Tuesday Tip - Don't Be Fooled By Deceptive Food Claims

We’ve all heard TONS of fitness and nutrition advice, some of it from trainers, infomercials and even well-meaning friends. It can be confusing and at times conflicting. So, we’ve decided to dedicate Tuesdays to giving you some of our best health, nutrition and fitness tips. We base our health and fitness advice on medical evidence. Join us on Tuesdays for our best tips that will help keep you safe and give you the best results.

Don’t be fooled by deceptive food claims and labeling.

Eating well shouldn’t be hard, but it can be difficult to decipher what is a good product from what isn’t, due to misleading food ads and labeling. Check out three simple tips below to help assist you in making better product selections.

• “All Natural” food labels – Huffington Post states that this claim is not strictly enforced enough at this point to be trusted. All natural foods SHOULD contain less additives and preservatives than processed food. My motto, whenever possible, “fresh is best”. 
• “Made with Whole Grains” – Be sure to check the ingredients to verify that whole wheat flour is listed first. If not, it is safe to bet that there isn’t a large amount of whole grain in the product.
• “Made with Real Fruit” – Again, be sure to check the ingredients for actual WHOLE FRUIT, and not from concentrate or puree, which is basically sugar, rather than actual fruit. Also steer clear of products with added dyes.

Take the time to become an educated consumer by learning how to read food labels. Try replacing some of those grocery items that you were “fooled” into thinking were good for you with healthier alternatives. This will prove to be a huge benefit for you and your family!