Debunking Common Food Misconceptions
In our quest for better nutrition, we often encounter products boasting "low sugar", "low carb", "keto-friendly" or "gluten free". While these labels might seem like a golden ticket to healthy eating, there's a few other things to watch out for to ensure the product will actually support your good health journey.
1. More Than 6 Ingredients? Proceed with Caution! When scanning labels, aim for products with less than 6 ingredients. Lengthy lists (like the example of a keto product below) often signal ultra-processed foods that may not align with your wellness goals. Food manufacturers have many tricks up their sleeve and often add inferior ingredients like factory made fibres to bring down the overall carb count.
2. Raw Vegan Treats: A Sweet Deception Raw desserts, often labeled as healthy alternatives are far from the healthy treat many think. These products commonly swap refined sugars for alternatives that can be just as harmful for your blood sugar levels eg. rice malt syrup, dates, honey. Choose your sweet treats wisely to avoid spiking your blood sugars and contributing to chronic disease.
3. Gluten-Free Goodies: The Sweet Truth Gluten-free definitely doesn't mean healthy. Many of these products compensate for taste with added sugars, inflammatory seed oils and starches (see example of gluten free cake mix ingredients below, sugar is the first ingredient along with many starches). Check the labels carefully to separate the gems from the sugar-laden inflammatory traps.
Remember, it's not about demonizing entire categories but making informed choices. With so many research studies and clinical trials confirming that a low carb real food lifestyle is the key to reversing chronic disease, the evidence can't be ignored. Empower yourself by checking ingredient lists, and don't be fooled by catchy marketing phrases.
Here's to making 2024 a year of informed and mindful choices on your journey to better health. And we're commited at Simply Swap Foods to bring you lots of informative information to assist on your wellness journey!