| Every food item you buy must list the | | | | your daily allowance of sodium, you must |
| nutritional food facts somewhere on its | | | | be careful not eat more items with high |
| label. The trouble is, most of us have | | | | sodium content for the rest of the day. |
| no idea how to read them. Sure, the | | | | Staying within these limits ensures that |
| label may say the food we've chosen has | | | | you are getting just the right amount of |
| 10g of sodium, but what does that really | | | | each nutrient every day ofr optimal |
| mean? Let's take a look at some common | | | | health. |
| nutrition food facts to find out. | | | | Total Fat: |
| Nutrition food labels clearly outline | | | | Everyone needs to eat a certain amount |
| the nutrients found in foods using grams | | | | of fat to remain healthy and strong - |
| (g) or milligrams (mg). Milligrams are | | | | but eat too much and you'll become |
| very small. As a matter of fact, you | | | | sluggish, depressed and unhealthy. Food |
| could fit 1,000 milligrams in a single | | | | labels list several different kinds of |
| gram. | | | | fat for better regulation: saturated, |
| In addition to listing the grams of | | | | unsaturated, and trans fat. |
| nutrients found in the foods we eat, | | | | Cholesterol and Sodium: |
| nutritional fact labels also give the | | | | Cholesterol and sodium (salt) are |
| daily percentage of that nutrient a | | | | usually measured in milligrams and are |
| single serving of that food includes. | | | | featured on food labels for those people |
| Keep in mind that these percentages are | | | | who must restrict their intake of these |
| based on a 2,000 calorie a day diet, so | | | | nutrients. |
| if you are eating less than that the | | | | Total Carbohydrate: |
| percentages would actually be higher. | | | | You need carbohydrates for energy. But |
| Now, let's take a closer look at | | | | too many can make you fat and cause |
| individual nutrition facts listed on | | | | other health concerns. Carbohydrate |
| most food labels: | | | | levels are usually broken down into |
| Serving Size: | | | | grams of sugar and grams of dietary |
| Serving size is the amount of food being | | | | fiber on most food labels. |
| detailed within the nutrition label. It | | | | Protein: |
| is very important to always check the | | | | Protein helps the human body build and |
| serving size since one package or | | | | repair essential parts of the body, such |
| container may contain several serving | | | | as muscles, blood, and organs. It is |
| sizes, so if you eat the entire thing | | | | usually measured in grams. |
| the nutritional facts need to be | | | | Vitamin A and Vitamin C: |
| multiplied accordingly. | | | | These list the amounts of vitamin A and |
| Calories and Calories From Fat: | | | | vitamin C, with each amount given as a |
| The number of calories in a single tells | | | | percent daily value. |
| you the amount of energy that is found | | | | Calcium and Iron: |
| in that particular food. While the | | | | Calcium and iron are essential for a |
| number of calories is important, the | | | | healthy body. These minerals are usually |
| calories from fat is even more important | | | | listed as daily percentages per serving. |
| since they will be harder for your body | | | | Now that you can understand your food |
| to burn. | | | | labels better, start checking out what |
| Percent Daily Value: | | | | you're eating and how much of a good |
| A daily allowance is the percentage of | | | | thing (or not so good thing) you're |
| food/nutrient you should consumer in a | | | | getting with each meal and snack. |
| day. So, if you eat a food with 445% of | | | | |