Transparency is a 2-way Street

Honesty is the best policy. The truth will set you free. We've all heard these aphorisms so often that we may even roll our eyes a bit when we hear them used in society. However I must resort to them (and a few more along the way) for this post as we look at the importance of transparency in FU3Led. You will find greater success in centering yourself around food, fitness, and faith if you are a person of candor. In both fitness and faith, being held accountable for your trials and triumphs will keep you on the right path (as discussed in the previous post). By the same token, you should expect (demand even) the same honesty from your sources of FU3L.

One of the most confusing and frustrating places to find a straight answer is when looking at food sources. In the US, we have the benefit of nutrition facts on packaged food but you may be surprised to learn what is not listed; a topic highlighted in this NY Times article about the Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) debate that is gaining attention. Food companies are only required to list and quantify certain ingredients. I'm sure you've wondered as I have when you've seen "natural flavoring" and wondered what qualifies in that category. Whether or not there is a negative effect of GMO in foods, one cannot make an informed decision without all the facts. Another adage applies here: Knowledge is Power.

Even if this issue is resolved, there are large portions of a diet that have little or no labeling requirements, such as fresh produce and butchers cuts. Additionally it can be difficult to keep track of the subtle differences between the terms "natural" and "organic" or "no sugar added" and "naturally sweetened". It is your responsibility as the consumer to inquire of your food suppliers about their practices. Unfortunately, you cannot rely on regulations to keep you healthy. I'll end by turning an old saying on its head, you should be a book that can be judged by its cover and one that seeks to be FU3Led by accurate book jackets.