How To Read Food Labels
So You Can Save Time, Shop Smart and Be Healthy
WHAT’S YOUR DEFINITION OF GOOD HEALTH?
Let’s face it! We eat to live. Well, some of us live to eat but that’s a whole different story. In today’s world, we are so busy with “life” that we tend to forget what life is truly all about in the first place.
Abraham Lincoln once said …
“And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.”
Ask yourself this: How much life-giving energy do you currently possess and how would you rate the quality of your life at this very moment?
For me, it’s all about the quality and state of health in life that matters most.
When we take good care of our physical, emotional, and spiritual bodies, not only can we love ourselves and the people close to us, but we also become better, more productive, and compassionate members of society with much to offer and contribute to this world.
If you want to live your best life, the first step is to focus on what you put into your mouth. Please know that only you yourself control what goes into your mouth. To keep it simple, consuming live, nutritious, wholesome foods = more life, energy, and vitality!
OUR FOOD CHOICES – ARE THEY POOR OR HEALTHY ONES?
Our bodies do not need, nor can they put to good use, all the pesticides, preservatives, and chemicals (not to mention genetically modified foods) so widely found in the foods lining our grocery store shelves.
Consuming these foods will only contribute to the added burden and stress of the elimination organs (colon, liver, kidneys, skin), as they work to rid the body of these diseases and cancer-causing toxins.
Food shopping can, therefore, be a daunting and overwhelming task for most beginners concerned with the nutritional value of foods they eat and feed to their families.
As we make our way down the grocery aisle, we are greeted by an array of nicely packaged, health-claiming, good-for-you convenient foods (and placed at just the right height I may add), all vouching for a place in your shopping cart.
It is no wonder we tend to reach for the unhealthy and nutrient-depleted “food-like” snacks and substances, which end up in our bodies. And even worse, in the tiny little bodies of our children whose developing organs have yet to grow to adequately eliminate these toxins in such enormous quantities.
Consequently, immunity becomes weak, inflammation occurs and if ignored, may lead to conditions commonly known as ADHD, diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, food allergies, and intolerance, to name a few.
These are mostly linked directly to what we put into our mouths on a daily basis. Other factors play a major role as well, such as environmental toxicity.
DECIPHERING YOUR FOOD LABEL IS A GREAT FIRST STEP IN TAKING CONTROL OF YOUR HEALTH.
While purchasing wholesome unprocessed, unpackaged foods are ideal, one must be realistic and baby steps taken in order to stick to an achievable health goal plan.
With hundreds of healthcare books on the market and tons of information on the internet, researching and understanding what the food companies are putting into your food supply is not hard to do and is probably one of the best things you can do to improve your overall health!
Getting into the habit of knowing where your food comes from will greatly enhance your overall health.
How familiar are you with food labels and breaking them down?
HERE ARE 7 TIPS TO GET YOU STARTED
- Locate the food label on the food package
Most likely it’s on the back, and it will have “Nutrition Facts” and an ingredients list
- Look at the ingredients list
The shorter the list the better. Try to avoid these top ten food additives and preservatives that are currently approved by the FDA: artificial sweeteners, high fructose corn syrup, MSG, common food dyes, sodium sulfite, sodium nitrate/nitrite, BHA/BHT, sulfur dioxide, potassium bromate and trans-fat. These are known carcinogens (cancer-causing) and neurotoxins which can negatively affect the brain and nervous system. Also, if it contains more than five ingredients or words that I cannot pronounce, it stays on the shelf.
- Do you recognize everything on the list?
Is it food? Is it a chemical? If you don’t recognize the ingredient it does not belong in your cart. Also, beware of harmful ingredients such as monosodium glutamate (MSG), posing under various “nutritious-sounding” names. They disguise themselves on food packages by the food manufacturer as yeast extract, autolyzed yeast, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, calcium caseinate, glutamate, hydrolyzed plant protein, soy protein extract, natural flavors, and many more.
- Look at the order of the ingredients
These are listed from the most to the least in quantity. If one of the first ingredients is sugar, then you are eating mostly sugar which is not a good thing if you want to be healthy and vibrant.
- Look at the nutrition facts
How nutritious is it? Saturated fat grams, trans fats, and cholesterol should be kept at a minimum (ideally zero). Sodium should be as low as possible. The more vitamins, calcium, protein, and fiber it has, the better.
- Look at the number of servings
The Nutrition Facts are only for one serving. If there is more than one serving in the bag, you need to factor it in. For example, if there are three servings in a bag and you eat the whole bag, you’ve eaten triple the number of calories and Nutrition Facts.
- Lastly, never trust the health claims highlighted on the front of food packages
Since the FDA has never issued any formal terms about the claim “All Natural” for example, food manufacturers can now take a substance such as high fructose corn syrup and claim it to be “all natural.”One example is Minute Maid Premium All Natural Flavors Berry Punch. According to The Centre for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), the CSPI writes, “Though glucose and fructose certainly occur in nature, the chemical conversions of cornstarch should not be considered natural.”
If you would like to know more about label confusion, or for a detailed summary of the CSPI report containing the link to the full 158-page document, please click here.
EXERCISING YOUR NEW PLAN OF ACTION
Now that you have a plan in place for the next time you shop, have fun and give yourself a warm pat on the back for taking your first step toward eating well and feeling good.
As with any changes of habit in life, you might feel frustrated at first, but you’ll get used to it after a few practices and memorizing is in order, so be patient and hang in there.
Having the support of friends and family helps too once a decision is made to eat and feed your family well and more nutritiously.
If you have kids, teaching them how to read food labels will build good health habits early in life and in my opinion, is one of the best things you can teach your children.