NutritionLabel Key to Products Secrets

Nutrition labels key to products’ secrets

I really liked this article and thought my readers would enjoy it–good information and it really makes you think!

Karen Gram, Canwest News Service

Published: Thursday, July 24, 2008

In an age when every health professional you talk to reminds you to eat right, going grocery shopping sometimes feels as if a master’s degree is required — especially with all the marketing tricks that some manufacturers use to lure you to their product.

A jam product might say “simply fruit” on the front of the package, but on the nutrition label at the back, you discover that it contains more fruit syrup than actual fruit.

There are some helpful websites, including one called eBrandAid, which was founded by Atlanta-based author Kerry McLeod. The site identifies many “healthy food impostors,” which are packed with hidden preservatives and artificial ingredients.

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HEALTHY READING: Nutritionist Diana Steele talks about labels on products.

Steve Bosch, Vancouver Sun

Another good site is put together by the Washington D.C.-based Centre for Science in the Public Interest, which is now in its 37th year of educating and advocating for consumers on food issues. They call the impostors “food frauds.”

We asked registered dietitian Diana Steele to take us through a grocery store and teach us what we need to know to read labels and not get fooled by the marketing.

Steele says it’s easy to get overwhelmed. While there are detailed regulations governing food labels, some food producers have read the fine print and used loopholes to make their product look better than it really is.

“I think the important message is that your marketing claim or title of a food product isn’t necessarily going to determine whether or not that food is good for you,” she says.

Steele urges consumers to read and understand the nutritional information on the package.

EBrandAid’s founder Kerry McLeod says it’s crucial to read both the nutritional facts and the ingredient list to get an accurate picture of what you are about to eat.

But, even still, labels keep secrets. Here are some of them:

Q. When is whole wheat bread not necessarily whole wheat?

A. When it says it’s whole wheat. Sounds bizarre, but Health Canada regulations stipulate that products claiming to be 100-per-cent whole wheat don’t have to include the nutritious wheat germ. But a claim of whole grain does.

So for the best fibre, choose 100-per-cent whole grain. Even still, read the ingredient list because if the product says it is “made with whole grain” it might contain just a little whole grain mixed with white flour. The most used ingredient is at the top of the list.

Q. When does zero trans fat not mean zero trans fat?

A. When it has 0.2 grams of trans fat or less per serving. This is curious because Health Canada has also stated that there is no safe level of trans fats. A level of 0.2 may seem insignificant, but trans fats are contained in foods that people tend to gorge on. Foods like potato chips or cookies. So if you eat five servings, you will get one gram of trans fats and still think you aren’t getting any. Steele recommends less than two grams of trans fats per day.

© The Windsor Star 2008

What do Clothes Weigh? The Truth is, not as much as you think!

Did you ever go to your doctor’s office and have to weigh yourself in the hallway?  Or even inside the room, but you still have your clothes on? And inside your head, you are thinking, “But what do my clothes weigh?  How accurate is this weight?  I’ll bet I can deduct a LOT for all these clothes!”  In fact, I have been asked about clothes weight by some of my weight loss clients.

I was curious, so I started weighing clothes to see if it really made a big difference.

My jeans weighed 1.3 pounds.  (I would have thought way more!)  My husband’s worn jeans weighed 2 pounds, newer, 2.5.

His dress shoes, casual shoes and cross trainers each weighed 2 pounds. A pair of my high-heeled shoes and sandals weighed .8 lbs. I did not bother weighing my running shoes because they are very light and I would probably never weigh myself with them on.  (Of course, don’t we all take  our shoes off to weigh in?)

Blue jean jackets in the house ranged from 2.5 pounds to 3.4.

Cotton shorts and tee shirt together, ranged from 1 to 4 pounds.

Underwear did not even show up—sorry, no deductions there!

Dress suits ranged from 2 to 4 pounds. Dresses .5-1 pound.

Dockers and other casual men’s pants .8 pounds.  My dress pants, .8 and .9 lbs.

Sweatshirts, sweaters, and other hoodies ranged from .6 pounds to 3.8

I would have assumed all of these items weighed more than they did.  Of course, fabric differences and sizes would make a difference.  You may want to check your own clothes if you are really curious.  Or you could just weigh yourself in the privacy of your home, and not pay attention to any other scales!

What messages are teen-age girls receiving?

We tell them to be happy with how they are inside.  Then they buy magazines that picture models that don’t even look human.  We tell them to be good people, but all the television shows and ads promote make-up, hair products and clothes, “to make them happier.”

No wonder they are confused.

We need a happy medium.  We need a way to promote health, spirituality and ways to get outside themselves, and still let them have fun with make-up and clothes.

Perhaps each of us could work with the teen-age girls in our own lives.  One teen-age girl at a time.

Encourage helping others so that they don’t obsess about themselves all the time. Encourage helping people of all ages.  Help them to mentor younger girls so that they can pass on the messages they know would be wonderful to hear.

Encourage exercise as a fun activity and a time to be with friends.  Encourage them to get involved with the food choices in the home and the preparation, so they learn to make healthier choices and dishes.

Encourage reading beyond fashion and exercise magazines.  Look for alternative magazines that concentrate on health and strong bodies, and articles that encourage them to learn about politics and the world around them.

Encourage them to write their feelings in journals and get any insecurities out on paper rather than taking it out on themselves in  destructive ways.

Talk about the importance of choosing boys and young men who do not belittle them or verbally abuse them.  Teach them to demand respect from their dates and the people in their lives.

Teen-age girls are future mothers and leaders.  Let’s support them and help them on their way to be healthy and happy women!

No Sugar…sorry, less sugar

I will use Cindy’s exact words today.  I asked her for an update on the sugar and this is the letter I received:

After my ranting about people not taking me seriously – boo hoo – I realized that I do need to make additional changes.  I want to look at glycemic levels.  But, that being said, I will still eat fruit and the Trio bars for that sweet taste.  I guess “the people” are going to keep me honest.  Things I am still eating/drinking that are sweet – chocolate soy milk, diet coke, protein bars and the Teavana brown sugar crystals in my hot tea.  For some reason I am fine with no sweetener in the iced tea.  Although it is tasty when it is in there.  🙂  Teavana put it in my last iced tea.  Hee hee.  Oh, and the occasional Red Bull, but I found a new energy drink that I have to compare ingredient-wise.

OK – I need reasons to not drink Diet Coke.  Man, it is a monkey on my back.  Maybe your readers can help me with reasons.  Keep in mind that while health is important to me, vanity will always be a powerful influence.  These are the reasons that your daughters and I came up with:

1.) Turns teeth yellow – temporarily??
2.) Bone loss – I will lose height.  (which will KILL me)
3.) Weight gain – even if it is diet it will increase the taste for sweets.
4.) Artificial sweeteners are poison
5.) Caffeine crash
6.) Ruins thirst for water
7.) Bottle return (Michigan annoyance)
8.) Guilt

I think I need to post these at my house and office.

Maybe I should just always have iced tea available.  I can brew it at home by the half gallon.

But, seriously, for a gal who would buy the LARGE Cadbury fruit and nut chocolate bars I am doing pretty damn good.

Aaaccckkk! Lipitor for children?!

I have to rant. I am horrified to read about the recommendation by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The academy released its new guidelines today. They are recommending that some children as young as 8 be given cholesterol-fighting drugs to ward off future heart problems. They are also advising low-fat milk for 1-year-olds. (Pittsburgh Post Gazette, July 7th, 2008).

I can barely write because I am so disgusted. Why are we being advised to give our children drugs? Why are little babies supposed to have low-fat milk? They need the fat for brain development!!

Parents—TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR OVERWEIGHT CHILDREN! This is ridiculous! How are the kids getting fat in the first place? Are six, seven, and eight- year -olds driving themselves to the store to buy pop, cake and candy? Are ten-year-olds driving themselves through fast food places and ordering and paying for huge sodas and ridiculous food that has no nutritional value?

I am sorry, but I truly think, letting your child get fat, get no exercise, and eat poorly, is a form of child abuse. I know that sounds harsh, but my heart is breaking for children. And now, we are going to give drugs! Stop the kids from eating so much junk and help them get some exercise!

This isn’t rocket science. Eat properly and exercise more. No, it isn’t easy, but this problem is causing problems for everyone. Our medical costs, insurance costs, etc. are going to skyrocket if we don’t get this under control!

We have too many overweight children and overweight adults! We cannot keep treating this as if it is normal! People are eating too much! We don’t need to treat this with drugs! We need to stop pretending this is normal. It is not!

If one and two year olds weren’t already overdoing the fat in the rest of their diets, the kind of milk they drink would be a moot point. This is insane!

Why don’t people want to take better care of themselves—that may be a question for therapists. I am more concerned about the lack of concern for children. They are our future. Do we want them fat, sick, out of breath from walking up stairs, and unable to live happy lives because of it? I don’t think so. But something has to change.

Great Comments! Sugar is a Biggie!

I have had some great comments on the sugar stories. Thanks so much to all of you who wrote! (I am glad you enjoyed the dessert story! 🙂 )

My sister, Cindy, as you know, is who I blog about now, since I failed at the “completely no sugar” test! She has found some wonderful snack bars. They are chocolate Protein Snack Bars, and I think she said she got them from Amway. Satisfying, with only 2 grams of sugar, and not high calorie. 14 grams of protein. I would like to see more fiber in there, but, hey, if it satisfies without disastrous consequences, I say–have them and enjoy! Actually, Cindy made me a little nervous when she said that no one, and she repeated, no one, better try to get them away from her! Yikes! I guess they are satisfying an urge.

A reader wrote about the difficulty in getting fresh foods when she was in the United States. (She was referring to grocery stores.) This makes me think about the push to buy local. She was commenting on how some of our “fresh” food comes from really far away. When you get used to eating healthy stuff, you notice a difference. Try to buy local and hit those farmer’s markets!

Also, this is a great time of year to buy all kinds of fruit and try new things! Now that’s the good kind of sugar!