Something I’ve been thinking lately is that foods with NO ingredient list, like an apple or a steak or an almond, are always healthy. Anything a factory had to manufacture a label for is suspect!
Which is one reason why, Tim, when I recently closed my account with Planet Fitness and moved over to the Y I was very happy because there is a donut shop three doors down from Planet Fitness. Too damned much temptation!
Some of the tricks Big Food uses lead people astray in the grocery aisles. One of these is tagging a product as containing "All natural ingredients". This phrase is meaningless, but sounds good. Granite is natural, but in your corn flakes? Maybe not so much. Another way to dress up the poison is "Organic". I've passed on several products that seemed to be healthy until I got to the ingredient list to find "Organic sunflower oil". All that really means is that your dose of industrially-produced poison won't be contaminated with any nasty pesticides or herbicides. (Well maybe, trust us, fingers crossed, would we lie to you, our precious customer?)
Well said Julia. Most people just want to keep their heads in the sand when it comes to food and nutrition because they are just too lazy to do better. But they use the excuse of too busy to take the time. And it really doesn't take much time. Heaven forbid they have to give up there favourite food or drink in the name of health and longevity. And don't even get me started on big business and food marketing!!
So true Danni. But hey....we're too busy to take the time to learn now, but we sure have time to deal with heart disease and diabetes and and and and and and later, right? Funny how that works.
Great article, we need to be talking about this and spread the truth about the crap we're being sold. Governments tell us health care is in crisis. It's because people eat crap. The government know this, but don't do a thing to help. The only one who is going to help, is ourselves.
Oh, sorry, beer is an essential health food. Not giving that up, just avoiding the big brands. 🙂
Outstanding! I've been listening to a podcast with Dr Gabrielle Lyon. She speaks about how different regulatory agencies cover natural food vs processed junk. This directly affects what they are allowed to say in advertising and how much funding they have. Look at milk as an example. It's ad slogan is "does a body good." The ads are funded by dairy farmers and they are not allowed to compare to or mention other products. Processed junk is under different regs, which allow them to claim all kinds of 'better than' or 'all natural' descriptions and are funded by billion dollar mega corporations.
Where I live the supermarket chain has commandeered the words “Nature’s Promise” for their own branded products. Apart from abject disingenuousness, I’m thinking that promise is a threat.
You'd be wise to assume just that, John. I sure have. I bought some nut butters which were the store brand and when I really read the label, I tossed all of them. No trust.
Good work on this one
Something I’ve been thinking lately is that foods with NO ingredient list, like an apple or a steak or an almond, are always healthy. Anything a factory had to manufacture a label for is suspect!
That's a pretty good guideline!
Within reason lol. I like my treats as much as the next guy
Which is one reason why, Tim, when I recently closed my account with Planet Fitness and moved over to the Y I was very happy because there is a donut shop three doors down from Planet Fitness. Too damned much temptation!
Some of the tricks Big Food uses lead people astray in the grocery aisles. One of these is tagging a product as containing "All natural ingredients". This phrase is meaningless, but sounds good. Granite is natural, but in your corn flakes? Maybe not so much. Another way to dress up the poison is "Organic". I've passed on several products that seemed to be healthy until I got to the ingredient list to find "Organic sunflower oil". All that really means is that your dose of industrially-produced poison won't be contaminated with any nasty pesticides or herbicides. (Well maybe, trust us, fingers crossed, would we lie to you, our precious customer?)
I knew you'd chime in! Thanks Jim as always.
Well said Julia. Most people just want to keep their heads in the sand when it comes to food and nutrition because they are just too lazy to do better. But they use the excuse of too busy to take the time. And it really doesn't take much time. Heaven forbid they have to give up there favourite food or drink in the name of health and longevity. And don't even get me started on big business and food marketing!!
So true Danni. But hey....we're too busy to take the time to learn now, but we sure have time to deal with heart disease and diabetes and and and and and and later, right? Funny how that works.
Yes. It is funny until it is not and you find yourself in a health crisis situation.
Great article, we need to be talking about this and spread the truth about the crap we're being sold. Governments tell us health care is in crisis. It's because people eat crap. The government know this, but don't do a thing to help. The only one who is going to help, is ourselves.
Oh, sorry, beer is an essential health food. Not giving that up, just avoiding the big brands. 🙂
You bet Simon, and thanks....always read the label!
Okay, I'm gonna do better.
That is precisely what I say every time I get sucked into a bakery. Sometimes I win, sometimes I don't....
Outstanding! I've been listening to a podcast with Dr Gabrielle Lyon. She speaks about how different regulatory agencies cover natural food vs processed junk. This directly affects what they are allowed to say in advertising and how much funding they have. Look at milk as an example. It's ad slogan is "does a body good." The ads are funded by dairy farmers and they are not allowed to compare to or mention other products. Processed junk is under different regs, which allow them to claim all kinds of 'better than' or 'all natural' descriptions and are funded by billion dollar mega corporations.
Big food is parasitical. We really do have to fight back, Erik.
Where I live the supermarket chain has commandeered the words “Nature’s Promise” for their own branded products. Apart from abject disingenuousness, I’m thinking that promise is a threat.
You'd be wise to assume just that, John. I sure have. I bought some nut butters which were the store brand and when I really read the label, I tossed all of them. No trust.
Right there with you sister! Thanks for the thorough article.
Many thanks. I love scraping the Internet for material for people. It can be so damned overwhelming to pick and choose whom to believe!