You can expect that food manufacturers will continue to use natural label claims for as long as possible; this is one trend that is not going anywhere. Products labeled as "natural" or "sustainable" account for $50 billion annually, or 8 percent of total retail grocery sales, so don't expect them to disappear from your grocery store anytime soon.

The trick is to remember that just because someone slaps a "natural" label on a food product, that label does not somehow magically transform a junk food into a health food. "All-natural" processed foods -- ice cream, potato chips, soda, etc. -- are just as detrimental to your health as conventional processed foods -- and they are often far from natural.

"Natural" processed foods routinely contain pesticides, Antibiotics , hormone-disrupting chemicals, genetically modified organisms, chemical additives, colors and preservatives . And, again, they are processed, which is a hindrance to your health in and of itself.

Processed foods are designed to be eaten quickly, on-the-go, and often in large, addictive quantities. In eating these foods you may satisfy a brief craving, but you will not feel satisfied, and you will not have received the vitamins and minerals, the live enzymes and micronutrients, the healthy fats or high-quality protein that your body needs to function, let alone thrive.

Americans currently spend upwards of 90 percent of their food budgets purchasing processed foods, which offer very little in terms of nutritional value and instead typically contain ingredients that will actually cause you harm.

Cancer, heart disease, obesity, diabetes -- all modern plagues that have a dietary component -- are spreading and increasing in occurrence and severity with each passing year. The health statistics speak for themselves.

So if a "natural" label claim is no measure of food quality, then what is?

1. It's grown without pesticides and chemical fertilizers (organic foods fit this description, but so do some non-organic foods)


2. It's not genetically modified. You can get your free Genetically-Modified-Organisms shopping guide here.


3. It contains no added growth hormones, Antibiotics , or other drugs


4. It does not contain artificial anything, nor any preservatives


5. It is a whole food, and this means it will not have a long list of ingredients (for instance, high-quality almond butter should contain almonds (preferably raw) and maybe Sea Salt -- no added oils, sugars, etc.)


6. It is fresh (if you have to choose between wilted organic produce or fresh local conventional produce, the latter is the better option)


7. It did not come from a factory farm


8. It is grown with the laws of nature in mind (meaning animals are fed their native diets, not a mix of grains and animal byproducts, and have free-range access to the outdoors)


9. It is grown in a sustainable way (using minimal amounts of water, protecting the soil from burnout, and turning animal wastes into natural fertilizers instead of environmental pollutants)


10. It is not processed, or only very minimally processed (such as cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil)

If you really want to eat healthy, it's time to take a look at your food budget and delegate 90 percent of it to real, whole foods -- vegetables, grass-fed meat, healthy oils, raw dairy, nuts and seeds. These are the foods that are truly natural, and quite easy to prepare once you get the hang of it.

Your health -- your energy levels, your appearance, your mood and so many other factors -- will improve when you eat the foods your body was designed for. Returning to a diet of locally grown, fresh whole foods -- and ditching the "natural" processed versions -- is really the only way to reach optimal health.