“Healthy” food labels decoded
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The “low-fat” fad taught us that less fat doesn’t necessarily mean fewer calories. Read on to translate some of today’s claims.
GLUTEN-FREE: For the 1 percent of the population with celiac disease, and those with gluten intolerance, gluten-free foods are important to avoid digestive distress. For the rest of us, not so much. (Gluten is the major protein found in some grains.)
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ORGANIC: This term refers to how a food is grown, but it doesn’t ensure improved nutritional quality.
NATURAL: There’s no legal definition of what is natural. To give perspective, sugar and lard are as natural as you can get.
BEFORE YOU GO TO THE STORE
Visit kp.org/nutrition and click “Smart shopping” for tips on making healthy choices at the supermarket.