mucus membranes throughout the body’s bones, skin, cartilage, ligaments, and connective and nerve tissues – a necessary nutrient for recovering from physical injury. It is also involved in healthy vision. Supports recovery from physical stress.*

Vitamin D

A fat-soluble vitamin that aids in the absorption of calcium. Supports recovery from physical stress.*

Vitamin E

An essential fat-soluble vitamin and powerful antioxidant that maintains the health of skin and other cells like those found in the lining of the digestive tract. Supports recovery from physical stress.*

If Your Body Can't Use It, Neither Will We

Sometimes what's not in your food is as important as what is. Builder's never contains the following ingredients, because they don’t contribute to muscle health:*

• No partially hydrogenated oil, which is the source of trans
• No artificial sweeteners, that provide zero energy
• No sugar alcohols, that can give you a sour stomach
• No artificial flavors, contrived from non-food chemicals
• No ingredients sourced from genetically engineered materials

Natural Flavors

A proprietary blend of plant-based ingredients that provide flavor without any artificial ingredients or MSG.

Soy Lecithin

An emulsifier that allows the palm kernel oil and cocoa to form the chocolaty coating and chocolate chips.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CLIF Builder's Snack Size?

CLIF Builder’s is a high-protein bar offering 10 grams of protein and 23 vitamins and minerals for healthy muscle recovery and total body fitness.*

What makes CLIF Builder’s different from other protein bars?

CLIF Builder's is made solely with healthy ingredients that you can recognize and taste.

Is CLIF Builder's a meal replacement bar?

CLIF Builder's is a nutritious and convenient source of protein after a workout or as a snack. It is not a meal replacement bar.

Is CLIF Builder's appropriate for kids to eat?

Because the CLIF Builder's is formulated with adult needs in mind, children should not eat a whole bar until their nutritional needs more closely match those of an adult (around ages 9-13). Children ages 4-9 could have half on occasion and as with all food choices, parents should use their best judgment.

Does CLIF Builder's contain GMOs or bioengineered ingredients?

CLIF Builder's are free of trans fats, hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners, artificial flavors, artificial preservatives and ingredients sourced from GMOs.

Is CLIF Builder's kosher?

CLIF Builder's is Kosher Dairy. They are produced on the same line as some other products that do contain dairy ingredients.

Is CLIF Builder's vegan-friendly?

Yes. There are no ingredients derived from animals in CLIF Builder's.

Does CLIF Builder's contain gluten?

All CLIF Builder's contain organic rolled oats. Oats contain a natural amount of gluten. Gluten is an elastic protein substance naturally occurring in most grains.

References

1. Sports Nutrition , Asker Jeukendrup MSc, PhD, Michael Gleeson BSc, PhD, 2004
2. Advanced Nutrition and Human Metabolism 2nd edition, James L. Groff, Sareen S. Gropper, Sara M. Hunt, 1995