Lower-Tox Living: READ LABELS

Due to the complexity of all of my medical diagnoses, I’ve had to meet with a nutritionist and dietician on more than one occassion. When I could not get control of my heart failure, I felt I was on every “diet” out there – mediterranean, low saturated fat, low sodium, low cholesterol, and minimized liquids, which meant I became quite educated at reading food labels. Then I was diagnosed with cancer and needed a bone marrow transplant, which required a whole new set of foods to think about. By that time, my heart failure was a bit more managed, but my gut had been through the wringer. So much so that I needed a colonoscopy and endoscopy to see what was going on. The results? The chemo was so effective, that it basically destroyed my insides, but time would heal. 

After my BMT, in order to limit toxins and decrease every risk of infection I could, I read EVERY food label to ensure my body was getting the best of everything so it could heal. Chemo didn’t just destroy my insides, but caused me to lose all my hair, several layers of skin over my whole body (including the bottoms of my feet, I’m telling you, everywhere), severe mouth sores, nerves (had severe neuropathy), energy levels, feminine organs, you name it. My chemo killed it. Not to mention, the cancer itself (all praise to God for that)!

But like I said, my body was left in shambles. After meeting with a nutritionist, I realized I had to do my best to jumpstart my body again, which meant eating the best I could. When I started to looking at food labels from an ingredients standpoint, I was appalled at what I was reading and COULDN’T read. On some items, I couldn’t even pronounce what it was, so why was I letting that in my body? So what’s the big deal? Why does it matter what the food labels tell us? Well, our bodies deserve the best if we want them to function the best they can.

Reading food labels:

1. Manages health conditions – this was my number one reason! By being able to see carbs, sodium, fats, calories, fiber, vitamins and minerals, and most of all, ingredients, I could see what was giving me the best bang for my buck.
2. Tells you what you’re eating. When you look at an ingredients list, are you able to define what each ingredient is, much less pronounce it? If you can’t, it may not be the best thing to put in your body.
3. Defines what’s on the front of the box. If there are claims on the front of a packaged item that something is low-fat or no sugar, check to see what ingredients they are using in its place. Anytime you see “-ose” at the end, it typically means an artificial sweetener is being used and they aren’t as “sweet” as you think they may be, adding chemicals to your food.

So how do you read a label? Here are a few things to consider:

1. Order. Pay attention to the order of ingredients. The first few items are what make up most of the food item, as it is calculated by weight. If the first few ingredients aren’t food, it’s probably not food.
2. Length. If the list is long, it’s most likely processed and not real food.
3. Readability. If you can’t read several of the ingredients, they probably aren’t real ingredients.
4. If it doesn’t sound like something you should eat, you probably shouldn’t. Most can read the words red-40, but it doesn’t mean it should be consumed. A quick search will stop you right in your tracks!
5. Better is best. You will never find perfect! Whole foods (unprocessed foods) are always the better choice, but even organic foods still can have toxins saturated in them. I feel the best mentality you can have is anything “better,” is just better, and sometimes better is the best.

Put simply: if it’s not food, it’s not food. If God didn’t make it, it isn’t food. Food is fuel. Food is meant to support our bodies and give us energy. If the foods we choose to eat have labels filled with non-food items, it’s hard for our bodies to make up what is missing, let alone fight whatever was just digested, that isn’t meant to be digested.

I say all of this, not being perfect, in ANY way. I say this as someone who still likes 100 Grand candy bars. Ice cream. Pizza. But as I’ve learned, all in moderation. When I do consume these things, I try to take note and think, how can I also support my system with the other foods I eat?

Labels matter. What we eat matters. Take some time to read labels. Yes, it will take time, but it is so worth it! Nowadays, almost everything you can find online too, so if it’s easier to look online, that’s an option too. But once you know what ingredients your staple items have, then you know. Choose well and choose wisely. It’ll all be worth it and your body will thank you!