by E K Stapleton

Created on: September 23, 2008

After my aunt suffered a heart attack there were numerous professionals to consult with before her discharge from the hospital. A meeting with the dietitian informed me of the lifestyle changes that were about to occur, as a result of the heart healthy diet she would need to follow. This would affect my entire household, in terms of meal options and adjusting to new tastes and cooking methods. For me the biggest challenge was having to check the content of each and every food before loading it into my cart.

The importance of providing a low sodium, low fat (free of trans or saturated fat), low carb diet really opened my eyes. Very seldom had I ever even glanced at the labels of the foods that stocked our cupboards, but now it was a necessity. It didn't take long before I was feeling like Old Mother Hubbard, as my cupboards were bare. Carefully scrutinizing the ingredients and nutritional information on each package revealed few of them were suitable to be included in her new diet, resulting in a large donation for the food bank.

I had no idea what awaited me at the grocery store. I conquered the produce section with ease, but then came the reality of facing the maze of aisles laden with packaged, processed food. This was going to be a daunting task for a rookie like myself. The optimism I started out with soon turned to frustration, as I became overwhelmed by the whole process. Checking a product's label for the ingredients, I could determine exactly what contents were in the food. The fact that they are listed in order of quantity, allowed me to somewhat judge how much of each ingredient was present. This alone was a learning experience. Even a plain old can of vegetables is loaded with things I've never heard of and can't pronounce. Chemicals identified by a number only, and more times than not, making it's way among the top ingredients, salt. It seemed as though nothing was fit for consumption.

When a miracle did occur, and I managed to get through the ingredients without detecting salt, sugar or unknown chemicals, it was time to assess the nutritional information. This part of the label outlines the nutrients and vitamins contained within, such as fat, cholesterol, protein and carbohydrates. A percentage is also listed beside each, detailing what percent of the recommended daily intake is provided in the contents. This is valuable information to have, but much to my chagrin the vast majority of products derived their fat content from trans and saturated fat, or were loaded with carbohydrates, or both. This was proving to be a challenge, but I was willing to accept it.

When all was said and done, I succeeded in my pursuit of heart healthy food, as time consuming as it was. The task of having to check the content of everything I intended to buy extended my shopping trip an hour and a half longer than usual, but educated me as well. I couldn't believe what I had been subjecting my body to all these years. I discovered that you shouldn't be fooled into believing products are good for you just because they claim to be low fat, fat free, reduced sodium etc. By checking the contents you may find out it isn't any better than the other products, just pricier. Lastly, I learned the importance of carefully considering everything we choose to put in our body.

Checking food content is an essential way of life for those with food allergies, intolerance, and certain health concerns or diseases. Perhaps if I had been checking labels all along, my aunts heart attack could have been prevented, but there's no point in focusing on what ifs. The important thing is I check the contents of food now, as it could literally mean the difference between life and death.

Learn more about this author, E K Stapleton.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.