The big trend today is certain terms
which are in the title. There are a few more that you need to add
and they are:
“GMO” stands for
genetically-modified organisms. Generally, you will see this as
“Non-GMO.”
All-natural This is a term
used too frequently when all the contents or ingredients are not
natural.
Trans-fat-free This too is
misleading when there may be .5 percent trans-fat per serving.
Low-carb Be careful with this
term. I looked at a packaged food in the grocery store today with
this advertised on the front of the package. In looking at the food
label (which was in smaller than normal print) there were six
servings with 49 grams of carbohydrates per serving. There was no
fiber and 28 grams of sugar in the 49 grams.
“Health Halo.” Using all
the terms that lead you down the path to health problems.
Many people consume foods in excess
because the food manufacturer uses many of the above terms. I have
friends without diabetes that tell me I can eat more than I do. When
I ask how they know this, they say that the food in natural, or
organic, and therefore it is healthful. Yes, it may, and I say this
with caution, but just because it may be healthful does not mean that
it can be consumed with abandon. Organic food can be very
problematic and too often when not properly processed can be
contaminated with pathogens such as E. coli and Campylobacter.
Yet, I see and hear of more people
doing just that – overeating because something is healthful. I
don't have to worry about gluten, but I do worry about foods
containing GMOs. I admit I do not believe the USDA and Big
Agriculture that GMOs are safe. Few tests have been done, and the
few that have been tested, have returned mixed results.
Being a person with diabetes, my wife
used to become exasperated with me reading labels. Then one day, I
showed her an article about certain fish being packed in China and
have certain bacteria that made people sick and now she reads food
labels and ingredients as carefully as I do and sometimes more
carefully.
Also as a person with diabetes, many of
these terms mean that I have to be extra cautious. Why? Because
many of the foods are loaded with extra sugar and carbohydrates. The
food manufacturers have climbed on the gluten-free bandwagon and in
doing so, have added extra sugars in various forms to make the
gluten-free foods tastier. As much as I dislike saying this,
gluten-free foods can cause more weight gain that some of our regular
foods.
Have you heard this - “Everything in
moderation?” This applies to many of the food traps companies are
using with the above terms. Studies are proving that people are
ignoring this good advice and overeating many of the foods using the
above terms. If you do not believe this, use your meter with test
strips to test your blood glucose before the meal and about 1 to 2
hours after the meal. If your blood glucose level increases by over
40 points, then you have generally consumed more than you should have
of carbohydrates and sugars.
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