Definition Of Carbohydrates

Rethinking food labels

Since the website gives no indication that the Food and Drug Administration is eagerly awaiting the outcome of this contest, we have to assume that its purpose isn’t practical, but political: to let the authorities know that we, the people, demand something better. And oh look, we already designed it.

This is a desperately needed step in the right direction. But would a new nutrition label be enough to fix the problem? The nutrition label is certainly confusing, but at least its information is accurate. The bigger problem might be the front-of-the-box labels. These eye-catching exclamations are not just confusing. They’re misleading.

Consider this familiar scenario: you dash down the cereal aisle on your way home from work and find yourself faced with an overwhelming array of health claims. “Low in trans fats!” “All-natural!” “Calcium builds strong bones!” the labels scream at you. You’re lost in a sea of cereal. Is it better to go low-fat or fiber-plus? Organic or sustainable? And more importantly, can you trust the words on the box?

It’s reasonable to assume that, since these front-of-the-box claims are aimed at consumers, they must be reviewed by the government, right?  Wrong.  The regulations on these kind of nutritional claims are ineffective, allowing manufacturers use tricky wording to get by the rules and fool the buyers.

The Nutrition Labeling and Education Act, enacted in 1990, gave the Food and Drug Administration the authority to define some terms, like “light” (often seen on ice cream ) Regulations require that health and nutrition claims must be truthful and not misleading. But food companies often ignore that second requirement, and get away with it.

One way these labels intentionally deceive is by drawing the buyer’s attention to one health benefit while keeping quiet about the bad stuff. Yogurt, for example, may be truly “fat free!” but to bump up the flavor in the absence of tasty fats, the manufacturer packs its product full of sugar until it’s no longer a healthy breakfast choice. Like a pickpocket who distracts you with a body bump on a crowded train while he steals your wallet, the food company uses misdirection to con you into swallowing the illusion: a food item that’s both sinfully tasty and entirely guilt-free.

Carbohydrates Have a Place in the Diet Solutions Program | Diet ...

Carbohydrates Have a Place in the Diet Solutions Program

How many diets do you know that tell you to cut down on carbohydrates or cut them out completely? Probably every single one you have done so far. This is one of the ways in which the Diet Solutions program is different to other conventional diets and has been applauded by many nutritionists as being a sensible and healthy diet.

Isabel de los Rios, who devised this program, tells us that not all carbohydrates are equal – there are good ones and bad ones. And you would be surprised at her definition of bad carbohydrates, which sometimes contradicts other dieting norms. According to Isabel bad carbs are pasta (no surprise there) and cereals, crackers and whole wheat bread (that’s the surprise). She states that these all increase the blood sugar level in the body so should be avoided.

However, the brain and the spine need carbohydrates to be able to function properly so what are the good carbs that you can eat? She suggests sprouted grain bread, rice, spelt, millet, sweet potato and most fruit and vegetables.

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