Making Sense Of Food Labels

    Words like "Natural" does NOT mean "Good for you"

I was at the grocery store yesterday and had to shake my head at all of the deceptive labels with everything claiming all sorts of things that are supposedly "healthy", but aren't really. One of the things that really disturbed me was that I saw several examples of healthy foods in their natural state, but I also saw counterfeit versions of these same foods claiming that they were healthier than the original. Yet in reality, all of these counterfeit versions were actually MUCH worse for you than the original and they still have the balls to claim that their overly processed "junkified" versions are better. This is food marketing,  deception at it's worst. First thing I saw was a product that was claiming "just like real fruit".

Then I saw, "Better than Peanut Butter" This product is ludicrous! I can't believe anyone would ever believe that this junk is better for them than natural peanut butter. First of all, if you buy a good simple peanut butter, organic is my only choice, it is usually nothing but 2 ingredients... peanuts and salt, and they don't add much salt so it's not high in sodium. However, this counterfeit peanut butter which claimed it was "better than peanut butter" (trying to seem healthier than peanut butter based on it's label claims) had a list of junk in it you wouldn't believe. First of all, they strip all of the healthy fats out of the peanuts so that it is a "low fat" product. Ok, now you've just taken away one of the healthiest parts of the product, the appetite satisfying healthy fats that you need to control cravings and manage more stable blood sugar levels. To make things worse, the healthy fats were replaced with 2 different types of sugary syrups as well as additional dehydrated cane juice (aka SUGAR), in addition to added refined starches. This product has taken something as simple and natural as peanut butter, and turned it into what should really be called some sort of processed candy. Yet, they claim that it's healthier than peanut butter. And somehow they get away with deceiving people like this. Don't be their fool.

Next a product claiming to be "better than eggs". I won't get as detailed on this one because I recently talked about this entire topic. Basically, this product was just egg whites with a bunch of added chemical colorings, flavorings, and other nonsense, including fake added vitamins. Again, this product has essentially ruined a good thing by removing the healthiest part, the yolks. Anybody that tells you different doesn't understand much about nutrition.  The important label to look for in quality whole eggs is cage-free and organic. Next a product claiming to be "better than butter". This was essentially crappy margarine loaded with highly processed and deadly trans fats, and canola oil yet it had the nerve to claim it was "better than butter". Remember if you eat products with hydrogenated or partially-hydrogenated oil, this is the oil that clogs your arteries, and will shorten your life. Even low quality butter is healthier than any margarine. One problem with butter is pesticides and hormones from improperly raised cows. For this reason, organic "grass-fed" butter is best.  In fact, adding a little butter to your steamed vegetables helps your body to absorb more of the vitamins and minerals in the veggies. (Didn't know that did ya) Also, due to the content of stable saturated fats in butter, this makes butter one of the best oils to cook with. Oils high in polyunsaturated oils are the worst to cook with due to their highly unstable nature. No, the saturated fat in butter is NOT bad for you.

These empty-caloried concoctions are often cheap, convenient, and really tasty. They will do everything even lie on their labeling to make you forget you are eating crap. On a darker note, your body can become physically addicted to these very foods. Quite simply, eating processed food creates cravings for more processed food.  Eat fresh natural organically grown foods and snacks, and you won't have to read the labels. Simple! Now watch this video and learn how to read labels, and stay away from the knock off's, of real food, and leave the possessed foods, and Twinkies for the roaches, Woddy Harelson, and the zombies. Good Luck...

Doc's Fitness Tip's Publishes Twice Weekly.

Flex-Appeal Personal Training  Service, the publisher of Doc's Fitness Tip's is Located In Dana Point, Ca. Our 20+ years of personal training experience also proudly serves the communities of, San Juan Capistrano, San Clemente, Laguna Beach, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Hills, Aliso Viejo, and MissionViejo,Ca. 
 
Flex -Appeal is currently offering, for new customers, a 2 for 1 personal training special that allows you to enjoy a one month personal training program. This is the perfect opportunity to get personally trained and bring a friend or spouse for FREE! Or Split The First Months Cost !!

But, hurry fast, this offer will end soon!
Call - (949) 443-0133 for details on how to receive Orange County's premier personal trainer experience!

 Or you may be interested in trying A NO COST Introductory personal trainer workout or diet consultation by phone, Skype or in person!    

For the best Personal Fitness Training in Orange County, California:

PLEASE CONTACT ME; DOC MASTERS, at flexappealdoc@hotmail.com

For Pure Clean Drinking Water any time, anywhere click one of the "Nourish A Life" banners on either side of this article at the top of the page, or this link doc.nourishalife.org and get your own water filtering bottle. Save the environment, save your health, "Nourish A Life"