4 minute read
Wake Up and Read the Labels!
Wake Up and Read the Labels!
Mandeville resident Jen Smiley, creator of The Label Letter and founder of Wake Up and Read the Labels, is helping thousands of individuals conquer fatigue, skin issues, stubborn weight, and much more through her innovative, sustainable, and, most importantly, simple approach to eating clean.
Jen believes that real food is medicine and attributes many of the struggles people face daily to the fake ingredients hidden in seemingly “healthy” foods. She not only sheds light on the food industry’s deceptive marketing tactics but also offers proven solutions and recommendations for nearly every product imaginable. This allows people to enjoy their favorite foods—free of restriction and guilt— while still feeling their best.
“I help people discover what’s really inside their food,” Jen explains. “Diets aren’t sustainable. Plus you’re never really happy and honestly, where’s the fun in that? My goal is to educate people about the choices they make in the food industry. With simple swaps—like better ketchups, mayos, flours, or oils—you can still enjoy the foods you love and feel your best. When you feel good, you look even better. Who doesn’t want that?”
Jen’s clients often experience life-changing results: reduced inflammation, relief from joint pain, freedom from IBS symptoms, better sleep, glowing skin, weight loss, no bloating, and newfound energy—eliminating the need for that second cup of coffee..
Through digital products, apps, and The Label Letter, Jen provides clean grocery store swaps and easy recipes, making healthy eating accessible to everyone.
Jen’s journey began when a family member was diagnosed with prostate cancer and needed to lose 30 pounds in three months before robotic surgery. He asked Jen for help.
“I went to the grocery store and stocked up on all the foods he loved, but without the junk ingredients. He texted me everything he ate and even sent photos of restaurant menus for me to recommend the cleanest meals,” she recalls.
Not only did he lose 35 pounds, but his blood pressure and cholesterol improved so much that he no longer needed medication. Most remarkably, his prostate numbers declined when they should have increased.
“That’s when I realized I had a secret that could genuinely change people’s lives,” Jen says.
5 Clean Swaps
Dave’s Killer Bread
While this bread advertises nuts and seeds, it’s primarily made of gluten, which contains fructans that make your brain crave sugar and keep you hungry. Additionally, it has 27 times more omega-6 than omega-3 fatty acids, contributing to inflammation.
Swap it with: Pacha Bread, made with organic sprouted buckwheat and sea salt. Buckwheat is rich in B vitamins, resistant starch, and dietary fiber, promoting digestion and relieving constipation.
Canola Oil
Canola oil is high in omega-6 fatty acids and often used in American diets, along with sunflower, soybean, and grapeseed oils. Grilled entrées at restaurants are typically coated in these oils, leaving you feeling puffy and bloated.
Use instead: Avocado oil or extra virgin olive oil. Both are anti-inflammatory and won’t cause bloating.
Almond and Oat Milk
While popular, many almond and oat milks are packed with seed oils, emulsifiers, and preservatives that can wreak havoc on your body. Oats, in particular, are high in omega-6 fatty acids, spike blood sugar more than ice cream, and contribute to bloating.
Choose: Clean coconut, cashew, flax, pistachio, or almond milks with simple ingredients: water, nuts, and salt.
Protein Bars
Brands like Think Thin, Luna, and Clif are loaded with unrecognizable ingredients that your body struggles to process. If you don't recognize an ingredient, neither does your body. These bars keep you bloated and fatigued.
Opt for: Bearded Brothers, Larabar, or Thunderbird Bars. Made with simple, whole ingredients, they’re easy for your body to recognize and digest.
Wine
Here in Louisiana, we love a good glass of wine on the porch. But the headache, joint aches, and flushed skin that follow aren’t due to your age or allergies - they’re caused by additives. The FDA allows up to 78 additives in wine. Do you ever wonder why your wine tastes the same year after year? It’s because these additives provide for a consistent “trademark flavor”.
Pick: Organic wines with no added sulfites. European wines are an excellent choice due to stricter regulations and fewer additives.
Final Thought
“It’s not your age or stress level making you feel bad - though we could all use more sunlight, exercise, and less stress. It’s what you eat every day,” Jen says. “You can choose to either feed or fight disease. The food industry hides harmful ingredients and distracts you with calorie counts. But with simple changes, you can overcome inflammation and feel amazing. Eat simple. Feel good.”
To learn more:
https://www.instagram.com/wakeupandreadthelabels/
https://podcast.wakeupandreadthelabels.com/
To get recipes & swaps:
