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Cracking the Codes of Nutritional Buzzwords

If you find yourself looking more carefully at food labels in the grocery store, you’re not alone. More people than ever are seeking healthier options, consumer research shows. One Nielsen survey [1] found that 80 percent of North Americans are even willing to pay a premium if they believe products are healthier.

Of course, food manufacturers and marketers know this. In order to grab attention and draw consumers, they often use nutritional buzzwords and potentially misleading claims to influence purchases. Wading through all the hype can be confusing.

“There are a lot of people who are interested in making intelligent choices about what they are putting in their bodies,” said Andrew Forster, M.D. [2], an internal medicine physician with Baptist Health Primary Care in Miami Beach. “But unfortunately, they don’t have the knowledge or information they need.”

Dr. Forster advises people to purchase fresh, unprocessed foods for the healthiest eating. “Fresh broccoli does not need a label. It’s just broccoli,” he said. “People should buy food that looks as close as possible to what it looks like in nature. Those foods may require more time to prepare, but they are better for you — and you know what went into them.”

Most of your food shopping should be done in the outer perimeter of the store, where you can usually find the fresh produce, dairy, meat and fish departments. Read packages carefully. The Nutrition Facts portion of food labels is regulated by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration [3] (FDA) and is fairly straightforward. Although it will be undergoing an update [4] in the coming year, the Nutrition Facts are still the best source of information for consumers, Dr. Forster said.

If you find yourself gravitating toward boxed, processed or prepared foods [5], here are some tips from Baptist Health nutritionists, the American Diabetes Association [6], the Center for Science in the Public Interest [7] and other health advocates on things to watch for: