(Near the Schiele Museum of Natural History)

How to Read Food Labels Without Being Tricked

 

Reading labels is a tricky business.
Consumers are more health-conscious than ever, so food manufacturers use misleading tricks to convince people to buy their products.
They often do this even when the food is highly processed and unhealthy.
The regulations behind food labeling are complex, so it’s not surprising that the average consumer has a hard time understanding them.
This article briefly explains how to read food labels, and how to sort out the junk from the truly healthy foods.

Don’t Be Duped By the Claims on The Front

One of the best tips may be to completely ignore the labels on front of the packaging.
Front labels try to lure you into purchasing products by making health claims. Manufacturers want to make you believe that their product is healthier than other, similar options.
This has actually been studied. Research shows that adding health claims to front labels affects people’s choices. It makes them believe a product is healthier than the same product that doesn’t list health claims.
Manufacturers are often dishonest in the way they use these labels. They tend to use health claims that are misleading, and in some cases downright false.
Examples include many high-sugar breakfast cereals, like “whole grain” Cocoa Puffs. Despite the label, these products are not healthy.
This makes it hard for consumers to choose healthy options without a thorough inspection of the ingredients list.
Bottom Line: Front labels are often used to lure people into buying products. However, most of these labels are highly misleading or downright false.

Look At the Ingredients List

 

Product ingredients are listed by quantity, from highest to lowest amount.
That means that the first listed ingredient is what the manufacturer used the most of.
A good rule of thumb is to scan the first three ingredients, because they are the largest part of what you’re eating.
If the first ingredients include refined grains, some sort of sugar or hydrogenated oils, you can be pretty sure that the product is unhealthy.
Instead, try to choose items that have whole foods listed as the first three ingredients.
Another good rule of thumb is if the ingredients list is longer than 2–3 lines, you can assume that the product is highly processed.
Bottom Line: Ingredients are listed by quantity, from highest to lowest. Try looking for products that list whole foods as the first three ingredients, and be skeptical of foods with long lists of ingredients.

Super ORAC Antioxidant (90 caps)Stock Number: 808-3

Benefits:
Provides key nutrients to neutralize free radicals.
Helps prevent cellular damage.
May exhibit anti-aging benefits.

How It Works:
Antioxidants are the body’s natural defense against free
radicals. They scavenge them, “mopping up” free radicals
before they have a chance to harm cells. Super ORAC
combines eight powerful ingredients known to quench free
radicals.


Green tea contains polyphenols, which are potent
antioxidants. EGCG is considered the most active
polyphenol. It appears to help protect brain cells from damage. Mangosteen xanthones are
potent antioxidants with a special affinity for supporting the circulatory system. One such
xanthone, mangostin, helps the body battle the oxidation of LDL cholesterol. Resveratrol protects
both the nervous system and the cardiovascular system. Turmeric contains curcumin, a
polyphenol with wonderful health benefits for the immune, circulatory and glandular systems. In
studies, curcumin has been shown to inhibit oxidative DNA damage. The açai berry contains
powerful anthocyanins—water-soluble compounds with potent antioxidant actions. This fruit also
helps protect against superoxide and peroxyl radicals. Other ingredients offer similar antioxidant
benefits. All in all, Super ORAC plays an important part in your battle plan for achieving health,
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Ingredients:
Green tea leaves extract, mangosteen pericarp extract, turmeric root extract, quercetin dehydrate,
resveratrol, apple fruit extract, açai (acai) berry concentrate and selenium.
Recommended Use:
Take 1–2 capsules twice daily with meals.

Green Tea Extract (60 caps)
Stock Number: 1096-6
Benefits:
Provides antioxidant properties that benefit immune
and circulatory health.
Helps maintain already normal blood flow.
Supports cholesterol levels already within the
normal range.
Supports healthy kidney function.
May help protect the digestive and respiratory
systems.
How It Works:
Green tea contains catechins—a type of polyphenol with
powerful antioxidants that neutralize free radicals. Green
tea also provides antimicrobial immune system support, helps support the vascular blood-clotting
function and helps maintain cholesterol levels already within the normal range. It also appears to
support healthy kidney function.
Ingredients:
Green tea leaf extract—decaffeinated (80% polyphenols, 60% catechins, 30% EGCG).
Recommended Use:
Take 1 capsule three times daily with a meal. Three capsules equals 10 cups of liquid green tea.
Not recommended for children under 6 or pregnant/nursing women.
How to Order:
Order online at www.naturessunshine.com or call 704-823-1577. Give them #1802869.
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