Food labels encompass the whole information that can help everyone make smarter food choices. You will be able to choose foods that provide you with enough nutrients like fiber, calcium, and protein and also you will be able to avoid foods that are high in fats, calories, and sodium through reading the information on the back of the packaged you buy. Learning on how to break the information on a food label can help you abstain problems with allergies and can also help you lose or control your weight.
The food label is divided into several components. And these elements provide facts on the levels of nutrients, serving size, ingredient listing, and other factors in the food product.
Serving size
The serving size is the label which tells you how large a serving of the food product has, how many servings are contained in the package, and the calorie amount per serving. By using this information and following it will help you keep your food serving under control.
Total fat
The total fat of the food product is expressed in grams and it gives the percent daily value (DV) on the food label. And is broken immediately into the types of fats the product has.
• Saturated fat – “bad fats”, such as animal fats
• Trans fat – “bad fats”, from hydrogenated oil
• Unsaturated fat – “good fat”, from vegetable oils
Carbohydrates
The percentage of carbohydrates, listed on the label in grams and percent, which you eat, is an important part of your diet. It should come from whole grains breads, wheat pastas, and brown rice, rather then sugary or starchy foods.
Dietary fiber
Fiber is found in fruits, vegetables and whole grains. It is listed in grams and percent DV on the food label. A diet high in fiber is important in preventing digestive problems.
Cholesterol
The measure of cholesterol of the food product is listed in mg, same as the percent DV. The lower the number is, the better.
Sodium
The sodium amount is also stated in mg and percent DV. Look for foods with less than 140 mg of sodium, or that are labeled “low in sodium”.
Protein
The protein amount is listed in grams and percent DV. Protein is most found in meat, eggs, dairy products, nuts, and beans.
Vitamins and minerals
The vitamins and minerals are both listed on the label along with the name and by percent DV. This include calcium, vit c, iron, vit a, and others.
Ingredients
On the bottom part of the food label are the in order listed ingredients of the food product. It is essential if you or a family member has a food allergy, and for finding hidden ingredients which are high in sugar or trans fats.
Food labels are usually on the package for us to use. Taking effort in reading food labels will give you the truth to make a better choices concerning lower calorie foods, foods that have higher concentrations of the nutrients by which our bodies need, and lower amount of the things we don’t really need, such as cholesterol, saturated fats, and sugar.
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