Beware of “Enriched” on Food Labels

It’s impossible to walk through the supermarket without noticing the strange words attached to our food products. Instead of simple milk, flour and sugar, we see products proclaiming that they are ‘refined,’ ‘fortified,’ ‘organic’ and ‘enriched.’ To clear up the confusion, today we’re going to tackle the real meaning behind the word enriched. We need to hold manufacturers responsible for what additives they decide to ‘enrich’ our food with...for our eating pleasure of course.

The Reason Behind Enrichment

One reason manufacturers say their product is enriched is because it adds to the hype. It seems like you’re somehow getting added value. Although it may seem a good idea at first, the enrichment process refers to the adding back of nutrients and/or vitamins that were lost during processing. That means the enriched milk you’re buying for your kids is mostly powdered milk and water, with substances added to bulk it up that are definitely NOT milk. What you’re buying is definitely not a whole, healthy or premium item. The manufacturer has created a product that is cheaper to produce while convincing the average consumer that the product is somehow better than its natural counterparts.

Safe Buying Bets

Pure, natural vitamins and minerals are what your body needs. s whole formFood in it also offers much more complex benefits that processed food cannot provide. When in doubt, go for organic, natural, fresh and unprocessed food.

Guess What’s In The Flour

One type of food that’s regularly sold in enriched form is flour. One of the so-called “nutrients” that are added back to enriched flour is iron. But the "iron" added back isn’t normal food iron, it’s metallic iron and not meant to be consumed in the first place. Enriched flour is also absorbed into the body not as wheat but as grain, so the body considers it to be pure starch. This means that the wheat germ, the most fibrous and nutritious part of the wheat,  has been stripped from the flour. The FDA specifically states that enriched flour cannot have greater than 5 percent wheat germ...think of this as your guarantee that you WON'T be consuming a healthy product!

White Flour Makes You Fat

White flour is nothing but refined carbohydrates. Studies have shown that Americans consume mostly refined carbs, which, without a lot of exercise, can easily add 3 pounds of body fat to your figure a month. So buyer beware when you see ingredient labels that read “enriched wheat” or “enriched flour.”

Enriching Comments Are Still Safe

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