Dirty Tricksters: Key Words To Avoid

Like any other greenie, I'm an avid label reader. But sometimes, the labels lie. It's easy to forget that most companies are concerned more about their profit than about your health or the environment. Some companies appear to care but are merely just cashing in on the current "green" marketing trend. Here are some keywords to avoid and why.

1. Natural
It may seem obvious that "Natural" is good, but there are no regulations whatsoever on the use of this word. One example that I found laughable at the grocer the other day is "Natural Cheetos®." Processed food is bad for you. There's no two ways about it. I don't care if they call it HEALTHY, it's just not. When food is processed, it is stripped of most or all of it's nutritional value. If you look at the label on these Cheetos® you'll notice the only organic ingredient is the corn. That's a great start, but it's heavily processed. It also contains many dairy products that aren't organic, natural flavors, maltodextrin (a vitamin/nutrient free filler) and lots of sodium.

If you must do chips, opt for plain Ruffles (potatos, salt, & oil) or plain Fritos (corn, salt, & oil).

Another rule of thumb about label reading, if you're really hoping to eat healthy, is: if you don't know what it is, don't eat it. Do you really think it's smart to be putting all kinds of mystery chemicals into your body on a daily basis?


2. Fat-Free
Fat-free foods that are labeled as such, usually include artificial sweeteners. There is limited research on the safety of such sweeteners, therefore they should be avoided. Truly fat free foods are fruits and vegetables. Some salt/fat alternatives can even give you a bad case of the runs. Who wants that?

3. Low-Carb
If you don't know this already, the no-carb diet is a joke. The human body needs carbohydrates to function properly. Good sources of carbs are fruits, and whole grains. White/refined grains are empty calories

4. Disposable
I don't care if it's non-toxic, recycled, unbleached, cruelty-free or 100% vegan, a disposable product is one of the worst things to buy in our current environmental situation. I don't care what the president of Swiffer says, their product is terrible for the environment because it's disposable sheets collect in landfills and slowly leach chemicals into our soil and water.
One of the best things you can do for the environment is use one thing over and over and over. This saves resources, saves energy, saves landfill space, and pollutes less. In my opinion, the biggest disposable evil is plastic bags. They are only used for 20 minutes or so and then stick around for over a thousand years. Just buy some reusable sacks and safe tons of petroleum, CO2, and landfill space. Go to ecobags.com or buy them from your local grocer.


5. Cage-Free or Free-Range
These claims are not regulated by anyone. Most of the time these animals are still kept indoors in cramped conditions, fed hormones, and given antibiotics.