Correct Food Label Reading | Ep133

Correct Food Label Reading | Ep133

*****
Summary of Transcript:
The dr gundry podcast discusses the deception of nutrition facts labels and how manufacturers manipulate them to reduce the appearance of sugar in their products. The podcast explains that the FDA mandates nutrition labels, but deals are made with corporations to hide the amount of sugar in a product. Carbohydrates, which are simplistically sugar, are not listed as sugar on the label. Instead, only actual grams of sugar are listed, which can be very low even if the product is mostly sugar. The podcast recommends subtracting fiber from carbohydrates to get the amount of sugar in a product, which can be further converted into teaspoons of sugar for easier understanding. The podcast also discusses the pressure placed on the government by big agriculture and food corporations and how their recommendations are sometimes left out of dietary guidelines.

*****
Summary of Description:
In the podcast episode, the host explains the truth about the nutrition labels on packaged food products, and how corporations play a significant role in what is displayed on the label. The host also demonstrates how to read the label to become an informed consumer, as well as explaining some of the vague ingredients listed. Overall, the episode aims to provide insight into how consumers can make informed choices about the food they purchase.


*****
Decoding Nutrition Labels: What You Need to Know

The nutrition label can be one of the most powerful tools for making informed food choices. However, companies have a vested interest in ensuring that their products sell. This can lead them to manipulate the information presented on the label. In this episode, we’ll discuss what’s on the label and how corporations affect what we see on the package. We’ll also take a closer look at some of the more dubious ingredients and explain what they really mean.

The Importance of Understanding Nutrition Labels

Nutrition labels are an excellent starting point for choosing healthy foods since they provide the most basic information for evaluating the nutritional value of a food product. The label tells you how many calories, how much fat, sugar, protein, fiber, and other nutrients are in a serving of the product. Understanding what these numbers mean can help you make better food choices for yourself and your family.

But there’s often more to a product than just the numbers provided on the label. Companies can use misleading marketing tactics to influence consumer choices, and it’s important to know what to look for to avoid buying a product that is not as healthy as you thought.

The Role of Corporations

Corporations have a significant influence on the information presented on the packaging of their products. They can manipulate the numbers shown on the scale by using marketing gimmicks, such as reducing the serving sizes or creating new names for sugar. For example, high fructose corn syrup can be disguised under names such as corn sugar or glucose-fructose syrup.

Natural Flavors and Other Mysterious Ingredients

“Natural Flavors” is arguably one of the most misleading expressions in the food industry. While these flavors may derive from natural sources, it is not mandatory to list their precise makeup on the label. They can be a combination of many chemicals, including artificial ones. Similarly, soy lecithin is a common ingredient found on many labels but is typically just a tiny amount of the product. It is used as an emulsifier, which means it prevents ingredients from separating. However, soybean is a known allergen, and some people may wish to avoid it, so it’s important to be familiar with this ingredient.

Tips for Understanding Nutrition Labels

Here are some useful tips to help you read between the lines on food labels:

1. Look for simple ingredients. If the product has a long list of unrecognizable ingredients, it’s probably not the best choice.

2. Pay attention to the serving size. You may think you’re only eating 50 calories, but it turns out to be double when you read that you’ve consumed two servings.

3. Watch for added sugars. Sugar can be added under many names, so look out for names like high fructose corn syrup, cane sugar, and even honey.

4. Avoid trans fat. Trans fats are listed on the label as partially hydrogenated oil. They have been linked to heart disease, so it’s best to steer clear of them.

5. Don’t be swayed by health claims. Many companies make claims such as “all-natural,” “low-fat,” or “organic,” but these terms can be misleading. Be sure to look beyond the marketing jargon and read the label carefully.

Conclusion

To become more conscious of what we eat, we must be aware of our food choices and what goes into making them. Understanding the label is a critical step towards making informed decisions about what we eat. Keep these tips in mind the next time you find yourself browsing the aisles of the supermarket. You deserve to know what you are putting into your body, and we hope that this article helps you to do just that.

*****

See Original Source

Source Description
On this episode, I reveal the TRUTH about what’s on the label and explain how corporations play a BIG role in what you see on the package. I also show you how YOU can read these labels to become a more informed consumer and explain some of the more mysterious ingredients on your labels, like ‘natural flavors’ and ‘soy lecithin’.

Full transcript and show notes: https://drgundry.com/labels-lecture

#Nutritionfacts #DrGundry #Nutritionlable #lecture

2 Comments

No comments yet. Why don’t you start the discussion?

Comments are closed