Food nutrition labels can be a valuable tool in helping you make informed decisions about the foods you eat. By understanding how to interpret these labels, you can better manage your diet and make healthier choices. Here is a guide on how to interpret food nutrition labels:
1. Serving Size: The first thing to look at on a food nutrition label is the serving size. This tells you how much of the food is considered one serving. All of the information on the label is based on this serving size, so it’s important to pay attention to this when comparing different products.
2. Calories: The next thing to look at is the number of calories per serving. This tells you how much energy you will get from eating that food. If you are trying to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight, it’s important to be mindful of the number of calories you are consuming.
3. Nutrients: The food nutrition label also lists the amount of various nutrients in the food, such as fat, cholesterol, sodium, carbohydrates, fiber, sugars, and protein. It’s important to pay attention to these numbers and choose foods that are lower in unhealthy nutrients like saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium, and higher in healthy nutrients like fiber and protein.
4. % Daily Value: The % Daily Value (%DV) tells you how much of a nutrient one serving of the food provides compared to the recommended daily intake. For example, if a food has 20% DV of fiber, that means one serving provides 20% of the recommended daily intake of fiber. Use the %DV to help you make healthier choices by choosing foods that are higher in nutrients like fiber and lower in nutrients like saturated fat.
5. Ingredients List: The ingredients list on a food nutrition label lists all of the ingredients in the food in descending order by weight. Pay attention to this list to see what ingredients are in the food and if there are any unhealthy additives or preservatives.
6. Health Claims: Some food labels may include health claims such as “low-fat” or “high-fiber.” Be cautious of these claims and always check the nutrition label to verify the accuracy of these claims.
By understanding how to interpret food nutrition labels, you can make more informed decisions about the foods you eat and improve your overall health and well-being. Remember to pay attention to serving sizes, calories, nutrients, %DV, ingredients lists, and health claims when reading food labels. With this knowledge, you can make healthier choices and take control of your diet.
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- Source: Plato Data Intelligence.
- Source: https://renal.platohealth.ai/how-to-read-food-nutrition-labels/