Are you a label reader? I know that I am, and -- until you get savvy at it -- food labels can be a bit confusing. U.S. News and World Report has a list of 8 fixes nutritionists would like to see on food labels:

• Realistic serving sizes. Serving sizes are often misleading. For example, have you ever treated yourself to a Pop-Tart? They're wrapped in packages with two pastries, yet a serving size is only one.
  
• Clearer guidelines on the daily value. Are the percentages based on the most you should get of a nutrient or the least? For example, saturated fat is a ceiling -- the daily value represents the most you should get. With vitamins and minerals, on the other hand, the daily value is a floor -- or the minimum amount you should get.
  

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Monday through Friday, you can find a new Daily Fit Tip on the right-hand side of That's Fit. From nutrition to fitness to weight loss to body image ... the Daily Fit Tip covers it all. I scoured through this year's archives for some of the best tips for securing good health. Take these five tips into the New Year for a healthy, happy and fit 2009.

I just love Honey Crisp apples. Unfortunately, their deliciousness comes with a pretty big price tag. The other day I was checking out at the grocery store and I had a bag full of Honey Crisps. The cashier and I were lamenting over how costly they were. I mentioned that I had heard that apple growers in our state had planted some Honey Crisp trees, so hopefully the cost would go down when those trees were mature and bearing fruit. Then we looked at the label. Fortunately for the environment, but unfortunately for my wallet, the apples in question were from my state. And they were just as expensive as ever. Even though I was disappointed in the price, I was glad to see that my favorite fall treat is now locally grown.

Being able to see where food comes from is important for many reasons. Environmentally speaking, the fewer miles the food has to travel to arrive on your grocery store shelves, the better. Local food also helps to ensure freshness and it supports the local economy. Health-wise, knowing what country your food is from can help you avoid foods that are potentially exposed to unsanitary conditions and/or harmful chemicals.

The new law, which requires country of origin labeling as of September 30, is a bit confusing, however. Certain foods, such as roasted peanuts and bacon, don't have to be labeled. Any food that can be considered processed is exempt from the law.

[via FitSugar]

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We've been hearing for years that high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is bad for us -- that it causes obesity and other related health problems. And, earlier this year, the FDA ruled that HFCS is "not natural." However, an ad campaign has been launched to try to change our minds.

Have you seen these commercials? I can't say that I disagree with part of their message -- inform yourself about what you're eating. The problem is that the HFCS industry wants to be the ones informing you via their website, SweetSurprise.com. And, sorry, but that's not exactly an unbiased source.

So why are these ads coming out now? There could be many reasons, including the fact that major food retailers, like Kraft, are starting to label products as HFCS-free because so many people are trying to cut it out of their diets. The fact of the matter is that it's extremely difficult to avoid HFCS -- it's everywhere. A number of studies have shown a link between HFCS and obesity, especially in children. HFCS doesn't give you the full feeling you should have after consuming it, leading you to consume more calories and gain weight.

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While the area I live in may have made my exposure to this fruit a little slower than it was for most people, it's still a relatively new addition to the regular fruits and veggies on grocery store shelves. In a short span of time the bizarre-looking pomegranate has moved from exotic to mainstream.

The world of nutrition has its trends just like anything else, and pomegranates certainly had their day (or couple of years) in the sun. Pomegranates have been linked to health benefits for erectile dysfunction, cancer risk reduction, lung health, and other issues. And they certainly are good for you... not to mention tasty. (Though pomegranate juice can negatively interact with certain medications (such as some blood pressure meds), so check with your doctor.)

But when a food item becomes trendy, there is a bit of a halo effect; anything that has that item listed on the package automatically seems healthier and better for you. Health by association, if you will.

I have a total love/hate relationship with medicine. Although I value science and medicine, quite often I can't stand the affects they have on me. I simply can't stand to be drowsy, foggy or affected in any way. Prescriptions are great if they fix what's wrong with you, but all of the side effects are for the birds. I suppose if we all took each drug correctly, we may have less. So, I was particularly intrigued when Women's Health posted a study regarding drug labels.

According to a survey in the Annals of Internal Medicine, almost half of the participants misunderstood drug warning labels, and most ignored the directions altogether. This gallery provides some of the most common instructions you'll find on those little stickers slapped on each bottle and what they really mean.

Ah, the food label. There it is, smack dab on your food packages, containers, boxes, and bags, calling your name, begging for your attention, eager for you to read it over and make an informed decision about the nutritional contents that lie within. Seems easy enough. Yet in reality, reading food labels can be quite confusing.

WebMD makes food-label reading a bit more manageable. In this article, experts offer tips on interpreting serving sizes and making sense of these commonly-used label words: calories, calories from fat, nutrients, ingredients, and % daily value. A neat little chart also helps explain label claims. If a label claims a product is fat-free or sugar-free, for example, this means it contains less than 0.5 grams of fat or sugar.

For your own personal lesson in label reading, take a stroll over here.

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Nutrition labels may have been useful 15 years ago, but researchers say now that the "recommended daily allowance" figure commonly quoted on nutrition labels makes it hard for many consumers to translate that information into nutrient quantities.

For example, if a product has calcium, and perhaps contains 15 percent of the RDA of that ingredient, how much is that quality, specifically? Since many of us have custom nutrition needs, the bare-bones information on most processed foods can be somewhat meaningless, not to mention misleading.

If you're a female at risk for osteoporosis, can you determine from all the foods you eat exactly what your calcium intake is for a normal day? My guess is no. Did you know that there are many forms of calcium as well, each with a different level of bio-availability? As in, calcium carbonate or calcium citrate? The devil, as always, is in the details.

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When you go food shopping and see the growing section of organic products do you ever wonder exactly what "organic" means? Most just think that organic equals healthy and don't take it any further.

A group of organic farmers in Canada want consumers to think beyond the labels and actually consider what they're buying. According to the definition provided here, true organic food contains no genetic modifications and is harvested by hand without the use of herbicides or pesticides. No wonder it costs so much!

The growing demand for organics has led an increasing number of giant farming corporations to get in the game and their rules for production are rarely as strict. In addition, they may use the label "organic" simply as a way to market food to health- and image-conscious consumers. The Canadian farmers want standardized labels to be attached to truly organic products so that consumers can become more aware of exactly what they are buying. As the article mentions, "organic is about the way food is produced, not how it is marketed".

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I'm a food label addict. Unless I'm familiar with a product, I don't buy anything without reading the label first. I even have my son reading labels -- "13 grams of sugar, mom! We can't get that!" Packaging claims can be too confusing -- the labels are the most reliable source of information. But the labels themselves can be confusing, too. For example, sometimes serving sizes can be misleading. (Like toaster pastries (which are crap food in any serving size, of course) -- they're packaged two-by-two. But the serving size is one pastry. Who thought that up?) It turns out a lot of us are confused by nutrition labels. A recent survey showed 75% were a bit perplexed by nutrition labels.

Until you get used to reading all the ins and outs of food labels, it's best to simplify things a bit. Basically it's good to keep in mind what you want to avoid and what you want to look for. You want to minimize fats, cholesterol, and sodium and you want to get enough of fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

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The veggie burger industry is growing steadily as more people look for alternatives to red meat and animal products. As a result, the recipes and methods are getting better and the days of "cardboard burgers" are pretty much over. I'm not crazy for the super-fake options like artificial bacon, but a good bean burger can be really good with the right toppings.

But reading the label on a box of soy burgers can be a little scary, especially if you're a health-conscious consumer (and people don't usually choose soy burgers unless they are). What is all that extra stuff in there with names like disodium guanylate3 and methylcellulose? If you're wondering then this article, coming from MSN, breaks everything down in easy-to-read terms. No more "mystery meat" mysteries!

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I must say, one of the things I'm most thankful for in this world of media and agendas is the "truth in advertising" concept. Now it's true that companies put all kinds of spins and catch phrases on their products, but it's nice to know that ultimately what they literally say on the label must be true.

Case in point: Quaker has agreed (albeit after threat of lawsuit) to re-word some of the claims on its oatmeal packages to eliminate "exaggerated health claims." No worries, oatmeal is still a very heatlhy food. But it's not necessarily magical in its abilities to fight cholesterol and other conditions, so the label will no longer imply that it is.

Now I'm not saying food and nutrition labeling is perfect, in fact it's far from it. But I do take some solace in the fact that at least it's supposed to be.

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This morning, somewhere in between breakfast and lunch, I decided to have a snack bar. It was either that or a cup of my husband's chocolate yogurt and frankly the snack bar seemed like it had more staying power. I got into snack bar years ago for many reasons, namely because they're quick and easy and filling and more nutritionally sound than my usual pretzels--and because they're delicious.

Out of curiosity, I decided to reread the label on my Lemon Zest Luna Bar to see just what was in it. The front of the package advertises the bar has 10 grams of protein, 3 grams of fiber and claims the bar is "low glycemic," whatever that means, is high in calcium and folic acid (to support the claim they're "The Whole Nutrition Bar for Women") and is rich in antioxidants such as vitamins A, C and E. I didn't know those vitamins were antioxidants, but then again, I don't claim to know everything!

The back of the label told more of the story, albeit a pretty good one. As a doctor pal has always maintained, more calories in than out equals weight gain, no matter how you look at it. And, he's right. Luckily for me this particular Luna Bar contained 180 calories, 40 from fat. To some, a snack bar might be considered part or all of a meal replacement, but to me 180 calories is just a small snack. The 40 fat calories I'm not so crazy about but can live with given my generally healthy diet and daily exercise. Ultimately, my point is not whether a snack bar containing 180 calories is good or bad, but rather that you arm yourself with the information. You may be surprised just how high in calories many processed products are, and it pays to know the difference.

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The hot topic with one of my music groups, a female singer songwriting organization known as Indiegrrl, is how to keep yourself marketable as you get older and have to compete with the young gals in the music business.

Ahh Yes. The body parts going south, the hair going white, the wrinkles in your face and neck starting to look like raisins, the hot flashes are like tropical vacations, and your joints so stiff that you walk like you just got off a bucking horse. I'll hit the big 50 this year and I have earned every wrinkle, white hair, and less than perky body part. Here lately I have felt like I was 100. So how can we age gracefully to stay in the game with the younger gals or should we just accept what is.....is what is.

It's hard for older women in the music industry business unless you were an established very well known artist in the days of "Yore". Especially hard for independent artists not signed with major record labels. But you can't lose sleep over it and worry yourself to a stressed state. What you will have to do is find the niche that you can market yourself. It may sometimes mean doing more exercise and watching what you eat more which is hard when you are on the road. It may mean less alcohol to relax after a show and more herbal teas. It may mean that you have to have that 8 or 9 hours of sleep instead of that 5 or 6. Although my band and I can rock with the best of them it is hard to get clubs to book a more than middle aged, short chubby gal that doesn't wear tight jeans or mini skirts and shake her "groove thang" at the crowd. I didn't get started in this business as a solo artist until I was 45 so I was a very late bloomer. Got cancer and got busy living my dreams. My advice to those middle aged or older women in the music business or any business that is male dominated or dominated by the more youthful crowd, is to be honest and promote yourself as close to the picture of reality as possible. I personally tell night club agents or theater personnel when working bookings that, yes I am not your young twenty well built, gorgeous marketable female, but if you have a crowd that likes true to gut vocals and heart felt lyrics with some kick ass musicians that accompany me on stage while I rip at my guitar, then we are your band. If that is not what you are looking for then I'm not wasting your time or mine. I've taken so much prednisone over the years that I am as well rounded as the "Great Halloween Pumpkin" Charlie Brown but it all boils down to being comfortable with yourself. Personally I think Emmylou's long white locks are just as pretty as her long dark locks of days past. And Stevie Nicks may have packed on a few extra pounds over the years but oh how her eyes still sparkle with mystery. It is the true fan that will know when a woman has character with her body and her music.

It's easy to see how misconceptions and misinformation could spread around nowadays, with all kinds of new studies coming out one after another -- seemingly contradicting each other every time. Well here's an article that claims to clear up a little of a the confusion, clarifying the real truth on some of the most common food myths.

Is fresher is always better? No. For example, many flash frozen vegetables retain the majority of their nutrients, while their fresh counterparts' health value degrades over time as they age sitting on the shelf. And doesn't "natural" on the label means less processed? Also not always true. In fact, most of the time foods carrying the word "natural" are more processed and less healthy than some of those that don't.

Read the full "In Pictures" article at forbes.com for the truth behind 3 other common food myths, including my favorite about how sometimes a meal can be good because of what is has (not what it doesn't have).

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