Check Food Labels to Lose Weight

It’s not difficult to look at the calorie content or the amount of fats, carbohydrates, and proteins on food labels. Look a little further. What is this food really made of? The farther the food is from its natural state, and the more synthetic ingredients it contains, the more harmful it is for you, and the more weight you will gain. Your body will take the toxins that you eat and store them in your fat cells.

When looking at food labels, the more synthetic ingredients the food contains the more you should avoid it. These are highly processed foods that are far from their natural state. In order to quickly lose weight you must pay close attention to food labels. Food manufacturers often use misleading marketing.

Look closely at the labels for the following:

High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS)

This is a man-made sweetener that is cheaper and sweeter than sugar. It is loaded with calories and, of course, the food manufacturers love it, because it is cheaper to produce than sugar and therefore increases their profits. The real problem is that HFCS shuts off the body’s natural appetite control switches, so that you eat beyond what your body would normally desire. It is found in various cereals, ketchup, soda, pasta sauce, cookies, and meal replacement bars. This is the No. 1 ingredient to look for on food labels. Try to avoid High Fructose Corn Syrup like the plague. Avoiding HFCS will greatly increase your chances of achieving rapid weight loss.

Sugar Substitutes

Saccharin(Sweet’N Low), aspartame (NutraSweet), sucralose (Splenda), sorbitol, maltodextrin, dextrose, and several other synthetic alternatives are responsible for fattening up the western world. These artificial sweeteners are so dangerous that, if they are added to a product, manufacturers must place a warning label on the package to alert consumers. These sugar substitutes are toxic and will accumulate in your fat cells, making them more difficult to get rid of. Not to mention they are toxic to your cells and are carcinogens. The natural alternative that we recommend is Stevia. It is a safe and natural alternative, with very low calories. You may also want to use honey or pure maple syrup, these sweeteners have a lot more calories than Stevia, but are much better to use than the synthetic sugar substitutes.

Trans Fats

Trans fats are fats that contain trans-fatty acids, and they are formed when certain types of oils are heated at high temperatures. They are cheaper and last longer than butter, which is why restaurants use them to increase their bottom line. These are difficult to digest. An example of trans fats are hydrogenated oils. When looking at food labels, even if it says no trans fats, be sure to check the label for hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils. Avoid these oils.

MSG (Monosodium Glutamate)

MSG is used as a flavoring in foods. MSG is sometimes difficult to find on package labels, because it may be disguised under different names, such as hydrolyzed vegetable protein, hydrolyzed protein, hydrolyzed plant extract, plant protein extract, sodium caseinate, yeast extract, texturized protein, autolyzed yeast, hydrolyzed oat flour, and calcium caseinate. One of the most addictive substances known to man, MSG is referred to as an excito-toxin, because it excites certain receptors in the brain and causes you to crave more and more.

Additives, Colorings, Flavorings, and Preservatives

Sulfites, nitrites, salicylates, propylene, and glycol are some of the main culprits. These are pure chemical compounds, whose effects over time cause serious damage to your digestive system. Since they are synthetic, your body has a difficult time trying to break them down. They tend to linger in your system and cause damage to organs, blocking the absorption of nutrients and making you fat.

 “Whole Grain”

This can often be a misleading term. When you see it, check the label more closely. If the first ingredient is enriched wheat flour, then it really isn’t whole grain. Make sure it says 100% whole grain on the package. Whole wheat should be one of the top ingredients on the package. There should also be at least 3 grams of fiber per slice.

Food labels list ingredients in order, beginning with the greatest amount down to the least amount. So if, for example, you are trying to lower your consumption of high fructose corn syrup, make sure that it is not among the first three ingredients on the label.