Naked Juice Lawsuit

I'm sure many of you have heard by now about the Naked juice lawsuit. Anyone shocked? Sadly, I was not. See, there are a lot of "healthy" items on the market that are not so healthy. Since I have begun my nutrition program, I have become more and more discouraged with how foods are labeled. A juice such as Naked seems healthy (and I'm completely disregarding the idea that they used artificial ingredients...that's a whole other story), right? Take the Green Machine for example...apple (juice, not the whole thing), banana, kiwi, mango and pineapple purees. And 'boosts' of vegetables (the broccoli adds up to 1g by the way, which is about the size of a paperclip). And 140 calories. Oh wait, sorry, that's actually 280 calories if you drink the entire bottle. And 28g of sugar (hey, that's a Snickers bar!), but that's fine because it's all from fruit. Um..wrong. Here's the thing, sugar is sugar. It doesn't matter where it came from, it effects the body in the EXACT same way.  Fructose is still a simple sugar that your body struggles to break down. Fructose effects your insulin levels and actually aids the body in storing fat. Is fruit bad for you? No. However, you really don't need more than 2-3 servings a day.  If you are looking for a juice that contains REAL fruit, and REAL vegetables, make one of your own. If you have a blender, throw in a cup of spinach, a cup of baby kale, 5 baby carrots, 1/2 banana, 15 blueberries and top it off with some unsweetened coconut milk. That is a REAL naked juice, not just a puree of fruits with a couple paperclips of veggies.

Sadly the majority of our population is not educated in what is healthy and what is not. Heck, a year ago I was drinking juice every morning, and when I drank one that said it had vegetables, I thought that was even better. There are so many things on the market today that are misleading, and just plain wrong.  Yogurt for instance, is typically loaded with sugar. Even the 'natural' or organic fruit versions. I'm a Greek yogurt lover though, so I opt for the plain which is sugar free, and that allows me to sweeten with some raw honey or stevia drops (neither will effect you like sugar will).

Anyone here a peanut butter junkie? I know I am. But if you read a container of Jif or Skippy, you'll be disappointed to learn that peanuts are also combined with salt, sugar, and artificial ingredients. There are all natural products on the market that JUST use peanuts, you just have to seek them out or opt for something as equally delicious such as almond butter. And low-fat products...I could rant about those for days! Most people assume that low-fat = better for you. What if I said not the case? What if I said that our ancestors actually consumed a high fat diet (butter, meats, fish, nuts) and were slimmer and healthier than we were? Our bodies need healthy fats to stay energized and feed your brain. When you purchase a product on the market that says low-fat, really what it means is 'less bad fat, more sodium and sugar.' Not exactly an ideal trade. Stick with whole fat milk. Stick to butter and toss the margarine. Eat avocados, nuts, seeds, fish.

I know I'm ranting, but it saddens me to see that our country is at its highest point of obesity. If the food industry would stop filling their products with artificial ingredients and misleading consumers, we would be in a better place. And for those of you out there who eat boxed food, frozen meals, canned goods...see if you can make an alternative from whole ingredients. Make a homemade soup, or your own pasta sauce. You will feel much more energetic and your body will thank you. If you need help and don't know where to start, feel free to shoot me an email at nutrientwise@yahoo.com and ask away!