Issue #171: What's Really "Healthy"?
Good morning. It’s Monday, April 17th.
Today’s Quick Win
Did you miss any of our issues on MINDSET last week? Catch up on Issues #166 - #170 here.
Up this week is NUTRITION - specifically food labels.
From the Lab: The Unfair Game of Food Packaging
Speed Read: Healthy Ice Cream?
Monday Q: Navigating the Grocery Store
“The key to eating healthy? Avoid any food that has a TV commercial.”
The number of cases filed against food & beverage companies for false advertising in 2019. (Source)
From the Lab
Avoid processed food, right?
Great advice and a worthy goal. But let’s be honest - sometimes we’re going to buy something in a box.
But don’t worry - we’ll make sure we’re buying the “healthiest” bars, or crackers, or chips, right?
There’s more brands than ever that are competing with the big food companies for shelf space with “better for you” products. But that doesn’t mean that they are necessarily good for us - or that they are even the best option.
It’s the job of the food industry to sell us products - CPG makes up 12% of total advertising dollars in the U.S. with more spent on commercials than any industry besides automotive and pharmaceuticals.
So why would we think they don’t also try to influence us on the box itself?
We’re forced to make sense of this small white label - but brands have nearly free rein on what they can say on the rest of the package.
For example - to use any “healthy” labels on the package the product SHOULD be less than 4g saturated fat, 60mg of cholesterol, and 480mg of sodium (salt) per serving - plus include 10% of daily Vitamin D and potassium. That’s it.
Ok - first of all, I said “should” because there is still some legal ambiguity on how strictly the FDA can enforce these guidelines (more on that in a minute).
Second - dietary cholesterol and, for the majority of us, sodium have far less influence on our health than say, um I don’t know - SUGAR! (see Issue #45)
So what happened? Well these products are now what fill our shelves - like these cholesterol-free Pop Tarts as “a good source of B vitamins” - but don’t mind the 36g of simple carbs and only 1g of fiber.
So the FDA is finally stepping up and trying to change the rules. But food companies sure aren’t happy about it - even calling the proposals “unconstitutional.”
The Consumer Brands Association estimates 95% of foods on the market wouldn’t qualify for a “healthy” label under the new requirements - sounds about right.
By the way, that same group is pushing back on the new law to “help us” consumers stating that manufacturers “have a First Amendment right” to provide information about their products (CBA members include Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and Campbell Soup Company among others).
Geez, no one is trying to take these foods away - they just shouldn’t be able to be called “healthy.”
Some other terms you’ll see on food package that are, well - meaningless:
Natural (word has lost all meaning in the grocery store)
Lightly Sweetened
Artisanal (I mean really??)
A Good Source of ___ (just >10% of daily recommended amount)
Multigrain (more than 1 kind of grain doesn’t make it healthier)
Whole Grains
Made With Real Fruit (remember Gushers?)
Sugar Free (excludes alternatives like brown rice syrup and sugar alcohols)
Humanely Raised
Pasture Raised (grass-fed is better, but only “grass finished” is legit)
No Artificial Colors (can still have artificial flavors and vice versa)
Bottom line - we need to do our own homework for what we want to put in our body.
More to come this week…
Thrive25 Partner Spotlight
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Speed Read
Health & Longevity in the News
🏃 What’s All the Rage…Running: Shit happens. And sometimes you get angry. Exercise channels that anger - especially when you’re really sweating (Zone 3+). You were already in fight or flight, so running at a higher pace can help release adrenaline, cortisol and norepinephrine - all good things. (Outside)
☠️ Mexico Confirms Ban on Glyphosate: Removing the use of glyphosate, a pesticide linked with cancer, will transform Mexico’s agricultural system to one that protects biodiversity and improves health of farmers and consumers. (Learn more)
🍦 Healthy Ice Cream: Despite their best efforts, Harvard scientists confirmed a 20-year old study that ice cream is associated with helping prevent overweight people from developing insulin-resistance syndrome, a precursor to diabetes. I’m not convinced there is causation here - but still interesting that we heard all about the benefits of yogurt and not ice cream. Another example of media bias? (The Atlantic)
Monday Q
How do you plan your trip to the grocery store? Does your cart reflect what you say is most important to you when it comes to health?
Product Recs
🥕 Yuka - this free app helps decipher product labels and analyzes the health impact of food products and cosmetics. They don’t take money from brands to remain objective to the science - one of the reasons it was one of the 64 brands in our Road to Longevity
💪 TMAC Fitness - need a quick workout that you can do at home without any equipment that includes a great sweat with a little meditation. Well then you’re going to want to get TMAC
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The information in this newsletter is for informational purposes only and may not be appropriate or applicable based on your individual circumstances. Thrive25 Labs LLC does not provide medical, professional, or licensed advice. Please connect with your healthcare professional for medical advice specific to your health needs.