Luna Lore

I don't really have a problem with Luna Bars. I think they're okay once in a while, although at 190 calories and a tablespoon's worth of added sugar, you're better off having some whole fruit and a handful of raw nuts instead.

They are definitely not bad enough to be considered one of my "wolf in sheep's clothing" items, but I was a tad bit disappointed when I saw their latest line of products -- Luna teacakes (not pictured).

It's not so much the product I have a problem with, but the claims on the label.

For instance, the vanilla macadamia teacake is meant for "mood balance".

Per the eye-pleasing website, "Omega-3, vanilla for aromatherapy, goji berries for increasing spirits and optimism, and Vitamin D, the "sunshine vitamin", connected to boosting mood through the stimulation of serotonin."

Let's break this down.

"Vanilla for aromatherapy." Except this isn't a candle. Unless you plan on snorting your Luna teacake, how is this relevant?

"Goji berries for increasing spirits and optimism." Yes, goji berries are a nutritional powerhouse (which I will soon feature as an "All-Star of the Day"), but to say they increase optimism is silly. Optimism is not a nutrient.

As for the Vitamin D claim -- the best way to get it is just by being out in the sun, so it truly IS the sunshine vitamin (no quotation marks necessary).

Regardless, increased serotonin levels are also linked to carbohydrate consumption, so McDonald's could make that same claim for their French fries! Again, though, this statement is such a leap. It would be equivalent to a company saying their blueberry sauce is relaxing because the color blue has been shown to lower stress levels.

Although eating healthy, whole foods definitely provides us with more energy (in turn giving us an overall feeling of physical and emotional wellness), going to the other extreme and selling a food as a "mood upper" is just a hyperbolized marketing strategy.