9 of 10

Write now Article Tools

10 Tips on how reading the labels will change your life!

It is very easy to do, it's going to take a less time on your part then you think- and it's more beneficial to your health then you know. As long as you can read you can do it! You're going to see words for the first time, and a lot of words you certainly can not pronounce, and for those words you do not know- I advise you to consume with caution. After all, if you live by the cliche 'you are what you eat' it just might save your life. Besides, society is on the verge of a break down when it comes to our current food consumption and production. We as consumers have lost touch with the source, and some people are investigating the problems and risks with our current models of mass production. In order to reconnect with the source we must become more conscience of what we eat, it's really very simple. You start to look closer at the labels, brands, and manufacturing location, and you see exactly why society is faced with such alarming health problems as obesity and cancer. Some food has toxic ingredients. Here are some helpful tips on how to become a more informed consumer at the supermarket.

1)The claim 'organic' means nothing unless the label has the official symbol with the words: "USDA certified organic"(meaning 100%) or "certified 90% organic" or "certified 70% organic"

2) Read the actual ingredient list and don't buy it unless you know what's in it: Remember less ingredients actually means more pure- try to buy foods that have simple and easy to read ingredients and instead Stay clear of ingredients list with: hard to pronounce words, food colorings and artificial dyes, artificial sweeteners, MSG, and partially hydrogenated oils.

3)Buy FAIR TRADE (coffee, tea, produce, more) and look for this label- this means you support Fair Trade practice where the producers/farmers are treated properly with respect, without the FAIR TRADE label, the farmers/producers may be poorly treated and even exploited- for example they might earn only $30 per week for their work.

4)Be aware of saturated & trans-saturated "trans" fat content- both very bad and should be kept to a minimum consumption for optimal health. In other words- definitely don't exceed 100% in your diet. Try to reserve sweets for treats!

5)Look for products that are rich sources of fiber, iron, and vitamins and try to maximize consumption of these types of products.

6)Be aware of sodium content, too much salt is not good and can cause serious health issues. "MSG" is actual mono-sodium-glutamate- watch out for this ingredient it's potentially harmful and in a lot of ingredient lists. MSG actually makes you want to keep eating the product, it's in chips, dips, sauces, etc.

7) Be cautious of the label "all natural" as it means absolutely nothing. Also, lookout for "GMO" or "cloned" food because we don't really have enough research as to the long term affects these products might have on our bodies.

8) Look for "NO Rbst growth hormone" on dairy products and if possible buy all dairy organic, or local, and always without the Rbst growth hormone-

9) Look for 'cage free eggs'-and 'free range.' Buy poultry and meat that is not processed. In fact for all meat and meat related products, read the ingredient list too!

10) Try to stay away from processed foods because they rely on chemicals & preservatives and ingredients that may be potentially harmful.

BE HEALTHY! LIVE LONG AND WISE...

Learn more about this author, Stella Bella.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about How to read food labels: Supermarket nutrition demystified?
We want to hear your view. Write now!