Misleading Food Labels Make Me Mad
By Sara Butler
There’s a golden rule you should live by at the grocery store: If the package of food you’re looking at makes wild health claims, then it’s probably not healthy. Manufacturers love to make products that are actually highly processed seem much better for you. The claims they make about your improved health are usually misleading. Here are some of the things you should be on the lookout for when you’re shopping. If you see some of these claims, then move farther down the aisle with confidence that it’s not going to make you healthier.
Candy that is Low Fat
This claim is seen quite a bit and while it’s technically not false, it doesn’t mean the food is healthy. The reason these foods can claim to be low in fat is that sugar doesn’t contain fat. Not much of an upgrade as far as your health is concerned to go from something loaded with unhealthy fats to something loaded with unhealthy sugar.
Vegetarian-Fed Eggs
Though it may conjure visions of chickens who are at one with nature, chickens are not vegetarians. They’re actually omnivores and enjoy, among other things, a steady diet of bugs. Chickens are fed vegetarian diets in an attempt to make them more appealing to the consumer, but that kind of diet can yield eggs that are lacking in nutrients. Plus, it can make the chicken sick. You need to just let chickens be chickens. Everything will turn out OK.
Non-Grain Products that are Gluten Free
Here’s a tip -- most products that don’t contain grains are naturally gluten-free. Sure, you need to be on the lookout for some sneaky gluten in some places (licorice and chocolate are a couple of examples), but for the most part, dried fruits and other foods that don’t contain grains don’t need to be labeled gluten-free. They never had gluten in them to begin with.
12-Grain
A food that claims to have 12 grains seems as if it should be pretty healthy, right? Wrong! Dense loaves of bread that claim to be made of various types of grains are often filled with highly processed versions of those grains. You’re far better off opting for a food that uses whole grains. Remember, it’s quality over quantity!
The food industry isn't based on a giant conspiracy to trick you into healthy foods, they simply want to sell their product to you. But it pays to be a healthy consumer who knows what to be on the lookout for!
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Englewood, Colo.
