"Natural"

We see this word used on so many of our food labels these days.  The good news is that there are a lot more people trying to eat healthy and there is a much higher demand for healthy food.  The bad news is that there is not a lot of truth left in the food industry these days.  The companies who produce our foods are aware that there is a market for healthy, organic and "natural" foods and they are using it to their advantage.  Typically speaking, this is to our disadvantage.

Consumers, for the most part are very gullible.  I mean, after all, don't we want to believe that we are being told the truth?  It's in our nature, and it's really sweet and Godly.  However, wake up!  We are being sold a bunch of crap and being manipulated into believing that it's good for us.  I am not saying that every food company in the world is evil...just most of them ;).

So, the point?  Well, I wanted to find out what this term "natural" really meant...so I did.  Natural most certainly does not mean organic.  You see, even the FDA has fairly stringent guidelines for a company to be able to claim that they are organic.  Probably not strict enough, but it's about as good as we are going to get at this point and time, ok. The FDA doesn't really do much to monitor what the companies are doing who claim to sell these "all natural" products.  They may claim to be, but they are not.  Don't believe me....look in to it and come to your own conclusion.  There are companies out there who are claiming that their products are natural after they are processing them with chemicals and unnatural products, stating that they came from a "natural" source to begin with....I guess.  It's totally bogus.

Let's take deep fried foods for example.  Heating foods to extremely high temperatures in oil and dousing them in processed salt.  Is that natural to anyone?  Or what about the hyrodgenated oils you see on a lot of "natural" products?  There is nothing natural about these oils that are heated to extreme temperatures, which cause trans fats to be introduced.  How about hiding the term MSG in products by using the names like yeast extract and autolyzed or hydrolyzed proteins?  Well, just think about it this way.  You know how organic items have to have the seal on them that says "USDA Certified Organic"?  There isn't even a seal for the term "natural" because it's a suggestion, not a requirement.  Listen.  I could bore you all day with this stuff, but this post is getting a little long. 

My point is that the term "natural" doesn't mean squat and in almost all cases, it is not going to guarantee you that you are buying a healthy product.  This doesn't mean that there are not some reputable companies out there that actually do sell healthy, natural products.  There are some good places out there, but you have to be smart.  You have to read the labels of the products that you are buying and know who you can trust.  That takes time, I know.  If it's important to you, you'll do it.  Maybe reading this will at least get you thinking about those "natural" products you buy and perhaps you will look into them a little further.

Also, there are a few places that I have bought food items from that I know are a good source, but they don't have the USDA organic seal on them.  Some places really do sell awesome, organic products but can't afford to jump through all of the hoops to get their products certified.  Just use your judgment and ask questions.