Don't Fall for Fake Health Food

Health food marketing is big business and just so happens to put me on a ranting soap box. We have been hit hard with "no fat, no sugar", gluten free and now unhealthy organics are making headway. Whatever current health food trend is happening, food companies are figuring out ways to sell, sell sell. Come on now, organic Ruffles, Doritos and Cheese Puffs? Really!?

Even worse, consumers believe them to be healthy and loading grocery carts full of unhealthy organic food items. Chips are chips, organic or not and probably one of the worst things to put in your body. Other food items try to squeak by stating they are minimally processed, but processed is processed. Store shelves are lined with convenient organic items and granted some may be fabulous, but most are not. The ingredients tell the real story for anything in a box, bag or wrapper. If you can't understand or pronounce what's on the ingredient label, you better believe it's a chemical sh*t storm.

Many fitness enthusiasts rely on protein and energy bars. Have you looked at those labels? You just as well picked up a Snickers Bar. Health bars are also available in organic versions now but does it make them any better? Probably pesticide wise, but nutrients remain the same. Rely on the ingredient label and look for understandable quality food. Less ingredients is more when it comes to packaged products.

We can't fall for fake health food marketing schemes anymore. Eating a bag of organic chips post workout isn't muscle recovery food. Reaching for that energy bar may not be the best choice, and forget the organic pasta. Real organic food is just that ... real in it's raw state. Sometimes organics can even look ugly with blemishes and it ripens quickly. We need to get back to and understand real and whole organic food is what will keep us healthy. We obtain optimal fitness, improved athletic performance, fat loss and muscle gain when we feed our body the good stuff. Just because the label says organic, fat free, gluten free or any "free" doesn't mean healthy. Be a wise shopper and eat what you understand. Keep it real and Stay Healthy!

Don't miss reading my newly released articles "What Your Poo Says About You" written by Dr. Alison Chen, ND and "Food Quality Counts More than Calories". The site is full or informative reads to help you with your fitness goals.