As nutrition awareness grows, so too does the sophistication of unorthodox manufacturing practices. Manufacturers are up leveling strategies to include catchy and colorful marketing gimmicks across the board. Even savvy consumers can be caught up in convincing and persuasive packaging language.
Oils
Highly processed and refined oils are one of the major ways manufacturers increase profits. Vegetable, canola, corn, cottonseed, rapeseed (another term for a type of canola oil), palm and palm kernel, peanut, safflower, soybean and all partially hydrogenated or hydrogenated oils are highly processed, refined and inflammatory. Even expeller pressed and high oleic versions of these oils are less healthy options. Grapeseed oil reacts with oxygen at high cooking temperatures, forming harmful free radicals in the body.
I’ve found items with marketing labels (the front of packages) claiming to be “Made with Olive Oil” showing canola and/safflower oil as the first ingredient, and olive oil near the bottom. If a product contains any olive oil, even in tiny amounts, manufacturers can claim “Made with Olive Oil” in the marketing area (front) of the product.
Look for healthy oils like avocado, coconut, olive and red palm oil (different than palm and palm kernel) oil or grass fed Ghee. While flaxseed oil is a healthy option, it should not be used for cooking due to its low smoke point. Also, since it turns rancid so quickly, it is better to make your own flaxseed oil.
Healthy saturated fats lose their benefit when eaten in combination with high sugar and/or high carbohydrate diets.
Grains
Refined grains are ground to strip bran, nutrients and fiber to extend their store shelf life. Labels like “cracked wheat”, “wheat flour”, “whole wheat” and “unbleached flour” are deceptive since these are refined grains. Other products labeled “Made with Whole Grains” may contain some whole grains though they are often mixed with refined cracked wheat, wheat flour and/or unbleached flour, all simple carbohydrates that spike blood sugar levels. Other whole grain products are cut with cornstarch, tapioca starch, rice flour and/or sorghum flour. “Enriched” grains like enriched wheat or enriched flour are refined, ground grains with vitamins and/or other nutrients added after processing.
Sprouted whole grains are the healthiest, most nutrient dense grains and are found in grocery store frozen sections. One example of a high quality sprouted whole grain is Ezekiel bread.
Sugar
Some manufacturers produce blood sugar spiking, gut flora destroying products and chemicals that are just as harmful as sugar. These include aspartame, corn syrup, dextrose, high fructose corn syrup, maltitol, NutraSweet, rice syrup, and sucralose (Splenda.) If you buy products sweetened with erythritol, they should contain organic erythritol, which is non-GMO.
Other food producers add brown sugar, light brown sugar, organic cane sugar, pure cane sugar, and sucrose, all of which are still sugar. Some manufacturers mix healthier options like coconut sugar, monk fruit and stevia extract (not stevia flavor) with refined sugar as a way of cutting costs.
Crossovers – Oils and Sugars
If we only read the marketing information on the front of food and beverage containers, we may easily be drawn to products labeled “Stevia Sweetened” which are made with stevia but may contain highly processed oils. Some Lily's Chocolates contain palm oil. Other products may contain healthy oils but high amounts of sugar.
The only way to know is to read the full ingredient list, including “Other Ingredients.”
Natural Flavors, Natural Flavoring and Naturally Essenced
Despite the name, there is nothing natural about “Natural Flavors”, “Natural Flavoring” or “Naturally Essenced” items. These are actually chemicals that destroy our gut flora and are unhealthy for our bodies and brains. As long as a product contains one natural ingredient, manufacturers can include artificial flavors, colors and chemicals and use the label “Natural Flavor(s)” or “Naturally Essenced.” A popular brand of sparkling water, LaCroix, uses “natural flavors” in their in their products.
Almost every brand of sparkling water has “natural flavors” except for Spindrift and Italian Sparkling Mineral Water.
Caramel Color
Most soft drinks, even those that are not cola flavored, contain caramel color, a known carcinogen. If you're buying Stevia sweetened ginger ale or other non cola soft drinks, read the label for caramel and other color additives.
Many manufacturers produce food and beverages that are geography specific. Some, like Wild Roots and Country Archer, make snacks without highly processed, inflammatory oils for the California, Pacific Northwest and New York markets but add those oils for the Midwest and Southern US markets. If you find a brand that makes healthy items, don’t assume all their products are clean – read labels within the same product line.
Yeast Extract
This additive contains glutamates, a form of amino acid, found in prepared foods, known as monosodium glutamate (MSG) Although yeast extract may not contain as many glutamates as MSG, it is not a nutrient serving our health.
In summary, read product labels including the “Other Ingredients” list to know what you’re buying.
If you find a brand that makes healthy items, some of their products may contain highly processed, refined, inflammatory oils or lots of sugar.
Healthy saturated fats lose their benefit when eaten in combination with high sugar and high carbohydrate diets.
NOTE: This post is in no way intended as medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider for issues of concern. This post is for informational purposes only.
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