Did you know there’s a 20% margin of error for nutrition facts? Math might not be my strong suit and even I know that’s a lot.

 

Sugar free, no sugar, and the grams of sugar do not count the ‘oses’, the hidden shades of sugar. Sugar is found naturally in many nutritious foods, such as fruits and vegetables. But, you have to be a bit more savvy with locating foods that contain added sugar. There are more than 60 names for added sugar.

 

Some major clues that an ingredient is an added sugar include: it has syrup (examples: corn syrup, rice syrup) or the word ends in “ose” (examples: fructose, sucrose, maltose, dextrose).

 

Actually sugar free, fat free, and the like can serve as your giant red flags. Instead of associating those as a good thing, begin to wonder what is replacing the things that have been “removed”.

 

Natural and organic mean there are natural and/or organic ingredients in it, not the the product as a whole is natural or organic. The USDA organic seal is the only one certified organic.

 

That’s because food labels are MARKETING TACTICS, not health facts. Not to mention that healthy is a SUBJECTIVE term. What’s healthy for one, could make another sick. Every body, literally, every body is different.??

 

Take Gatorade, for example. For generations Gatorade has had a truly impressive and frighteningly effective marketing campaign. We’ve been told and shown by athletes and sports enthusiast that Gatorade is a “health” drink.

 

The original concoction consisted of water, sodium, sugar, potassium, phosphate, and lemon juice. (Sodium and potassium are the electrolytes you’re looking for for hydration). Now the concoction consists of water, sucrose syrup, glucose-fructose syrup, citric acid, natural flavors, salt, sodium citrate, monopotassium phosphate. These days it’s just a non-carbondated soda that’s dehydrating you and your kid.

 

I am not anti any food. I am an advocate of eating for your own personal health. I believe food should be utilized as our greatest and most effective medicine and that each person should be finding what methods and foods work best for them individually.

 

I don’t share this information to add to the confusion but to simplify it. Turn down the noise of marketing and turn up the volume on your own body’s signals. Next time you pick up food with a label bypass almost everything on it and bring your attention to the only worthwhile information: the ingredients list. Ask yourself these two simple questions: Can you read and pronounce the ingredients? Can you find them in your kitchen or store?

 

In health (whatever that means to you),

 

Melissa

www.melissaromano.com