Natural, it makes you think of the outdoors, of things that are pure and clean and good for you, doesn’t it? It reminds me of being a little kid, running through my yard to pick raspberries from our garden. That’s exactly what many manufacturers are banking on, to get you to choose their product.
So what does natural mean? The word is ubiquitous in the food industry, yet signifies nothing, except maybe a marketing scam. Those of us looking to eat a healthier diet, and improve the health of the ones we love, look at the word “natural”, and think we’re paying for something that must be good for us. Yet the word has absolutely no standard and denotes nothing about what you’re purchasing. Those of us that are unaware of this are fooled every day into buying junk products with this label.
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Natural and Naturally flavored, tell you nothing about the quality of your food |
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The fruits and vegetables used in these products are going to be conventional, having pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides used on them. Many times, they contain GMOs (genetically modified organisms), and the conventional dairy will often contain antibiotics and rbst (growth hormones). How much more unnatural can you get?! Unless it specifically says organic, or non-GMO, you can safely assume this is what you’re getting. For more about organic vs. conventional, look here. Additionally, many additives (sugars, MSG, gluten, and preservatives), will likely be included in your item of choice.
As for “natural” cleaning products, these may contain the same sodium laurel sulfates and parabens found in the competing containers next to it. While I plan to do an entire piece about cleaning products, I wanted to touch on those that use the term “natural” to further illustrate how misleading and overused it is. I was saddened to see that seventh generationdish soap, labeled “natural”, has the exact chemicals I have been trying to avoid.
so I started using this >
* For a comprehensive list of other clean household products, look here
This label drives me crazy, more than any other misleading term on the shelves. It is used solely for the purpose of duping a public trying to do better. It’s enraging that the food industry has such lax laws regarding false and misleading advertising. They are unchallenged, while continuing to ruin peoples’ health by selling them cheap, subpar product, in order to line their pockets. I know that there are some groups trying to change this. Foodbabe has done a great job in pushing companies to reveal their ingredients (her current push is for Anheuser-Busch and Miller Coors, to reveal the ingredients in their beer). While things will shift with the increasing awareness of the public, and conscious choices on what our money supports, it’s going to be a constant batter to sift through the garbage.
In my opinion, it’s currently the biggest lie in the industry right now. I was complaining about this atrocity to my husband the other day (who hears about food and nutrition constantly), and he immediately (yet sheepishly) admitted that when he ran out to the store to grab something for me, out of his options, he chose the one with the word natural on it. And he knows about this stuff!
These companies spend millions to find out what makes people tick….and then they exploit it. They know our psychology, what words, and visuals make us feel confident in what we’re purchasing. However, most of it out there is a lie. They play on our hope that things are what they say they are, play on our desire to be healthy, or lose weight, or eat less fat, sugar, or calories. So, what’s the solution? Read every label of every product you buy. Seriously. It takes some time at first, but you’ll soon begin to know what products are worth your money. Buy organic and non GMO whenever possible. Buy local, pesticide free food (this is also a great way to buy food on the cheap). Your health, and that of those in your life, are worth the time. you’re worth the effort it takes to become aware of lies being sold to you. You have an opportunity, and a right, to know the truth. This is food after all, we have to deal with it (and hopefully enjoy it!) everyday, several times a day, your entire life. It only makes sense to make be proactive in something so integral to our survival. I’ll be honest though, I don’t just want to survive, I want to thrive. So I made a choice a long time ago, to arm myself with every bit of the truth I could get my hands on. I made a choice to become an expert in nutrition. I challenge to you to make this transition a priority. To get angry or sad, or whatever it is that makes you want to take action, and then do it. set aside the false claims and the easy answers, and do the work. Make the time to read the labels, prepare meals, and make better choices.
What’s the biggest surprise you’ve come across regarding labels and ingredient lists?
Seize Every Moment!
