YUKA

America is in the midst of a health crisis. We rank among the highest in chronic disease rates worldwide, falling behind in nearly every health category. This decline has been closely linked to the rise of the industrial food industry—an industry driven by mass production, processing, and distribution at the expense of nutritional quality. As a result, highly processed foods loaded with added sugars, unhealthy fats, and artificial ingredients have become the backbone of the American diet.

This is why reading ingredient labels is critical. However, food packaging can be confusing—sometimes even misleading—making it difficult to truly understand what you’re consuming.

Thankfully, there’s a solution: Yuka. This app, marked by its signature orange carrot logo, allows you to scan barcodes and instantly analyze the quality of the food you’re buying. It highlights both the beneficial and harmful ingredients, helping you make more informed decisions. While it’s not perfect, it’s an excellent tool for navigating today’s food landscape. I use it all the time.

Beware of Seed Oils

One major ingredient to avoid? Seed oils—such as corn oil, canola oil, and sunflower oil. These highly processed oils are stripped of nutrients and prone to oxidation at high temperatures, forming harmful free radicals that can damage cells and increase the risk of chronic disease.

The Healthiest Oil? Olive Oil.

If you’re looking for the best alternative, extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is the gold standard. Packed with heart-healthy monounsaturated fats, EVOO has been shown to:

✅ Lower bad LDL cholesterol
✅ Increase good HDL cholesterol
✅ Reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke

So, start scanning with Yuka and make sure you always have a bottle of The Virgin Organic in your kitchen. Small changes like these can have a big impact on your health.