Fat-Free, Gluten-Free and Other Labels That Hinder Weight Loss

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Leslie Goldman on Aug 3, 2010 at 3:38PM

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Fat-Free, Gluten-Free and Other Labels That Hinder Weight Loss

Nancy R. Cohen

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Find Out Exactly Which Labels Matter When You're Shopping



These days, almost all of us are in the habit of reading the label before putting an item in our grocery cart. But what exactly should we be looking for? Organic ingredients? Words like low-fat or low-sugar? Gluten-free or hormone-free? It's often not easy to know which terms are just marketing buzz words and which actually indicate a product is healthy and can help us lose weight. Naturopathic physician Brooke Kalanick, ND, coauthor of Ultimate You: A 4-Phase Total Body Makeover for Women Who Want Maximum Results (Rodale Books, 2010) is here to help. Her first tip is to start with fresh, whole foods that don’t even need labels, like fruits, vegetables, lean protein, and low-fat dairy products. But when buying packaged foods, here's how to avoid common label-reading mistakes that can lead to unhealthy choices and weight gain.

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