Food or Fake? Why the Nourish Awards Are Essential.
In a world of misleading labels and ultra-processed “health” foods, the Nourish Awards spotlight what’s real, nourishing, and truly good for you.
In a world where supermarket shelves are packed with ultra-processed foods disguised as healthy options, judging the Nourish Awards has never felt more important. These awards celebrate innovation, transparency, and truly nourishing ingredients—qualities that are often lost in the noise of clever marketing and misleading packaging.
Every year, I have the privilege of evaluating products that prioritise health, integrity, and real nutrition. It’s not just about taste or presentation—it’s about what’s inside and how it supports our long-term wellbeing.
More Than Ever, We Need Clarity in the Chaos
Today’s consumers are more confused than ever. With every scroll or shopping trip, they’re bombarded with messages like “high-protein,” “low-carb,” “plant-based,” or “natural”—many of which mean very little in terms of actual nutritional value. The truth is, many of these so-called health foods are packed with additives, sugars, or inflammatory oils that do far more harm than good.
As a nutritionist working with women on gut and hormone health, I see the impact of this confusion daily. Clients come to me exhausted, bloated, and overwhelmed, unsure of what to eat or whom to trust. That’s why shining a spotlight on truly nourishing products is so essential—and why the Nourish Awards are a beacon of hope in an increasingly complex food system.
Celebrating What Food Should Be
Judging the Nourish Awards is more than a task—it’s a mission. It’s a chance to elevate brands that are making a real difference, prioritising health over hype. In doing so, we help create a clearer path for consumers who are looking to feel better, eat better, and live with more vitality.
Because in the end, food should nourish—not confuse.
The sports nutrition category has made considerable progress in recent years, moving beyond synthetic-tasting bars and powders toward more consumer-friendly formats.
However, many products in this space still rely heavily on ultra-processed ingredients. Artificial sweeteners and sugar alcohols, palm oil and low-quality fats, hydrolysed wheat, soy isolates, milk protein concentrates.
These can deliver function but often compromise on digestibility, especially for sensitive individuals.
If you are overwhelmed and are not sure what to eat, reach out as working with a nutritionist can help.
Here’s a list of some of the worst ingredients to avoid for your optimal health, especially when supporting gut health, hormone balance, and reducing inflammation. These are common in ultra-processed foods and can wreak havoc on digestion, energy, and hormonal function:
1. Seed Oils (Vegetable Oils)
- Includes: Canola, soybean, corn, sunflower, safflower
- Why avoid: Highly processed, often oxidized, and high in omega-6 fatty acids, which promote inflammation and disrupt hormonal balance. Omega-6s aren’t inherently bad. We need them in small amounts for things like hormone production and cell health. However, the modern Western diet has created a massive imbalance—too many omega-6s and not enough omega-3s (like those from oily fish, flax, or chia).
- This imbalance can cause chronic inflammation, exacerbate hormone imbalances, disrupt gut health and increase oxidative stress.
Excessive omega-6s from seed oils are linked to cardiovascular disease, obesity, insulin resistance and inflammatory conditions like arthritis, acne, and endometriosis.
Processing Matters.
Most commercial seed oils are:
Refined
Bleached
Deodorized
Heated to high temperatures
This creates oxidised fats and harmful by-products (like aldehydes) that your body struggles to detoxify—leading to cellular inflammation.
Better Fats to Use Instead
For cooking and daily use, opt for:
Extra virgin olive oil (rich in anti-inflammatory polyphenols)
Avocado oil
Coconut oil (great for high-heat)
Grass-fed butter or ghee
Flaxseed or chia oil (cold use only)
While seed oils in tiny, unprocessed amounts might not be harmful, the overuse of refined seed oils in packaged foods, takeaways, and restaurants absolutely contributes to chronic inflammation—especially when combined with a low-omega-3, high-sugar, processed food diet.
2. Artificial Sweeteners
- Includes: Aspartame, sucralose, saccharin, acesulfame K
- Why avoid: Linked to gut microbiome disruption, bloating, cravings, and blood sugar dysregulation—even though they’re calorie-free.
3. Refined Grains
- Includes: White flour, white rice, and anything “enriched”
- Why avoid: Stripped of fibre and nutrients, spike blood sugar, and feed bad gut bacteria. Offer little to no nutritional benefit.
4. High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS)
- Why avoid: Drives fatty liver, insulin resistance, and weight gain. Often hidden in sauces, yoghurts, and cereals.
5. Artificial Colours & Flavours
- Includes: Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 1
- Why avoid: Linked to behavioural issues, allergic responses, and long-term toxicity concerns. Completely unnecessary in real food.
6. Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)
- Why avoid: Can cause headaches, bloating, and overstimulation of the nervous system. Often hidden under names like “yeast extract” or “hydrolyzed protein.”
7. Preservatives Like BHA, BHT, Sodium Nitrite
- Why avoid: These are linked to hormone disruption, gut lining damage, and even cancer risk. Often found in snacks, meats, and cereals.
8. Emulsifiers & Thickeners
- Includes: Polysorbate 80, carboxymethylcellulose, carrageenan
- Why avoid: Disrupt the gut barrier and microbiome, promoting leaky gut and inflammation.
9. Flavour Enhancers & “Natural Flavours”
- Why avoid: These are often chemically derived, unregulated, and can hide dozens of synthetic compounds under one label.
10. Added Sugars (especially hidden ones)
- Includes: Dextrose, maltose, barley malt, cane juice
- Why avoid: Promote inflammation, blood sugar imbalance, and poor gut flora. Often disguised with healthy-sounding names.
If you are overwhelmed and are not sure what to eat, reach out as working with a nutritionist can help.