Swiss Miss-understanding I've said it before, but after a recent announcement from ConAgra, I had to say it again: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Apparently, the food-industry giant has decided that people should be able to get the nutrients their bodies need from a packet of powdered cocoa. So they're launching a new line of Swiss Miss instant hot chocolate that contains calcium, vitamin D, and other essential vitamins and minerals. This brainstorm came about as a result of a survey conducted by ConAgra that showed 51 percent of women get their nutrients from fortified foods and that a third of those "would like to get them from indulgent foods like chocolate." Well, sure. Who DOESN'T want to have their cake and eat it too? But here's the problem: No matter how many vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients you add to it, it's still cake -- or, in this case, hot chocolate. Which also means it's loaded with sugar (or artificial sweeteners), not to mention a list of chemicals even the greatest Hooked on Phonics success stories couldn't pronounce. The fact of the matter is, if a food doesn't contain nutrients naturally, adding them to it doesn't make it good for you. So you're better off skipping these "fortified" foods altogether and sticking with the real deal from the start. That's not to say that you can't have the occasional chocolate indulgence. And yes, there are plenty of studies showing health benefits of high-quality dark chocolate (which you can find in any natural-food store: the higher percentage of cacao, the better). But keep in mind that there's just no substitute for fresh, organic fruits and vegetables or a high-quality multiple vitamin/mineral supplement. Source:
"ConAgra gives hot choc functional twist," NutraIngredients (www.nutraingredients.com), 10/24/07 | 
