The ONE thing you can do to improve your health

Nope. That’s not meant to super-gimmicky. I think there is ONE thing you can do to improve your health in a life-defining way.

We began doing it about six years ago, and the results completely changed the way we shop. And eat.

Ready for the big secret to improve your health?

It’s not a secret – it’s something you’ve been told to do for years:

READ THE INGREDIENT LABEL!!

Sorry. That was technically shouting in typing wasn’t it? But that’s because nobody is listening!

Good Food Made Simple (GFMS) did a survey recently that showed only 35% of shoppers are reading the ingredients before purchasing food items. More sobering? Only HALF were doing so to make sure their food was “clean.”

Reading food labels changed our lifestyle

About six years ago, we ate pretty much whatever we wanted – we were young(!), we worked out, we felt healthy!

Then, I read a book called Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, which extolled the virtues of eating local and eating organic. I became more aware of what was in our foods… and what was going into our bodies: Lots of yucky stuff!

I also read Tosca Reno’s Eat Clean Diet Cookbook. It’s funny how reading these two books happened around the same time!

As I started reading food labels more consistently, I realized: my favorite tomato soup had high fructose corn syrup in it! Now I have a new favorite tomato soup – my own! Many of our favorite (and also quick and easy!) food choices went out the window immediately.

What is clean eating?

Basically, while personal standards may differ – you may be organic or not –  to us, clean eating looks like this:

• No preservatives
• No additives
• No trans fat
• No artificial colors or sweeteners
• (And, we’re working on reducing refined sugars as well)

If you can’t pronounce it, don’t eat it

The rule of thumb holds fairly true. If you can’t pronounce the ingredient – probably you don’t know what it is or how it affects your body. Don’t eat it.

Yet, many common – pronounceable – ingredients also aren’t good for you: caramel color, guar gum to name a few.

When we started reading food labels, many food choices (and restaurants!) left our life. We began eating organic, growing our own food, buying locally.

We made more meals from scratch, not from boxes (we’ve always eaten at home mostly).

It’s not inconvenient to eat simple and eat clean

True, eating meals made from scratch takes longer than tossing something in the microwave for four minutes. But you need to think of the long term health benefits.

Plus, there are healthful and easy options – in the freezer section! While frozen foods get a bad rap (because many are prefab and full of junk!), there are some brands that make quality freezer items from wholesome ingredients.

Reading food labels will change your life for the better. If you read with purpose and take action!

How about you? Do you regularly read food ingredient labels? What ingredients do you work hard to avoid?