Personal Training and Nutrition Orange County

April 13, 2011 - PRLog -- What Food Labels Really Mean....
Posted By: Joanna Golub, Nutrition Editor, Runner's World Magazine

Pick up almost any packaged food in the supermarket and chances are it'll have the least a few labels on it, touting that the product is either "all-natural," "reduced fat," or "cholesterol free."

Today I'll explain the meaning behind these labels, and whether or not it guarantees the product is a healthy choice.

One label you commonly see on packaged foods is "all-natural." So what does that really mean?

Well according to the USDA, a product can be called "all-natural" if it is minimally processed and contains no artificial colors or ingredients. But it can still be high in fat, sodium, and salt. So, just because it's all-natural doesn't mean it's healthy.

Another label you'll often see is "reduced fat."

Many runners buy reduced fat products because they think it'll help them keep their calories in check. But in reality, it can be a bit of a wash.

That's because in order to make reduced fat products - like salad dressing and peanut butter - taste good, manufacturers have to add sugar to them, which can put the calories in reduced fat products practically on par with the regular, full-fat versions.

In most cases, you're better off just buying the full-fat version, and simply using less of it.

Another confusing term is "light."

This term can actually have multiple meanings. Sometimes it means the product is lower in fat, or lower in calories than a similar product. But it can also mean that the product is lighter in color - as in "light" olive oil. Light olive oil has just as much fat and calories as darker varieties.

Lastly, another term often confuses people is "cholesterol free."

A food can be labeled cholesterol free as long as it has fewer than two milligrams of cholesterol per serving. You'll often see this label on foods like bread and candy.

But unless the product contained either eggs or milk, it probably never had any cholesterol to start with. That's because cholesterol only comes from animal products. So, while technically this label is accurate it can be a bit misleading.

So next time you're grocery shopping, keep these terms in mind so you know what you're really buying. To learn more about Personal Training and Nutrition visit our website:  http://fitnesstogether.com/oc

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By Joanna Golub, Nutrition Editor, Runners World Magazine, www.runnersworld.com

About Fitness Together Holdings, Inc.:
Based in Highlands Ranch, Colo., Fitness Together Holdings, Inc., is the world’s largest wellness organization. The parent company oversees Fitness Together Franchise Corporation, a one-on-one personal training fitness franchisor established in 1996, and elements therapeutic massage www.touchofelements.com, a massage therapy franchisor that began franchising in 2006. Today, the combined franchise network includes more than 700 franchises across the United States, Costa Rica, Israel, Ireland, and Canada. For additional information, log onto www.fitnesstogether.com or call 877.663.0880 ext. 10.