Living Well with Bri

Read the Ingredients

Reading food labels is essential for making informed choices about what we consume and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. By reviewing these labels, we can better understand the nutritional value of foods, identify any harmful additives that may be present, and make choices that align with our health goals. Additionally, reading food labels helps us become more conscious consumers, enabling us to avoid highly processed or unhealthy products and opt for healthier alternatives that contribute to overall well-being. When I read labels, I try to look for as few ingredients as possible: no added sugars, no vegetable/canola oils, and no ingredients I can’t pronounce. 

What does sugar look like on food labels?

• Sucrose

• High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS)

• Glucose

• Fructose

• Dextrose

• Maltose

• Lactose

• Corn syrup

• Brown sugar

• Cane sugar

• Beet sugar

• Raw sugar

• Maple syrup

• Agave nectar

• Honey

• Molasses

• Barley malt syrup

• Rice syrup

• Coconut sugar

Sugars are normally easy to pick out because most have the suffix “-ose.”

What do hydrogenated oils look like?

• Vegetable oil

• Canola oil

• Palm oil

• Peanut oil

• Soybean oil

• Cottonseed oil

• Corn oil

• Sunflower oil

It’s important to avoid hydrogenated oils because they cause oxidative stress in the body. When consumed, they can increase levels of free radicals in the body, promoting oxidative damage to cells and tissues. Over time, this oxidative stress can contribute to inflammation and various chronic health conditions. Minimizing the intake of hydrogenated oils is important for reducing oxidative stress and promoting overall health.

Other ingredients you should look out for -

• Sodium nitrates and nitrites that are found in processed meats as a preservative

• Artificial flavors and colors

• Maltodextrin

• Carrageenan

• Enriched wheat

• BPA

We are all searching for our purpose and passion in life, but something I learned recently is that if you keep planning, thinking, and consuming information, you aren’t acting on your ideas. Action leads to passion and purpose, but we get scared that we’ll make the wrong decision, so we are stuck guessing and wondering if and when. Is this the right path? When is it time for me to act? There will never be a perfect moment. I have first-hand experience with this feeling. For the longest time, I felt stuck and not sure what my purpose was. The first step I took was making this newsletter. It allows me to be creative and express my interest in nutrition and wellness. It was a small step, but it catapulted me to making the decision to enroll in a health coaching program at The Institute of Integrative Nutrition, and that has led me to create a nutrition and wellness Instagram, which allows me to be creative in a different way and connect with more like-minded individuals. Taking small steps is better than staying stagnant.

Actionable step of the day -

Take a few minutes to visualize your dream life and your passions. Once you have a clear vision in your mind, journal those thoughts. Today, take one small step that will help get you closer to that dream.