This is why you need to learn how to separate the facts from clever marketing gimmicks. Here are some guidelines to help you do that.

1. Natural or Natural Flavors

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the words “all natural”? Healthy, right? Sadly, that is not necessarily true.

According to the FDA, the word natural just means that no artificial ingredients have been added. It does not mean hormone free, pesticide free or non-GMO.

2. Fortified

Today nearly everything on the shelf, including water, is fortified with vitamins and minerals. Unfortunately, nutrient fortification does not make unhealthy foods healthy.

Fortified junk food is still junk food.

There is also no evidence that the additional nutrients are doing us any good.

If you want more vitamins and minerals in your diet, skip the fortified sugar and eat healthy, nutrient dense foods that have been proven to have beneficial health effects.

This is not to say that you should avoid all fortified foods. If a food has intrinsic nutritional value, the added nutrients will only make it better. For instance, there is nothing wrong with probiotic-fortified yogurt or milk fortified with vitamin D.

3. Good Source of Fiber

The healthiest sources of fiber are whole grains, legumes, vegetables and fruits.

If you’re making healthy food choices, you don’t need the added fiber from packaged bars or cookies. In fact, most of the fiber found in junk food is faux fiber extracted from chicory root or chemically synthesized. There is also no evidence that eating foods with added fiber is as beneficial as eating foods that are naturally high in fiber.

4. Whole Grain

The terms “whole grain” and “100 percent whole grain” have very different meanings. A product only has to contain a small amount of whole grains to be labeled “made with whole grains.”

What you really want are the products labeled “100 percent whole grain” or “100 percent whole wheat”. Avoid products that say whole grain but don’t give more information on what the grains are or what percent of the grain is whole; such products may still contain processed flour.

5. No Sugar Added

“No sugar added” is not the same as “unsweetened.” “No sugar added” products can still be sweetened with artificial sweeteners and sugar alcohols, which have fewer calories than sugar but are not necessarily healthy.

On the other hand, products labeled “unsweetened” can only contain naturally occurring sugar and sugar alcohols. They cannot be sweetened with artificial sweeteners.

Keep in mind that while these two terms are regulated by the FDA, the FDA does not require manufacturers to use them. Whether you’re trying to avoid sugar, artificial sweeteners or both, you may have to check the ingredient list to figure out what the products contain.

Do yourself a favor and learn what food labels really mean because your health is worth protecting and you deserve the best.

The post Don’t Fall For Clever Marketing on Food Packaging! appeared first on Lifestyle.

Some foods are wearing a “healthy” halo they don’t deserve. People mistakenly believe they’re the healthier option because that’s what the commercial claimed, and they eat them without question.

Not all “health foods” are healthy but are considered healthy because of clever marketing.

For instance, due to a successful marketing
campaign in the 90s, many people still think of pork as “the other white
meat”. Never mind that pork is red in color.

With new “health foods” popping up every year, it’s difficult to figure out which health claims are backed by science and those that are the product of clever ad campaigns. Here is a list of 7 foods that are not actually healthy.

Turkey
Bacon, Burgers and Deli Meats

Processed turkey can be just as bad as
processed beef. It contains loads of salt, preservatives and saturated fats,
which essentially negate the health benefits you could have gotten from
substituting red meat for white meat. At the end of the day, bacon is bacon even
if it’s made from white meat.

Veggie
Chips

Vegetables are good for you but not when they’re deep-fried! Those green and yellow veggie sticks are just as bad as regular chips. After all, although potatoes are vegetables, no one is claiming that potato chips are good for you!

Flavored
Yogurt

Some flavored yogurts have as much sugar as cake. When buying yogurt, always check the label to see how much sugar has been added. Even when buying Greek or Nordic yogurts, which are supposed to be low in sugar, read the label. Alternatively, opt for unsweetened yogurt.

Margarine

The myth that margarine is healthier than butter has been debunked over and over again but it’s worth repeating. Margarine is basically a combination of chemicals and refined vegetable oils. It’s high in trans fats, which increase your chances of heart disease. You’re better off eating real butter.

Agave

People are constantly looking for healthier alternatives to sugar. A popular “natural” alternative at the moment is agave. However, this natural sweetener is worse than sugar AND high fructose corn syrup. Agave contains 70-90% fructose, and can cause severe metabolic problems.

Sports
Drinks

Sports drinks have electrolytes but they also contain sugar. Why? Because they’re designed with athletes in mind and not people who are binging Netflix from the comfort of their couch.

However, many people view them as a healthier substitute for soft drinks, which isn’t the case because they’re only slightly lower in sugar.

Granola
and Protein Bars

On the surface, these bars look like healthy
snacks. However, they are loaded with sugar and hydrogenated oils, and can
cause type 2 diabetes, weight gain and heart disease if eaten regularly.

The solution is to become your very own food advocate to ensure you’re fueling your body with the healthiest options. Never trust marketers; the truth is in the label. So, do yourself a favor and always read the ingredients, giving special attention to the sugar and added sugar content.

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