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Some important tips on food label claims

Food packages have two types of consumer information required by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Nutrition Facts section defines a serving size and describes the weights of fat, carbohydrate and proteins in a serving. This represents the daily Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for a 2000-Calorie diet. This can often seem a bit confusing to the non mathematician. The second type of consumer information is the List of Ingredients which contains the basic components of the product in order of decreasing weight. Since the basic components must be listed, products containing ingredients consisting of several components must list the components in parentheses. For example "xanthan gum" (a natural thickener). Manufacturers sometimes add notes about an ingredient, e.g., "BHT (a preservative)" in an attempt to explain what it is you are consuming. (by the way, BHT is found in many foods and is a preservative that keeps the food on the shelf for long periods of time. BHT s fat-soluable and the Webster definition of that is "Fat-soluble compounds are often insoluble in water" Our bodies are mostly water... how would this product break down inside our system?" Read more

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Why is Organic so important?

Why is buying organic food such a big deal? All I think of is EXPENSIVE every time I see that word "organic".  You never hear of someone dying from not buying organic food, maybe it is just some kind of racket.. would someone please explain?! According to the Consumers Union, "Organic products are worth buying to avoid chemicals found in the conventionally produced versions: Fruits and vegetables, such as apples, bell peppers, celery, cherries, spinach, and strawberries. The USDA's own lab testing reveals that even after washing, some fruits and vegetables consistently carry much higher levels of pesticide residue than others. Meats, poultry, eggs, and dairy products are also worth seeking out." So, basically they are telling us that even if we wash our vegetables there is still a residue of pesticides on them? Sounds disturbing, but I have never taken a bite of a strawberry and actually tasted a pesticide. How do I know it is there and how much do I need to consume for it to harm me and my family? Read more

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Is your breakfast cereal killing you softly?

I decided to take the top selling cereal and do a little research to find out how much your breakfast effects you. We can all agree that "you are what you eat". So, if that is the case than the food that we consume first thing in the morning creates our emotions and thought process for the rest of the day along with cell generation that produces a healthy body and abundant energy, or lack thereof. Personally, I have never been a fan of wet soggy floating items in a bowl, but millions upon millions of consumers love these cereals and often feel that this is all they have time for as they run out the door to work or school. Convenience has grabbed the human race by the throat and I am here to see if it is grabbing more than just that. Read more