If these products are so good, is there any medicinal aftertaste?
Can I eat these products if I have gestational diabetes?
Is there any dairy in your products?
What is the approximate glycemic index of your products?
Can children eat your products?
Can your products be considered a meal replacement?
What makes these products different from energy bars?
Can I eat these products if I am allergic to nuts?
Do your products contain gluten?
How do I know if I am at risk for Diabetes or Heart Disease?
How can I find out what my cholesterol level is?
How can I find out what my blood pressure is?
What do the two numbers in a blood pressure reading mean?
What is a functional food?
A: There is no accepted international definition of functional foods. The terms functional foods and nutraceuticals are often used interchangeably and are variably defined:
“Functional Foods” are foods or dietary ingredients that provide a health benefit beyond basic nutrition. The obvious example of this concept comes from the consumption of most fruits and vegetables due to their low fat and high vitamin content. Many people may not understand why and how consumption of foods high in vitamins is specifically good for them, but they know vitamins are beneficial to their overall health.
Example: Oranges are considered functional food items because they possess specific levels of certain vitamins, such as vitamin C for example, that have been shown to reduce certain diseases such as scurvy. Furthermore, other studies have shown that various doses of daily vitamin C consumption can have multiple beneficial effects to a person’s overall health including:
- Possible reduction in incidence and/or duration of the common cold
- Possible reduction in the incidence of certain cancers
- Possible reduction in the severity of cataract formation
Profound advancements in nutritional sciences has lead to the development and manufacture of individual food items (including all Watchdog Nutrition products) that contain multiple individual ingredients, each at therapeutically appropriate doses, to aid the body in defending (primary prevention) or combating (secondary prevention) multiple medical problems. Prior to the advancement of functional foods, people would need to ingest high amounts of multiple “healthy” food items before having a high enough level of the ingredient within their body to have a benefit.
However, with the achievements in the arena of nutritional sciences and functional food research, the consumption of one of the newer functional food items can deliver the same amount of individual healthy ingredients to a person’s body that previously would have required consumption of numerous servings of individual items. This delivery of higher doses of healthy ingredients within one food item not only simplifies healthy eating for the consumer of these products, but it also allows for the overall consumption of less food, which theoretically should lead to reduction of daily calorie intake and weight loss. Simply put, the functional food line of products can deliver appropriate and proven concentrations of multiple individual ingredients in ONE product that have proven beneficial affects on certain common medical ailments.
All information and definitions sourced from the National Dairy Council.
Q: If these products are so good, is there any medicinal aftertaste?
A: No.
Q: Can I eat these products if I have gestational diabetes?
A: No. Please consult your doctor/OBGYN for more information.
Q: Is there any dairy in your products?
A: No, but our products are made in a facility that uses dairy products.
Q: What are simple sugars?
A: Simple sugars are glucose and fructose. This is the simple structure preferred by the body. However, ingestion of high doses of simple sugars stimulates a high release of insulin by the pancreas which may have negative effects on fat storage.
Q: What is sugar alcohol?
A: Sugar alcohols are non-digested sugars. Although these do have caloric value, the calories per gram is approximately half the amount of simple sugar (glucose) with a more potent sweet taste. Glucose has 4 calories/gram while average sugar alcohol has 2-2.5 calories/gram.
Q: Are your products organic?
A: No.
Q: Are your products vegan?
A: No.
Q: What is the approximate glycemic index of your products?
A: Although the glycemic index cannot be specifically determined, it is low primarily due to the high amount of fiber, lack of simple sugars and the presence of sugar substitutes and sugar alcohols.
Q: Can children eat your products?
A: Yes, but consult a pediatrician first.
Q: Can your products be considered a meal replacement?
A: Yes.
Q: What makes these products different from energy bars?
A: Energy bars contain between 70 percent and 85 percent carbohydrates, up to 12 percent fat and between 8 percent and 26 percent protein. They weigh in at about 60 grams and contain approximately 25 grams of carbohydrates (half from sugar, half from starch), up to 15 grams of protein, and about five grams of fat. To provide energy to runners, bikers, hikers, and other athletes who typically eat these bars, most contain a mix of simple carbohydrates (such as high-fructose corn syrup or brown rice sugar) which provide quick energy, and complex carbohydrates (such as maltodextrin) which provide more sustained energy.
Since most bars can be considered nutritional, it's the additives that determine whether a bar is functional. WatchDog Nutrition bars contain added essential nutrients and minerals and meet the needs of a diabetic diet and aid in the reduction of diabetic complications. Our Heart Healthy Bars meet 6 different FDA requirements for reducing the risk of heart disease by providing scientifically validated vitamins, minerals, and supplements. Our bars were created for this purpose.
Q: Can I eat these products if I am allergic to nuts?
A: No. Our products are produced in a facility that handles peanuts and tree nuts.
Q: Are your products kosher?
A: No.
Q: Do your products contain gluten?
A: Yes. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye and barley and WatchDog bars contain barley.
Q: How do I know if I am at risk for Diabetes or Heart Disease?
A: Please check our “Am I at Risk?” section on this website.
Q: How can I find out what my cholesterol level is?
A: If you don't know your numbers, please have your cholesterol checked by your healthcare professional by taking a simple blood test.
Q: How can I find out what my blood pressure is?
A: If you don't know your numbers, please have your blood pressure checked by your healthcare professional, use a home blood pressure monitoring device or see your local pharmacist.
Q: What do the two numbers in a blood pressure reading mean?
A: The first (or top) number of your blood pressure reading is called the “Systolic” blood pressure. (For example, if your blood pressure is 146/86, then your systolic blood pressure is 146.)
The second (or bottom) number of your blood pressure reading is called the “Diastolic” pressure. (For example, if your blood pressure is 146/86, then your diastolic blood pressure is 86.)