Read the Label

Why haven't I learned yet?! No matter what the product is, ALWAYS read the label! I picked up some throat drop a while back. I didn't even think to read the label. Ricola lemon drops, sugar free. The "sugar free" should have been a flashing red light. If something is sugar free, the sugar is usually replaced by a chemical sweetener. In this case, aspartame. When aspartame is ingested, it breaks down into numerous things, one of which is formaldehyde. I don't know about you, but I would prefer NOT to ingest formaldehyde!

Why Reading the Label is Important

I sent Aaron to the store for Popsicles when one of the kids was sick. I told him to read the labels. He only read the front and since it said "made with real fruit" he thought they were good ones. These are better than some, but they still aren't good for you! They might have real fruit in them, but it's not very much. The main ingredient is sugar. The first ingredient listed is always the main ingredient, what the food contains the most of (sorry Mrs. Schwindt...I ended that on a preposition!). But the worst part of these Popsicles is the artificial coloring. If you make Popsicles with real fruit, you don't need to add artificial coloring! These artificial food dyes are very bad for you. They are known carcinogens...meaning they're known to cause cancer! Most other 1st world countries have banned these in their food. In fact, many major food companies that distribute in both the US and places like England and Australia, have alternatives that do not contain these dyes. So it's not that Mac & cheese cannot be made without yellow 5. It's strictly for aesthetic value. There is no nutritional value whatsoever!
So back to the label. This is a prime example of why it is so important to read labels. No matter what the product is, READ THE LABEL! Otherwise you have no idea what you're *really* eating. Because on the front of this box, it looks like a very good product.