What you see in your markets and health food stores these days could be aiming you in the right direction towards your health goals – hypothetically. Those buzzwords that have you reaching onto shelves and into your wallet aiming towards a healthier lifestyle and slimmer waistline may be causing more of a set back than you realize. Labels that read, ‘All Natural’, ‘High Fiber’, ‘High Protein’ ‘Loaded with Antioxidants’ and more, while they might be advertising truthfully on those points, the sugar and fat content among other poorly processed ingredients are not clearly labeled on the front of the package. In these cases, the bad can easily outweigh the good if you don’t know what you’re looking for. Or how about the newest scam I’ve seen in a long time, ‘Unjunked’ candy bars.
In their defense, at least they market it as candy which is more than most ‘nutritional’ bar companies can say for themselves. Let’s face it – All natural junk food is still junk food. Junk or not – too much of a good thing is still too much. Consume these three healthy foods in moderation to avoid putting on some extra weight.
Nuts
Mixed nuts are a healthy snack option – but they are loaded with fat and carbohydrates. It is always a good idea to measure out your portion when snacking on nuts.
Granola
Granola and granola bars were created for people out in the wilderness walking or hiking 30 miles a day. It is loaded with fat, sugar and carbs to give the consumer plenty of sustainable energy – but consume in moderation if you’re not planning on burning just as many calories as you consume.
Tropical Fruit
Organic fruit is another really important staple in a healthy diet, however the more tropical the fruit the more sugar it has in it. Try to save the banana’s and such for your post-workout recovery shake and stick to berries the rest of the time.
Advice for Food Shopping…
Question everything and be aware of the buzzwords that have you pulling something off of the shelf.
1. You find a bar that says “High in Fiber” but you look on the back and sugar is in the first three ingredients – confused yet?
2. Just because it says, “All Natural” or “High Protein” doesn’t mean that it’s a shimmering example of a healthy meal alternative.
3. When in doubt – If it has a label with marketing on it – you need to do some research on the actual ingredients and their amounts.
4. Check the nutrition label for the facts and educate yourself on important nutrient information for your body and lifestyle.
5. Know your macro and micro nutrients and begin to decipher how they rank in importance for you personally. Everyone is different so I always say, “Don’t concern yourself with what healthy means to other people. What may work for another person could be harmful to you.”
6. Plain and simple, don’t take nutrition advice from your overweight friends.
7. Buy items labeled with Non-GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are plants or animals whose DNA has been altered. GMO products have generally only undergone short-term testing to determine their effects on humans and the environment.) and USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) Certified Organic.
For more information visit the USDA website to learn more about how organic foods are regulated.
Remember, knowledge is power. With the rising undertone of food manufacturers and grocery stores pushing ‘health’ items onto their consumers, you paying more money for products that are just as damaging as those openly made with preservatives, genetically altered ingredients and more. When in doubt, stick with any of the SunWarrior protein powders, superfoods and supplements. They are whole, absorbable and useable by your body and most importantly trustworthy.
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