Remember this TOP TIP When You Read Food Labels, Label Maze 2

06 Nov Remember this TOP TIP When You Read Food Labels, Label Maze 2

At SuperLife, I want to help you decipher what you are reading on your food labels with some tips to make it easier. When you go to the grocery store armed with concrete ideas of what it means read the label, you are taking your health and your family’s health out of the power of the persuasion and coercion that big companies pour into their marketing, and putting it firmly back in your own hands. When I myself came to the realization that was once considered “good” for me, was not so good for me after all, I really started to pay attention. It made me realize even more that I should not believe everything I read — or hear — and I recommend you do the same. Taking a moment to read the label before you put something in your cart will give you peace of mind when you check out. Knowing exactly what will end up in your body is worth the moment of extra effort it takes to read the label when you pick up a food item in the store. Below is one of the most simple, yet powerful ways you can ensure the quality of food that ends up in your cart — and ultimately your body.

AS A RULE OF THUMB, STAY AWAY FROM LONG LISTS OF UNPRONOUNCEABLE INGREDIENTS. When reading the actual food label on the side or back of the package, know that a long list of meddlesome ingredients are added to extend shelf-life (but not your life!). They maintain food’s appearance, stabilize the product and/or “enhance” its taste, color, and smell. In some cases, you certainly can enhance and preserve food naturally.

Dehydration and tight, sealed packaging for reduction of oxidation can help preserve foods along with other techniques. It typically costs more to do this, and takes more attention to do it right, so big companies, with an eye on their bottom line will avoid this. While even the most pristine, ultra-organic packaged foods will have some preservatives (if truly organic and healthy, the preservatives will be naturally-derived; for example, lemon juice is often a completely healthy food preserver). This is to comply with industry standards. However, ideally stick with our rule of thumb whenever possible.

A SuperLife team member once told me an anecdote from his grandma when buying clothes. She would tell him, “Son, if I can’t pronounce the brand name, I can’t afford it.” In this case, if you are unable to pronounce the ingredients, trust me your body can’t afford it to eat it.

AND an excellent resource ~ Dr Christine Farlow’s book, Food Additives: A Shoppers Guide to What’s Safe & What’s Not

Love How You Live,

Darin Olien

UNCOVER MORE: In this three-part series, Label Maze, I looked at the key, simple ways you can decipher food labels to look past empty claims and upgrade the quality of food you choose to actually place in your cart.

• Take a BIG Step For Your Health: Read the Fine Print on Food Labels (Blog 1 of 3)
• Remember this TOP TIP When You Read Food Labels (Blog 2 of 3)
• Are Food Labels Fooling You (Blog 3 of 3)