When You See or Hear the Term "All Natural" - What Does It Mean To You?

Become a Food Label Investigator

Are you one of those people who is trying to live their lives in a healthier manner, reading package ingredients to ensure you are ingesting or applying the healthiest products possible in and on your body? I can't help but notice the ever increasing sections in food stores today that are devoted to organic and natural products for their customers. I know because I look for them myself. There is a more heightened realization today that consuming fast foods or cooking condensed foods made available from large manufacturers that mass produce, mass distribute and mass market their products, is not good for us. So, you go in search for all natural things, don't you? But, at the same time, don't you have to know just what that means and what to look for when you're shopping?

Be warned: just because a product claims to be all natural, it is not necessarily the case. Even though there are regulations that companies must follow to put this term on their labels, they are not inclusive enough. There are loopholes. There is disagreement on what the term "all natural" really means and, of course, there are lobbyists working on behalf of their clients, continually seeking to water down the definition. Why? Because other ingredients are cheaper and that makes it more profitable for the companies they represent (if they can substitute a cheaper lower quality ingredient in place of a higher quality one). Now, if you give it some thought, you realize that, at some point along the food chain, everything is natural, because it all comes from the earth eventually. The problem arises when the natural ingredients are altered and processed. Some feel that if it is made from a natural raw ingredient, it should be considered natural, regardless of the chemical alteration. So, as you can see, the term can be misleading.

So, what do you do? If you really want products that are all natural, you will have to take it upon yourself to do some investigation. You need to learn how to read the labels of the foods you find in your local grocery store. Don't just accept the term "all natural" when you see it on a label. You'll want to dig a little further. Your computer can be a very useful tool in this regard. Bring a pen and paper with you the next time you go shopping and write down some of the ingredients whose names you don't understand. When you get home, go to your computer and do a search for those terms to see if they are really something you want to put in your body. Find out exactly what they are and what they do.

Once you make a decision on some of the foods you want to buy and you like their taste, stick with them. Also, find a grocer who carries the items you want. This may require you visiting a number of different stores, but rememeber to check out online grocers, especially organic food delivery services. The internet is a great resource. You can find healthy choices from all over the country and all over the world, in fact. And, you can have them delivered right to your door. You may find this will not only keep you healthier, but save you time as well, not to mention the money you'll save on gas and maintenance of your vehicle. This is the only way you can truly find the most natural items and making sure you're getting the very best products for you.

And, don't forget supplements! Again, investigate individual ingredients as well as the amounts and types of each and make sure you get a full spectrum of vitamins and minerals daily.

Good shopping and healthy eating!

FacebookTwitterDeliciousDiggStumbleuponYahoo My WebGoogle Bookmarks Blinklist

Your Comments

You must register before posting a comment.
Click to login

There are no comments to display