Food labels can be confusing and downright misleading! In fact, research shows that adding health claims to the front labels makes people believe a product is healthier than identical products without the health claims. (1)(2) Pure trickery!
Learn how to read food labels to ensure you aren’t being duped.
- ALL NATURAL- A very loose term which can mean just about anything. Don’t be fooled by this distinction.
- SUGAR FREE or NO ADDED SUGAR- This DOES NOT mean it is free from artificial sweeteners, so beware!
- FAT FREE OR LOW FAT- I recommend staying away from products that are labeled “fat free” because it has no bearing on the health of the product. A fat free product does not mean it is free of calories, food coloring, preservatives. And we need healthy fats! Also, this term usually means it’s packed with sugar.
- GLUTEN FREE- This just means that the product is void of gluten containing ingredients such as wheat, barley, and rye. It does not mean it is healthy!
- MULTIGRAIN- This only means that more than one type of grain was used and does not mean they are healthy, unrefined grains. A better term to look for would be “whole grain”.
- MADE WITH ORGANIC INGREDIENTS- This means that at least 70% of the product is made with certified organic ingredients.
- ORGANIC- This means that at least 95% of the ingredients are certified organic.
- 100% ORGANIC/USDA ORGANIC SEAL- This product is made of ONLY certified organic ingredients. Winner!
- Non GMO PROJECT VERIFIED SEAL- This assures consumers that the product is made according to the best practices for GMO avoidance.
One of my #1 tips that I share with my patients is to never purchase a product based on the FRONT of the package. Instead, turn the product around and look at the ingredient list. The ingredients are listed in order of weight used from the highest to the lowest. So that means there are more of the first few ingredients listed and less of the last few that are listed. I stay away from products that list sugar in the first 3-4 ingredients.
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Questions? Just ask!
Want to work with me 1:1 to create the perfect diet for you and/or your family? Contact me today at dana@thrivekin.com.