That food label you are so diligent about reading may be highly misleading, according to experts who say the numbers may be off by as much as 25 percent. “Current methods for determining calories are imperfect,” notes Katherine Tallmadge, R.D., a nutritionist based in Washington, D.C. More oftehn than not, the numbers are higher than they should be, especially when it comes to protein and fiber. “We all digest foods differently, so it’s impossible to say exactly how many calories you might get from these nutrients,” says Tallmadge. Ironically, processed foods seem to be more accurate with label information than high-protein, low-carb, and fiber-rich whole foods, which is helpful in knowing which foods to avoid. “I would still have faith in food labels, as that’s our only choice,” adds Tallmadge. But tuning into your body’s own signals can help keep you on track.
Big Businesses Come Clean
corbis
You and your fit friends know the many benefits of eating clean — now a few large food manufacturers are discovering a healthy diet is also food for business and are cleaning up their products. Below, a few of our favorite developments that are making it easier for everyone to eat healthier.
General Mills: Oringinal Cheerios are no non-GMO.
Ben & Jerry’s: Eliminated GMOs from their frozen desserts.
Chipotle: Restriced antibiotics in chicken and are now GMO-free.
Panera Bread: Using more antibiotic-free chicken.
Tyson: Phasing out human antibiotics in all chicken products.
