Part 2 Reading Food Labels - Keys to Good Nutrition and Tips to Eating Healthy

DEVELOPING THE VALUABLE HABIT OF
READING FOOD LABELS

This is PART 2 of reading food labels and ingredients lists on food.

Part 1 focused on the bad, unhealthy food ingredients to look for and avoid, as well as some general guidelines regarding reading food labels and how food manufacturers often deceive the consumer in their labels. You can look back at Part 1 in my blog archives dated November 8th, 2007.

In case you missed the first posting, I will review some of the introductory comments before sharing what good whole food ingredients to look for when you're out shopping.

When it comes to keys to good nutrition and tips to eating healthy,what could be more important than always reading food labels before you buy something to eat?!

This is one of those valuable health habits that you should be practicing every day without even thinking about it.

Good nutrition and healthy eating begin with carefully reading the LIST OF INGREDIENTS on all the food items you're considering purchasing.

GOOD WHOLE FOOD INGREDIENTS TO LOOK FOR

1. Look for "ORGANIC" whole food ingredients. These are the healthiest foods to eat because they are grown without the use of chemical pesticides and herbicides. They are natural organic whole foods that your body can use for life and energy.

2. Look for "NON-GM" OR "NON-GE" (non-genetically modified or non-genetically engineered) food ingredients. These are natural whole foods that haven't been genetically engineered in some lab. Avoid GE and GM products like the plague! Today these GM food ingredients are in over 70% of the products in your local supermarket. If a label says, "corn," then it is most probably genetically modified corn, and it is not good for you. If a label says, "organic stone ground corn," then it is a natural whole food and is good for you. Probably the best way to avoid GM or GE foods is to buy organic labeled foods. In America, you've got to be very careful about the source and type of corn, soy, and wheat, because these are the three biggest GM or GE products out there, and they are making their way into most of the food products in your local supermarket.

3. Look for products made with "100% WHOLE WHEAT" which has the germ and the bran and all of the vitamins and minerals that come with a whole food grain. Don't be fooled by the similar looking terms, "whole wheat" or "enriched wheat."

4. Pay attention to the oils that are put in your food. Look for good oils such as extra virgin olive oil, raw coconut oil, flaxseed oil, high oleic expeller-pressed safflower oil and sunflower oil, sesame oil, and avocado oil. These are the best natural and healthy oils out there.

5. Look for healthy sweeteners such as raw, unfiltered, unheated honey, raw agave nectar, maple syrup, and Stevia (a natural sweet herb/leaf).

6. Pay attention to the amount of salt in the product, as well as the kind of salt. The best salt is Himalayan crystal salt, followed by sea salt. Avoid all table salt.

7. Look for organic meats such as grass-fed beef, lamb and poultry. For seafood, look for freshly caught deep ocean fish that have fins and scales.

I encourage you to take these keys to good nutrition and apply these tips to eating healthy as you go out and shop for the healthiest, most life-giving food you can find. Practice this critical healthy habit of reading food labels to protect your health and to ensure that you're getting food that is truly healthy.