4 Harmful Ingredients in Packaged Foods

Ninety percent of Americans’ household food budget is spent on processed foods, the majority of which are filled with additives and stripped of nutrients. Discover which common ingredients in the foods you eat pose the greatest risk to your health.

Grab the broccoli with cheese sauce from the freezer, the box of instant rice pilaf from the pantry, or the hot dogs from your fridge and squint at the ingredient list’s fine print. You’ll likely find food additives in every one.

Is this healthy? Compared to the foods our bodies were built to eat, definitely not.

Processed, packaged foods have almost completely taken over the diet of Americans. In fact, nearly 90 percent of our household food budget is spent on processed foods, according to industry estimates.
Unfortunately, most processed foods are laden with sweeteners, salts, artificial flavors, factory-created fats, colorings, chemicals that alter texture, and preservatives. But the trouble is not just what’s been added, but what’s been taken away. Processed foods are often stripped of nutrients designed by nature to protect your heart, such as soluble fiber, antioxidants, and “good” fats. Combine that with additives, and you have a recipe for disaster.

Here are the big four ingredients in processed foods you should look out for:

TRANS FATS
Trans fats are in moist bakery muffins and crispy crackers, microwave popcorn and fast-food French fries, even the stick margarine you may rely on as a “heart-healthy” alternative to saturated-fat-laden butter.

Once hailed as a cheap, heart-friendly replacement for butter, lard, and coconut oil, trans fats have, in recent times, been denounced by one Harvard nutrition expert as “the biggest food-processing disaster in U.S. history.” Why? Research now reveals trans fats are twice as dangerous for your heart as saturated fat, and cause an estimated 30,000 to 100,000 premature heart disease deaths each year.

Trans fats are worse for your heart than saturated fats because they boost your levels of “bad” LDL cholesterol and decrease “good” HDL cholesterol. That’s double trouble for your arteries. And unlike saturated fats, trans fats also raise your levels of artery-clogging lipoprotein and triglycerides.

Trans fats will be listed on the “Nutrition Facts” panel on food beginning in 2006. Until then, check the ingredient list for any of these words: “partially hydrogenated,” “fractionated,” or “hydrogenated” (fully hydrogenated fats are not a heart threat, but some trans fats are mislabeled as “hydrogenated”). The higher up the phrase “partially hydrogenated oil” is on the list of ingredients, the more trans fat the product contains.

Replacing trans fats with good fats could cut your heart attack risk by a whopping 53 percent.

REFINED GRAINS
Choosing refined grains such as white bread, rolls, sugary low-fiber cereal, white rice, or white pasta over whole grains can boost your heart attack risk by up to 30 percent. You’ve got to be a savvy shopper. Don’t be fooled by deceptive label claims such as “made with wheat flour” or “seven grain.” Or by white-flour breads topped with a sprinkling of oats, or colored brown with molasses. Often, they’re just the same old refined stuff that raises risk for high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart attacks, insulin resistance, diabetes, and belly fat.

At least seven major studies show that women and men who eat more whole grains (including dark bread, whole-grain breakfast cereals, popcorn, cooked oatmeal, brown rice, bran, and other grains like bulgur or kasha) have 20 to 30 percent less heart disease. In contrast, those who opt for refined grains have more heart attacks, insulin resistance, and high blood pressure.

Read the ingredient list on packaged grain products. If the product is one of those that are best for you, the first ingredients should be whole wheat or another whole grain, such as oats. The fiber content should be at least 3 grams per serving.

SALT
Three-quarters of the sodium in our diets isn’t from the saltshaker. It’s hidden in processed foods, such as canned vegetables and soups, condiments like soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce, fast-food burgers (and fries, of course), and cured or preserved meats like bacon, ham, and deli turkey.

Some sodium occurs naturally in unprocessed edibles, including milk, beets, celery, even some drinking water. And that’s a good thing: Sodium is necessary for life. It helps regulate blood pressure, maintains the body’s fluid balance, transmits nerve impulses, makes muscles — including your heart — contract, and keeps your senses of taste, smell, and touch working properly. You need a little every day to replace what’s
lost to sweat, tears, and other excretions.

But what happens when you eat more salt than your body needs? Your body retains fluid simply to dilute the extra sodium in your bloodstream. This raises blood volume, forcing your heart to work harder; at the same time, it makes veins and arteries constrict. The combination raises blood pressure.
Your limit should be 1,500 milligrams of sodium per day, about the amount in three-fourths of a teaspoon of salt. (Table salt, by the way, is 40 percent sodium, 60 percent chloride.) Older people should eat even less, to counteract the natural rise in blood pressure that comes with age. People over 50 should strive for 1,300 mg; those over 70 should aim for 1,200 mg.

Only the “Nutrition Facts” panel on a food package will give you the real sodium count. Don’t believe claims on the package front such as “sodium-free” (foods can still have 5 mg per serving); “reduced sodium” (it only means 25 percent less than usual); or “light in sodium” (half the amount you’d normally find).

HIGH-FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP
Compared to traditional sweeteners, high-fructose corn syrup costs less to make, is sweeter to the taste, and mixes more easily with other ingredients. Today, we consume nearly 63 pounds of it per person per year in drinks and sweets, as well as in other products. High-fructose corn syrup is in many frozen foods. It gives bread an inviting, brown color and soft texture, so it’s also in whole-wheat bread, hamburger buns, and English muffins. It is in beer, bacon, spaghetti sauce, soft drinks, and even ketchup.

Research is beginning to suggest that this liquid sweetener may upset the human metabolism, raising the risk for heart disease and diabetes. Researchers say that high-fructose corn syrup’s chemical structure encourages overeating. It also seems to force the liver to pump more heart-threatening triglycerides into the bloodstream. In addition, fructose may zap your body’s reserves of chromium, a mineral important for healthy levels of cholesterol, insulin, and blood sugar.

To spot fructose on a food label, look for the words “corn sweetener,” “corn syrup,” or “corn syrup solids” as well as “high-fructose corn syrup.”

Secrets to Approaching a Prospect

There is more to the business than just approaching the best prospects on your name list. The other important component is meeting people. Yet most people in the business will never reach even the beginning stages of the leadership ranks for one simple reason: They don’t know how to expand their prospect universe and meet new people.

And what a waste that is. Because the ability to find and attract prospects is a fairly simple skill to learn. And it can be done fairly readily within your warm market. The key factor is the type of approach you use initially.
There are actually two different types of approaches to use with prospects:
* The Direct Approach
* The Indirect or Mystery Approach

Most distributors in Network Marketing only know one — the ‘indirect’ or ‘mystery’ approach. Here are some examples of this approach:

“Chuck, you seem like a sharp guy. I’m wondering if you ever explore opportunities to make a second income. I’m expanding my business, and I’m looking for a couple of key people. I’d love to sit down and discuss it with you.”

“Chuck, I’ve got a high-volume marketing business (or, I’m working with some people who have a high- volume marketing business), and we’re expanding in this area. We’re looking for a couple of key people, and I thought you might be interested in taking a look.”

The indirect approach works very well with the casual acquaintances you will meet as you go about your life. However, it’s not very for effective you’re your family and close friends. They respond much better to the direct approach. A direct invite looks like this:

“Hey Chuck. It’s Randy. Got a minute?” “Sure.” “Got a quick question for you. What do you know about Network Marketing?”

This approach can also be done by substituting the name of your actual company in place of network marketing. (Ex: “What do you know about Shaklee?”)

I found the direct approach was a breakthrough for my business, and so has everyone I’ve taught it to. Now that may surprise you if you have the belief that people are skeptical about the industry and you think you need to keep things a secret until late in the process. I used to think that. But experience has given me a different belief. I actually discovered that most people are fascinated with the idea of network marketing and quite curious about it.

So if you’re still suffering from the belief that people think it is a pyramid or it’s a chain letter, or most of them will respond negatively–you’re making all of that up yourself. My experience with the direct approach has shown me nothing but positive reactions, and, in many cases, very qualified leads.

What makes the direct approach so effective is the fact that in reality, almost everybody you know–already knows you’re in Network Marketing. How? Because your friends all talk about you when you’re not around!
So, when you call up with the indirect approach, they wonder why you are being sneaky and mysterious, and they respond with skepticism. It insults their intelligence. When you approach them with respect, they respect you and the opportunity a lot more. That doesn’t mean you never get a negative response. Once in a great while, you may. They might tell you that they tried that five years ago and spent a lot of money on water filters which took them several years to sell at the flea market. Believe it or not, that’s not necessarily a bad response. It’s good to find out if there is any negativity up front. Then, you come back with something like:

“Well, you know, the industry has changed a lot over the last couple of years, and I’ve got an opportunity that I’m very excited about. Since you have experience in the business, I’d really love to sit down with you, have a cup of coffee, and have you evaluate it for me. Would you be willing to take 30 minutes and take a look at this with me?”

Even a skeptic can’t resist an opportunity like that! They’ll agree to meet you thinking they are going to save you from yourself. Once they see an actual presentation, they’ll probably discover that the problems Network Marketing has during its developmental years (front-end loading, hype-driven comp plans, etc) have since been corrected. And it’s highly likely that they will end up joining.

Remember, there was a reason they joined in the first place. They had that dream to be their own boss, get rich, or experience the MLM lifestyle. Chances are it isn’t dead; just in hibernation. Your presentation could be the impetus that revives it!

In reality, most people don’t know the real scope of Network Marketing. If they did, they’d be in it, and already be millionaires. What they have is a superficial distorted view, based on their two- or three-week experience from five or ten years ago. Perhaps they were front-loaded in some shady company or got duped by a pyramid scheme posing as a legitimate company. But that tells you they did have a desire to build a residual side income business at some point. When they really sit down and take an objective look at it–most people will see the soundness of the business today.

The direct approach absolutely gets right to the point, and it’s very effective. It lets you know exactly what your prospect’s perception of the business is, so you can respond appropriately.

In actuality though, the people who still hold a negative view of the business today is a small minority. Network Marketing companies are trading on the stock exchange, and have been featured positively in publications like INC. magazine, The Wall Street Journal, and SUCCESS magazine.

If you are open and professional in the manner you bring it up, most people are willing to spend 30 minutes with you to take a look at what it’s about. The direct invite really has the potential to transform your business. Using the right approach…

The secret to all this is knowing which person to use which approach with. For casual acquaintances or people who respond to marketing campaigns you run, I still favor the indirect approach. This still works very well with them, because casual acquaintances will take you at your word.

If it’s somebody you met at the mall that you had a 15-minute conversation with, and you call them up later and let them know that you have a marketing business that’s expanding in the area, and you’re looking for a couple of key people, they’ll simply accept that.

Whereas your brother or neighbor may not take you at your word if you came with the indirect approach. They are much more likely to challenge you. So with friends, neighbors, and relatives–I definitely like the direct approach.

Prospecting and presenting is the engine that drives fast growth in this business. The savvy network marketers are the ones who know how to create a steady stream of new prospects to look at their business. This gives you the opportunity to only work with the best and brightest people. You control your growth, and you build a business with the people you enjoy.

Of course the best part of all this is the magic of duplication. Whatever you do at the top of the organization duplicates down through the whole group. So what you do expands exponentially. And that makes for some pretty astounding growth!

Going Core

There are nine key qualities that every great Network Marketer possesses. It’s likely that you already practice some or most of them. But to be a leader, and set an example that others can duplicate, you must practice ALL of them.

To live all nine core qualities means you’ve made and honored a commitment to “Go Core.” To develop your business, you must identify and work with the people in your organization who are willing to make this very same commitment. Let’s take a look at each one of these core qualities:

Core Quality 1) Use all of the products

To “Go Core” means that if your company has a product, you would never buy a competing product for any reason … ever! A “Brand X” product purchase takes money out of your business and puts it into someone else’s. A core person never buys “Brand X,” regardless of sales, convenience, or for any other reason. It’s simply bad business. You must use all of your company’s products that apply to you - and be able to talk knowledgeably and enthusiastically about them – to effectively build your business.

Core Quality 2) Develop a consumer group

Your business is driven by the volume produced by sales to the end consumer. A great deal of those sales will be to distributors who “buy from their own store” and use the products themselves. But there are many other people who will benefit from your products or services, but are not interested in building a business at this time. These people will become your consumer group.
It’s critical that you develop this consumer group. This is good business, because you:
1) Service the people who aren’t distributors, but need your products or service;
2) Earn retail income;
3) Develop consistent income you can count on from regular customers; and
4) Build personal group volume – volume that can keep you qualified to earn other lucrative bonuses and incentives. It’s a good goal to develop a base of at least ten retail customers when you are just starting out.
Core Quality 3) Make regular presentations
Like every business, Network Marketing requires consistently taking action steps. One of the most important of these is making regular presentations. Realistically, you need to be making three to five presentations a week when you start your business (working seven to ten hours a week). As your business grows, you will want to increase this number. When you reach what I consider “full time” in this business (about 25 hours a week), you will want to be making five to eight presentations a week. Of course, not all of these presentations will be new prospects that you want to personally sponsor. Many of them will be presentations you are conducting for your people as you train them and build depth.
You must consistently make presentations if you want to grow your business. Don’t be misled into thinking you’re growing your business with “busy work” (reading manuals, going to seminars, filling out forms, etc.). These things are important, but they are support functions to the real business – which is making regular, successful presentations to prospects.

Core Quality 4) Attend the functions

Functions are the glue that holds your business together. Attending them helps you grow your business, gives you crucial training, and keeps you focused. In your regional area, you will have the chance to attend opportunity showcases, product workshops and rallies. If these are within two to three hours driving distance, you will want to attend. There will be other events, such as conventions and leadership conferences, which are held annually. These are major, often life-changing events, and you’ll want to schedule your vacation time around them so you never miss one.

Core Quality 5) Spend daily self-development time

If I’ve discovered one fundamental truth, it is this: your business will grow only as fast as you grow. You will have to develop new skills as your business progresses. Initially, you will need recruiting and training skills. Later, you will need time management and organizational skills. Ultimately, you will need leadership, communication and empowerment capabilities. In order to develop others, you must first develop yourself.
It’s important that you set aside specific time each day for self-development. For most people, this is best done in the morning before your workday starts. You might meditate, exercise, listen to inspirational tapes, or read anything that helps you grow your mind, body and soul. Set aside this time and stick to it.
Invest in audiotapes, books and videos that help your personal development…and make sure half of this is specific to your network marketing business. Keep tapes or CDs in your car to play at every opportunity you have throughout the day. Get a portable CD player and use it when you go walking or cycling.
Don’t end your day by watching the late news and then going to sleep. Make sure the last input you receive before going to bed is positive – even if it’s just reading one paragraph from an inspirational book.
Many companies or sponsorship lines offer programs that provide positive, inspirational and/or instructional material on a subscription basis. If you’re in such a situation, you are quite fortunate, because much of the work of finding and getting good material is already done for you. Sign up right away and make sure your people do, as well.

NOTE: If your company doesn’t have such a program, or you would like to supplement your program, I’d like to suggest that you consider a subscription to my “Dynamic Development Series.” Each month you’ll receive a one-hour tape dedicated to exploring the frontiers of body-mind development.

Core Quality 6) Be teachable

If you want to build your business in the fastest manner possible, you must be teachable and willing to be coached. You will find Network Marketing is quite different from traditional businesses. Things that work great in sales, sometimes do not work well in Network Marketing. Your sponsorship line has learned the methods, strategies and techniques that work best in your business. They will work with you and teach you everything they know…without charging you a penny. Your sponsor is the repository of all the experience of many generations of distributors – all the way to the company. Learn from them.

Core Quality 7) Practice accountability

Network Marketing is a business of relationships, and relationships operate on trust. To earn and maintain that trust, you must be accountable. You can never tell a lie to your distributors or customers and be accountable. Accountability also means that when you write checks, they’re good; when you promise to work with someone, you follow through; and when you commit to attend an event, you’re there – on time.
Accountability means that when we have a product display with 24 products, there will still be 24 products at the end of the night. It means never approaching someone else’s prospect or attempting to steal distributors from another line.

You create the culture of your organization. If you do it right, it will mean you can hold a function and 800 women can leave heir purses on their chairs, come back, and find everything exactly as they left it!

Core Quality 8) Edify the organization

Savvy distributors learn that they must edify their sponsorship line. By “edify,” I simply mean to build up. When you point out the success and accomplishments of your sponsors – it makes those sponsors more effective when they come to work with both your prospects and distributors. Many times you will find it difficult to be a prophet in your own hometown. Sometimes your friends and relatives aren’t yet ready to accept that powerful, positive concepts can come from you.

By edifying your sponsorship line – then bringing your prospects to them – you’ll have support to hold you over until you develop some initial success and credibility. Likewise, your sponsorship line can help you when you’re working with your new distributors.

This was a lesson I had to learn the hard way. I was so ego-driven when in my early years in the business, that I would never edify my sponsor. In fact, I did quite the opposite. I used to complain to all my people how weak my sponsor was, hoping I would look strong by comparison. (Of course it did just the opposite, but I couldn’t see that.)

In any event, when my sponsor would come to town, do training, or conduct a meeting – none of my people would turn out. So when I needed someone to give me credibility, there was no one to provide that. I never got any of my close friends or family members in the business. I still today believe the reason is because I didn’t edify my sponsorship line.

Core Quality 9) Follow the system

Leaders understand that “lone rangers” can be successful initially – but will not enjoy long-term success. For residual income, and walk away security, you must follow a step-by-step duplicatable system, and you yourself must be duplicatable.

This means that everyone in your organization uses the same marketing materials, employs the same training procedures and follows a standardized presentation. This way, the method you use to bring in new people is the same method they use to bring in their new people. You are completely duplicatable. Regardless of someone’s previous job experience, their education or confidence level – they can do the business in exactly the same, successful way you did.

Your sponsorship line has learned what works and what doesn’t. They have created the system based upon that experience. Follow the system and you have the resources of the entire sponsorship line working for you. If you change the system, you lose the benefits of having all those resources at your disposal. Also, when you change the system, (substituting a different tape, changing the presentation, etc.) you send a message to your people that it’s OK to change the system.

Your first-level people change the system a little, so their first-level people change the system a little, and so it goes down through the entire group. After a few levels, there is no system, so you have no security, no potential for walk away, residual income. And that means no “drink out of a coconut money!”

Go Core!

These nine Core Qualities are what separates network marketing leaders from the people who drop by the wayside and never reach long-term success in the business. Practicing all the core qualities isn’t easy – it’s not supposed to be. But you must practice them if you’re truly interested in building a network where others can achieve the same success as you.

“Going Core” means doing all nine actions, not just the ones you like. It also takes a substantial investment in you. But you will discover that the people who commit to going core reach dramatically higher levels of success than those who don’t. As a leader committed to empowering others, you have a responsibility to go core yourself, and create this culture throughout your organization.

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