This post is part of a series I am doing for Positively Positive.

If you are trying to adhere to a healthful diet and lifestyle, it is helpful to educate yourself about what foods will support your health better than others. Whereas it should be clear that choosing as many whole, unprocessed foods as possible is the best approach, most people still buy some packaged foods.

I am obsessive about reading labels on packages in order to help me make the best choice I can. But the FDA allows food manufacturers, even for organic products, to take so many liberties in wording and, furthermore, don’t insist that everything in your food be labeled as such that it could be argued that we consumers are being deceived.

Here are some guidelines to help you understand what much of this labeling really means.

 

“Natural” or “Pure”      The words sound wholesome and even healthful, but whether you are buying chicken or juice or vanilla extract, these words mean practically nothing since there is no official definition for what can be labeled “natural” or “pure.”  For example, “natural chicken” just means it is chicken and not play dough. It doesn’t guarantee anything healthful, organic, or good for you. Food labeled “natural” can contain processed white sugar, pesticides, heavy metal toxins, MSG, and lots of other non-natural ingredients. Also note that if you see “natural flavors” listed in the ingredients of a “natural” product, don’t think here’s anything natural about them. Natural flavors are created in a lab and are supposed to imitate flavors found in nature. Not exactly natural.

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4 Comments

  1. Thanks for this post! I used to just look at labels to check for calories and carbs, but (thanks to your inspiring blog!), I now first focus on the ingredient list: if I can’t pronounce it, I put it back on the shelf.
    Thanks again for the information and for the simple and delicious whole food ideas. (Also, the cute stories always bring a smile to my face!) I’m relatively new to this type of cooking and thinking, so I really appreciate all of the great recipe ideas.
    Amy

    • I’m so glad you’re here, Amy. I, myself, am still always learning about food and nutrition and I love knowing I am in good company 🙂

  2. Did the kale dressing recipe get lost?

    • So embarrassing — I am really a techno-dork. I pressed “publish” without realizing it and the post wasn’t done. By the time I figured it out, the email went out to half my list :(. I had to delete the post, after the fact. I will publish it this Friday! Sorry!


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