Get the Skinny on Food Labels

These days, unless an item is fresh off the vine or tree, just about everything you see in the supermarket comes with a ‘light’ or ‘something-free’ label attached to it. Some stores even dedicate a single isle or an entire section of the store to these products. But, what does it mean when a product’s label touts its contents as being fat or calorie-free? Does that mean it contains zero fat and calories?

Not quite. Here’s the low-down on how the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) defines certain terms that may be used on food labels:


Fat-Free
- The product has less than .5 grams of fat per serving.

Low-Fat
- The product has 3 grams of fat or less per serving.

Reduced or Less Fat
- The product has at least 25% less fat per serving than the regular version.

Light (or Lite)
- The product has fewer calories or half the fat of the regular version, and/or
- The sodium content of a low-calorie, low-fat food is 50 percent less than the non-light version, and/or
- The product contains light corn syrup instead of dark corn syrup

Calorie-Free
- The product has less than 5 calories per serving.

Low-Calorie
- The product has 40 calories or less per serving.

Reduced or Fewer Calories
- The product has at least 25& less calories per serving than the regular version.


There’s a little more to chew on when it comes to deciphering food labels. Keep in mind, for instance, that a product labeled low-fat can still be high in simple sugars. The opposite is true as well—a food labeled as being low in sugar can be high in saturated fat. So, aim for products that demonstrate a balance between fat, sugar, carbs and calories in favor over those that are high in one or another of these areas.

Lack of Sleep Leads to Snack Attacks

The results of a new study presented at the 22nd Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies in Baltimore (June 7-12, 2008) provide some food for thought for those in the habit of staying up for the late-late show—sleep loss can lead to weight gain.

The study involved 11 men and women who volunteered to spend a total of four weeks being observed in a sleep lab while being provided with unrestricted amounts of snack foods that could be consumed at any time. For two of the four-week periods, the study subjects were only allowed to sleep a maximum of 5.5 hours. For the other two weeks, they were permitted to snooze for a full 8.5 hours. In comparison to an average of 866-snack calories consumed daily during the 8.5-hour sleep session, the shorter 5.5-hour sleep period session spurred snacking splurges averaging 1,087 calories per day.

Need some help gettng enough ZZZs and keeping your hand out of the cookie jar? Dream8HRS™ Fall Asleep solution has been clinically formulated with natural botanicals and essential minerals proven to help soothe nerves, relax muscles and take away the tension of your stressful day so you can fall into a deep, comfortable sleep within minutes. Affordable, NON-addictive and 100% natural and available without prescription!

Are you moody? It could be what you had for lunch.

We all know that food has a direct impact on our health. Too much saturated fat and calories going down the hatch can expand our waistlines as well as increase our risk for heart disease and diabetes. But, how can food affect mood?

The answer to that question comes in three words: dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin. All of these brain chemicals (technically known as neurotransmitters) influence your emotional state. In fact, that’s why these agents are known as the ‘feel good’ hormones. In short, you can elevate your mood and increase your energy by feeding your brain the right stuff.

Forget the low-carb fad...at least to a point. A certain amount of carbohydrates are needed by the body in order to produce enough fuel for energy. Carbohydrates also increase serotonin production, which produces a calming effect. Of course, eating a pound of pasta in one sitting is likely to produce an upset stomach and a nap, so exercise moderation.

Eat protein to rev up your brain. Protein increases production of dopamine and norepinephrine, which create a state of alertness and increased concentration and reaction time. So, some lean chicken or tuna at lunch means you’ll be ready to dance circles around your coworkers in the afternoon instead of desperately clinging to a cup of coffee in hopes of staying awake the rest of the day.

Of course, the food and mood connection is only temporary. The real secret to a balanced mood is a balanced brain, not just for a few hours after a meal but all the time. And, let’s face it--it can sometimes be difficult to eat right when you’re on the run, whether you’re chasing the paper tiger in an office cubicle or trying to keep up with one or more future Einsteins at home. That’s when you can count on Mood Support.

Mood Support contains all-natural ingredients that have been clinically tested for safety and effectiveness and is specially formulated to promote a sense of well-being so you can stay relaxed and alert--all day. Try it today!