Considering recent studies I've posted in this space about the potential health problems facing Baby Boomers down the road, I felt the need to hedge a little bit on the question posed above today's post.

Why?

First, a bit more about a survey from the Texas-based consulting research firm Decision Analyst that polled more than 16,000 American grocery shoppers about the reasons in which they choose healthy foods. When it comes to antioxidants, iron and omega-3 fatty acids, using the adjective rich to describe foods (rich in fill in the blank) in comparison to the word added (fill in the blank added) makes a huge difference in the minds of American consumers.

The problem: The "marketing-speak" used by food marketers on occasion to sell you on "magic" ingredients like omega-3 fatty acids or antioxidants may badly blur or inflate the actual health value of the products they sell. So, when 40 percent of consumers say they're more likely to buy a product rich in anything, now I better understand why Baby Boomers (me included) should pay more attention to the entire label, not just the marketing buzzwords.

Yes, there's nothing inherently wrong in making a mental note about nutrient-rich products you've considered buying at the grocery store, just so long as you spend a minute or two doing your homework and comparing labels. This same deliberate approach should also apply to the supplements you take for your health.

NutraIngredients-USA.com March 30, 2010

Decision Analyst March 22, 2010