Do you know what to look for when reading labels?
Majority of our food found in stores has been altered from its natural state. When processed and packaged there are additives to help make the food shelf stable and more appealing to our senses. Just as our clothing is created to sell based on marketing and trends, so is our packaged food.
Reading “all natural”, “organic”, “healthy” or “sugar-free” is not enough to assume the packaged food is healthy. Confidence in shopping comes from you trusting yourself to make informed decisions rather than relying on the packaging itself.
When making informed decisions for you and your family, scan every nutritional label and ingredients list and know what you’re looking for.
Common ingredients to Avoid or Limit:
Artificial Flavor : From an unnatural source. Something our bodies were never designed to process.
Natural Flavor : From a natural source * natural flavor can come from any natural source, including meat and animal products. What I am trying to say is that the natural flavor added to your blueberry granola bar could come from animal parts. We do not know what we are consuming when we consume packaged food with natural flavor. (Natural in the label or ingredient list does not equate to healthy.)
High Fructose Corn Syrup : Highly processed sugar alternative, linked to many types of disease
GMO : Genetically Modified Organism, an animal, plant, or microbe whose DNA has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. (National Geographic Society)
Sugar : consumption for men should be kept to 36 grams or less and women 24 grams or less per day
Soybean and Canola Oil: highly processed, genetically modified, often rancid and inflammatory (commonly found in salad dressings)
Other oils: Cottonseed, Sunflower (look for cold or expeller pressed), peanut oil, palm oil, corn oil
MSG – Monosodium Glutamate, flavor additive
Artificial Color : exactly that. Artificial color with no nutritional value, but plenty of side effects including hyperactivity, especially in children. Banned in some other countries.
Sodium Nitrites: Commonly found in processed meat. Link to stomach cancer.
For more research backed information and other specific food additives to avoid check out Environmental Working Group.
If an ingredient is unfamiliar to you, consider putting the packaged item back. Our bodies are designed beautifully to align with the ingestion of and nutrients within whole foods. The common amount of risky ingredients found in everyday packaged foods is one of the many reasons to buy local and homegrown food. Make your health your job. Be an informed consumer!
For more support in making informed and confident decisions on your next grocery store trip email me at happianna1@gmail.com.
In health,
Coach Anna