Food Label Flaw

In this entry I wrote about the new food labels. I wrote, "After all the FDA is changing the already confusing Food Labels and it can go either way. A 20 oz. of soda becomes a serving just to show you the calories in an entire bottle? My guess is someone who drank a six-pack will continue to consume a six-pack!


All they did is cut out the Servings per container, because most people can't do the math, apparently according to their actions. I do like the Vitamin D label because I live in a cold northern state that lacks sunshine in the winter."


At this time the main flaw is that there isn't an established intake for sugar. Since it is established that the major cause for obesity is sugar, there is no dietary reference intake (DRI) for sugar. How much is too much?


We should also note that most obese people really don't even look at food labels. Maybe that is another flaw!

Health Journal 5

Obesity is now the No. 1 cause of death in the US. Although we are seeing a slight decline among preschoolers, obesity may still reach epidemic proportions. Obesity, much like smoking, leads to other health problems which can range from diabetes to cancer.

I find it shocking that there are those who are shocked that heart-attack and stroke victims don't change their habits. I've seen many that continue to smoke while hooked up to oxygen. It has also been found that sugar may be a major factor for heart disease and strokes.

The debate over which is the healthier water, bottled or tap, continues. The result is that health wise they are equal. Bottled water uses plastic bottles and costs money. Tap water can taste better with a filter, but is otherwise practically free. Speaking of beverages, get to know your best bets.

My time at the gym is well spent these days. Of course, I may have to change a few routines since they are a complete waste of time. While I'm at it, I'm also going to start working on the exercise myths I have adhered to all this time.

Sleep is key to a healthy lifestyle. We should get at least 7 hours a night to be in optimal health. Here are sleep tips for seniors that can benefit us all. Sleep health is an important factor to leading a healthy lifestyle. Find more about sleep, sleep remedies and problems here, here, here, and here. See if you're getting enough quality sleep by taking this quiz.

Nutrition labels should be to help the consumer, but are still a confusion of loopholes that benefit the manufacturer. I will continue to give the heads-up any time I receive new information such as this on the deceptive labels.

The Bad Health Addiction

Our biggest addiction that is detrimental to our health is sugar. Refined sugars are the worst and are more addicting than cocaine. Refined sugar along with High Fructose Corn Syrup are leading to obesity, diabetes, and so many other health issues to be discussed in future entries.

Sugar is energy and the right sugars can give sustained and stable energy. The refined sugars spike then drop energy in an unhealthy way. Too much of any sugar can still be unhealthy because they can still have an impact on dental health and sleep.

If only you knew how much sugar you really consumed you might want to really cut down. Good sugar substitutes are maple syrup, stevia, honey, monk fruit, and agave. I'm sure there are others that I may have left out, but when it comes to sweet, much like sour, a happy medium must be established.

Nutrition Labels Don't Benefit Consumers

In case you haven't seen it yet, nutrition labels aren't actually in the consumer's favor. Manufacturers have found a way to use loopholes to hide their product's hidden "nutrients" that we don't want or need. You have to be a food lawyer to interpret what this label is really saying. I talked about this already.

The sad thing is that the nutrition label is suppose to help us achieve our nutritional goals. But it is very deceiving and has nothing to do with nutrition facts. And although many try, they miss that with a label you include ingredients, too.

I think we are misinterpreting the Sugars and giving them a bad rap. I also believe that a diet of 2000 calories as a model to our nutritional value is deceiving and flawed. When I wrote this I wanted to point out how deceptive labels are and how to cut to the chase.

Sugar isn't exactly a bad thing. Sure it adds to calories, but energy burns them and one can't deny that sugar is energy. Energy can be like a cheetah, quick bursts then drop. You see a cheetah may be the fastest animal on earth, but it can only achieve this for a short period of time. That is how bad sugar works. It peaks and drops quickly. In other words, your energy is short lived.


There are good sugars and bad sugars that supply the good and the bad energy. You want the sugars that run a marathon, meaning pure energy that burns itself out and burns calories. You also must know how to use them to your advantage. You should know your sugar daily requirement and more sugar facts.

Note a healthy sugar: Maple syrup. Don't forget honey. There is also stevia and monk fruit. Stevia may contain alcohol so look for the non-alcoholic variety. I tend to use maple syrup to sweeten certain food. I use about 1/10th of a serving because a little goes a long way.

Vegetables can be eaten in unlimited servings and weight gain is minimal. Legumes are filling and nutritious. Seeds are powerful and promote many aspects of a healthy lifestyle(energy, weight loss, sleep). Fruits are yet the other powerful group, most loaded with sugars that promote weight loss and energy. Calories of these foods usually burn themselves out. The nutrition you get from these foods actually feeds your body both on the outside and inside.

The foods at a farmer's market or produce aisle don't require a nutrition label, ever wonder why? Because you see the ingredient and most would make manufacturers rewrite the label. If the sugar content is high, it isn't a refined sugar. Although some fruits may cause havoc with your teeth, remember to brush afterwards.

Keep in mind that nutrition labels are just a guideline to nutrition. The only things that servings would be of importance is when it comes to fats and sodium, and I'll also include refined sugars. The ingredients are listed in descending order of predominance. So if the second or third ingredient is a sugar, especially a refined sugar, the servings should be enforced because too much can cause weight gain.

More about nutrition labels and how to get the most out of them will be discussed in the future, since data may be changing.