How to Lose Weight by Reading the Packaging Correctly

Emunah Ysrael

Reading is fundamental and in the weight lost revolution we are often reminded about the importance of reading the Nutrition facts on food label.

Label Watchers are being trained to;


Calories Count: How much you take in determines how much calories you need to burn

Saturated Fats: Trans fats are dangerous because they cause a host of heart problems

Cholesterol: A contributor to heart problems and strokes

Fiber: Important on determining bowel regulation

Sodium: A contributing factor to hypertension


As we scan the Nutrients panel of our food products we look for these buzz words and the magical number that is supposed to tell us if it is something that is good for our diet. When it comes to health conscious and weight watching there is another very important step that I always take, even before looking at the numbers, personally even before I look at the calorie and serving allowance the first thing I do is read the product ingredients.


Yep! that's right reading the ingredients is a key to losing weight. What am I looking for you ask? I try to pronounce the names of the additives if they seem to be a tongue twisting exercise or if you need a scientific dictionary to understand what they are saying chances are your body won't understand them either. Your body reads these artificial additives as toxins.Toxins translates in to excess body fat. Yes fat!


Note: The body's natural defense against toxins is to surround the toxin with fat cells. Toxins remain in fatty areas stomach, arms, legs, buttocks and face.


General Rule of Thumb

  • If the list of ingredients are long there are probably a host of chemical additives in that product

  • Ingredients are listed by quantity the most being listed first and the least being listed last

  • Not all products advertised as "healthy" products are good so always double check the label

Watch out for buzz words with hidden meaning and dangerous additives like;

  • All Natural

  • No Preservatives

  • No Additives

  • 100 % Natural

  • Yeast Extract

  • Aspartame

  • MSG

  • Bromate

  • BHT

  • Nitrates

  • Sulfites

  • Olestra


These are just a few additives to watch out for, Always double check the ingredients and when in doubt call the customer service number on the back of the packaging. So there you have it simply taking more time to read the labels will help in your quest to lose weight and keep it off.


Livity Lessons
"I bear Fruit"