Men's Health News recently interviewed Ilyse Schapiro, M.S., a registered dietitian in New York City who shared with readers some of the secrets of the trade. I have told you before that there is no legal definition for the word 'natural', it has absolutely no FDA regulated printing stipulations. It won't take long for you to find 'all-natural' granola bars or tortilla chips in the supermarket that in fact, are not, all natural (Pepsi Co. is in a big legal war about this concerning a few products claiming to be au natural when the ingredients include GMO's. oops!) Here are a few other sneaky ploys to watch out for:
1. "Fortified with Omega-3's" - Fish oil is fab. It aids in reducing bodily inflammation, lubricates your joints and keeps your metabolism running smoothly. The USDA daily recommendation is 250mg. However, when cereals and whole grains claim to be fortified with Omega 3's they are using ALA, a type of Omega 3 that is not readily absorbed by our bodies, unlike DHA and EPA which are found in oily fish and fish oil supplements.
2. "100% vitamin C" - Yes, vitamin C is very important for immunity, however, don't be scammed into buying a more expensive product because of the claim. Chances are you have no trouble consuming more than your recommended dosage without supplementing. One orange contains 116% and half a cup of chopped red bell pepper contains 158% of your daily requirement of C. Chances are it's not something you need to worry about.
3. "Made with whole grains" - That's great. but how much? FDA regulations don't make products specify the percentage of whole grains vs. refined white flour. Check your labels! If the first ingredient is 'whole grain' or 'whole-wheat flour' feel free to add it to your cart, but if you read 'unbleached white flour' drop it and run to the next isle. okay...well, gently place it back on the shelf and move along.
4. "With added fiber" - because everybody loves fiber! cereal...bars...you name it they've sucked you in by adding fiber. Fiber is super important. Oil is to an automobile what fiber is to your body. It keeps things running smoothly. HOWEVER, there are two types of fiber, insoluble and soluble. Insoluble fiber will help you stay regular (yes, that is what I mean) whereas soluble fiber is heart-healthy and helps keep your cholesterol low. Both are beneficial, but you don't need to by fiber-infused products to keep your metabolism in check. Go back to the basics. Eat more leafy greens and cut back on dairy and refined starches. Be sure eat lots of foods with soluble fiber (e.g. oatmeal, nuts, and beans).
5. "Immunity Boosting" - this usually means they've added vitamins A, C and E. sounds great, right!? sort-of. Vitamin C is great for fighting off colds, however, as we discussed you don't need help getting more of it (see #2), and here's the kicker...vitamins A and E have not been shown to reduce your risk of cold or flu. Research is inconclusive. So until we find some supporting evidence, stick with fruits and veggies and forget the immunity boosting H2O or whatever else they're trying to sell you these days. Stay healthy by washing your hands, staying active and eating plant-based foods.
6. "Made with/from real fruit" - if they have to say it, chances are you're better off without it. This claim usually means those blueberry waffles you bought or fruit chews are made with a teensy bit of real fruit juice and loaded with sugar and oil. Do yourself a favour and go buy a piece of real fruit in the produce isle. If you're having a super bad waffle craving, make your own with frozen fruit and whole-wheat flower so you know exactly what you're putting in your body.
Don't fall victim to marketing ploys and false advertising. You are the dictator of what is manufactured and sold in your supermarket. It's almost impossible to have missed the gluten-free trend that's blowing up right now. Society is educating themselves (albeit, some people are mis-educated and are under false pretences...but that's a battle for another day), and are demanding these types of products. The more you buy of the good stuff, the more good stuff will be produced and at your finger tips.
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