"All Natural" ≠ All Natural

When you're shopping for groceries, you see numerous claims on packages.  One product may have a full serving of fruits and vegetables, another may be fat free, a third may be grown in the USA, and another might be "all natural."  Which one of these packages is lying to you? As you probably guessed by the post title, it is the package that says "all natural." 

Though I cannot say for certain that the product is not made from all natural ingredients, the term "all natural" is not regulated by the FDA. For example, some consider high-fructose corn syrup as all natural, because it comes from a plant. Whereas whole kernel corn is healthy, when you refine it and extract the sugars to make high-fructose corn syrup, you get a blatantly unnatural ingredient that contributes to higher rates of obesity and type-II diabetes.

Of course, it's all quite ridiculous. By some definition, anything derived from plants, animals or elements found on the planet could earn the "all natural" label. The key is in understanding that the process is unnatural, not the source. When you chemically or structurally alter food ingredients into a form that no longer appears anywhere in nature, it is no longer natural. So again, instead of believing the claims on the front of the box - check the list of ingredients. More posts on some sneaky ingredients are coming soon. 

Frozen IS Fresher

The freezer section of the grocery store can be a scary place for nutrition freaks (I know I'm intimidated by aisles and aisles of freezers towering over me).  However, you need not skip the freezer aisles while shopping to ensure a healthier lifestyle.  Quite the opposite actually.

Fresher ≠ Healthier

Frozen foods are not only cheaper, but sometimes healthier than fresh foods - especially when it comes to fruits and vegetables.  According to a 1998 study by the FDA, frozen fruits and vegetables have the same health benefits as fresh fruits and vegetables.  However, this doesn't give you the full picture.  Certain vegetables like spinach and green beans lose 75% of their vitamin C after being stored in the refrigerator for a week.  Ready-to-drink orange juice has less than half the vitamin C of frozen OJ and loses all of its vitamin C within a month of opening the container.  

Additionally, food producers pick produce for the produce aisle before it is ripe and let it ripen on the very long (perhaps over 1,000 mile) journey to your local supermarket.  On the other hand, produce meant to be frozen is picked at its peak ripeness - this means it has soaked up all the possible nutrients from the soil and sun.

Frozen Produce is Better for the Environment

Unlike "fresh" fruits and vegetables that have to be grown in hot houses and tropical climates and shipped to your local grocery store out of season, frozen produce can be picked at peak ripeness (and in the correct growing season) and then stored.  Since the freezing process allows fruits and vegetables to be stored almost indefinitely without losing their nutrients, frozen is the way to go.

Frozen Produce Tips

• Always keep a full freezer - cooling air requires more energy than cooling food, so save money on electricity by buying more frozen items
• Steam or microwave your frozen vegetables - they can lose up to 50% of their nutrients when boiled
• Buy frozen blueberries whenever you can find them, as they are far more nutritious than the fresh variety
• If you buy frozen dinners, spice them up with a frozen vegetable medley

0g Trans Fat? Guess Again.

Labels LIE!! Perhaps a theme that will continue to arise in my posts as I move forward.  Just because the nutrition information on a food package says '0g Trans Fat' does not mean that there is NO trans fat.

Counter intuitive? I think so.

The FDA allows for the claim of zero grams of trans fat as long as the product has less than 0.5 grams of trans fat per serving.  This means you are probably still eating trans fat.

How can I tell if my food has trans fat if the labels are lying to me? Surprisingly, it's pretty simple.  Just check the ingredients list - you know, the one in size 4 font under the nutritional information.  If you see the phrase 'partially hydrogenated,'  then the product contains trans fat.

Why is trans fat bad? First, trans fats are non-essential and provide no benefit to humans through consumption.  Second, trans fats actually raise bad cholesterol levels (LDL) while lowering good cholesterol levels (HDL), thus increasing risk of heart disease.  Other effects of trans fat include increased risk of Alzheimer's disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, liver dysfunction, infertility (in women), and depression.

Although I don't think it's necessary to stop buying products with partially hydrogenated ingredients, I do believe everyone should have the facts, and know that according to the FDA, one half gram equals zero grams.


Worried about your cholesterol levels? Check out:
10 Ways to Lower Your Cholestrol in just 5 Days
cholesterol: 51 Ways To Fight High Cholesterol
21 NATURAL WAYS TO LOWER CHOLESTEROL SO YOU LIVE LONGER