Keto Brick vs. Clif Bar: A Scientific Study

The gospel of carbo-loading used to be the only sermon in town. With old-school nutrition guidelines suggesting ample carbohydrates before physically intense activity, people crushed oatmeal, bananas, rice, and pasta like pre-hibernating bears. 

But now? We’re all more savvy about the short-lived burst and subsequent crash that carbs and sugar provide. 

That’s why militaries started experimenting with low-carb, high-fat ketogenic diets, discovering them to be a “feasible alternative” for improving body composition and endurance while preserving strength and power in training cadets.[*][*] 

Though many of these experiments lasted weeks, scientists had yet to uncover how short-term macronutrient swaps influenced physical performance. Then, a 2023 study finally shed light on this uncertainty — using Keto Bricks. 

So, let’s explore the research to discover what the results mean for the rest of us health-conscious civilians.

The Keto Brick vs. Clif Bar Study (2023)

Rucksack marches (“rucks”) are a training staple across many military branches. In these strenuous exercises, men and women march with heavy backpacks to simulate long-range excursions, sometimes burning 1,000+ calories/hour.

Underfeeding before these treks is common and often leads to reduced performance. So, researchers examined the differences between high-carb bars (Clif Bars) vs. high-fat performance bars (Keto Bricks) in a time-to-exhaustion (TTE) trial.

You can read the full study here.

Who Participated In the Study?

Researchers recruited 29 active, healthy men between the ages of 18–35. To qualify for the trial, the men had to consume a Standard American Diet and engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate activity per week for at least six months before the study.

How Did The Experiment Work?

Participants reported to the lab after an 8-hour fast. They were instructed to eat ~1,000-calorie servings of either the high-carb or high-fat bar three hours before engaging in a steady-state incline walk on a treadmill.

Similar flavors were chosen, and the bars were taken out of the wrappers and cut into equal-sized bites so participants didn’t know which they were eating. They were given 500 mL of water to drink as needed. 

Here’s a breakdown of the bars’ nutrition facts per serving:

To determine TTE and exercise performance, participants wore a military backpack weighing 30% of their body weight. They were told to walk on a treadmill — at a standardized pace (2 mi/h; 3.2 km/h; 0.89 m/s;) and 14% incline — for as long as possible.

The Results

Average time-to-exhaustion (TTE) was similar between both bars. Keto Bricks edged out to take the lead, with participants walking an average of 55.1 minutes. When participants consumed the Clif Bar, it resulted in an average 53.9-minute walk.

Though researchers say these results weren’t significantly different, they observed significant changes in energy preferences during exercise.

Fat-burning vs. carb-burning. Compared to baseline measurements, there was an 18% increase in energy preference, dependent on the main macro in participants’ pre-workout bars.

Keto Bricks ignited greater fat-burning (0.52 grams/minute vs. 0.35 g/min), while Clif Bars resulted in higher carb-burning (1.47 g/min vs. 2.04 g/min). This equated to the Keto Bricks torching an extra 92 calories from fat; Clif Bars, an additional 137 calories from carbs to sustain equal workloads.

So, What Do the Results from this Study Mean For You?

You don’t need military aspirations to benefit from these results:

Lightweight Nutrition Doesn’t Mean Less Power

Whether you’re backpacking the Appalachian Trail or traveling between cities and meetings with just a laptop bag, lightweight portability matters. The researchers noted that one Keto Brick was 6.6x more energy-dense yet weighed 42% less than four Clif Bars. 

The researchers also expected the Clif Bars’ high carb and fiber content to increase perceived fullness measures. However, that was not the case; perceived hunger and fullness scores were similar for both bars.

Bottom line? Keto Bricks are an ultra-portable, nutrient-dense solution for on-the-go fuel that won’t compromise your performance or leave you hungry. 

You Don’t Have To Be In Ketosis To Power Up with Keto Bricks

People new to Keto Bricks make the assumption that you have to be in ketosis to enjoy them. But this study debunks that myth. According to researchers, participants who normally nosh the Standard American Diet demonstrated “good metabolic flexibility” during their trials.

This means their bodies prioritized the largest macro they consumed pre-workout (whether that was fat or carbs). Since Keto Bricks caused a modest increase in ketones, those carb-adapted bodies switched into fat-burning furnaces. 

So, if you’re not into keto for the long term, you can still benefit from nibbling on Keto Bricks as a snack or using them as pre- or post-workout nourishment. You can even rely on them as a meal replacement for those hectic days when you're too busy to whip up nutritious chow. 

No matter the situation, you’ll be powered up to conquer whatever’s on your quest.

Keto Dieters Should Always Have a Keto Brick On Hand

This study validated that Keto Bricks elevate ketone levels — even for those not fat-adapted or in ketosis. So if you’re already in this fat-burning state, Keto Bricks provide a readily available, sustained energy source for your body and mind.

With a perfect keto nutritional profile (81.5% fat; 12.5% protein; 6% carbs), each Brick takes the guesswork out of macro-tracking and consuming clean, high-quality protein and healthy fats. You can leverage Keto Bricks to:

• Streamline meal prep. Don’t have time to fire up the grill or pack a lunch for work? Keto Bricks have your back.

• Stick to your macros when you’re traveling. Our portable, shelf-stable Bricks go wherever you go, so you never have to worry or compromise when you need to refuel.

• Boost the macros of your meals. Juice the fat and protein content of any meal or snack when you’re short on time or ingredients.

• Satisfy your cravings. With flavors like Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup and Milk ‘N’ Cookies, Keto Bricks already taste like a guilt-free indulgence. But if you want to satisfy next-level cravings, try our Keto Brick recipes. You can use our Bricks to make everything from cookies and muffins to cakes, chocolate bark, and more.

Keto Bricks: Made By Performers, For Performers

Keto Bricks are shelf-stable, gluten-free performance bars built with only the cleanest ingredients, including:

• Grass-fed and pastured whey protein or superior-quality plant protein

• Raw, organic cacao butter (nature’s #1 source of stearic acid!)

• Pure MCT oil powder

• Ground flaxseeds (for those vital omega-3s!)

• Raw, organic cacao nibs

• Pink Himalayan salt

• Stevia and monk fruit extract

We believe your body’s a temple, not a trash can. So we keep out the junk other bars let in. There are no shortcuts to greatness, only clean ingredients and a burning desire to achieve.

The World Is Your Training Ground

While this study shows both high-carb and high-fat bars similarly power physical performance during training simulations, Keto Bricks gained a slight lead. More importantly, this study proves that anyone can embrace high-fat, low-carb fuel and redefine their limits.

When the world is your training ground, every challenge is a chance to sculpt your legend. Don’t settle for less; explore our lineup of Keto Brick flavors and meet your perfect training partner today. 💪