It’s that time of year again. We have talked about this so many times I fear you are plugging your ears. However, it bears repeating and you know I’ve told you that we need to hear something seven to 11 times in order for it to penetrate our brain, so here goes:
We’ve covered "resolutions" so we won’t go there. Next are diet and lifestyle changes that include eating better and making better choices. I am going to start with the words that manufacturers of processed food use to convince you to purchase their products, like “all natural," “sugar free," "zero trans-fat," “fat free," “gluten free," and the "serving size" game.
In the wrong hands, these terms can be manipulated by modern-day snake oil salesmen. The food industry routinely uses 2,000 different food additives in this processed food. The average American eats nearly 150 pounds of these chemicals and additives each year, broken down as follows: 130 pounds of sugar; 10-15 pounds of salt; and 5-10 pounds of synthetic vitamins, flavors, preservatives and colored dyes
The all natural label can be on a product as long as it doesn’t contain added colors, artificial flavors or synthetic ingredients. It seems like a good start but watch out because it can contain things like sodium and high fructose corn syrup – another name for sugar.
“Sugar free” is also a biggie. Sugar free does not mean calorie free or low calorie. Sugar free products may contain just as many or more calories then the original version, and may be loaded with fat as well. Obesity epidemic, anyone?
Next are “zero trans-fat” and “fat free.” When does zero not mean zero? Processed products are allowed to contain up to 0.5 grams of trans-fats per serving, and also when products like polyunsaturated fats are heated trans-fats are created.
The new catch-word in dieting is “gluten free” and it is popping up on all sorts of packaging even when it never contained gluten in the first place. The labeling is being used to promote the latest way to lose weight. For someone with a gluten problem to begin with, eating gluten free is not likely to make their thighs any less thunderous.
Last but not least is the “serving size” game. To make a product appear low in fat or calories, food companies often list nutrition information based on a serving size that wouldn’t even fill up a mouse. On cereal boxes for example, the serving size listed on many cereal boxes is between ½ cup and ¾ cup. Measure it out and then do the math.
That’s it in a nutshell. I hate to seem like a spoil sport. You are in charge of your own choices and it is up to you to take charge of what goes in your mouth. Remember, you are what you eat!
You can email Gazette fitness columnist Mary E. Neil at firstname.lastname@example.org