People nowadays want to eat better and be healthier. One of the many easy ways to do this is to read the nutrition labels on food containers. The nutrition label is a feature of food packaging that is easily overlooked. However, the information on these labels might be confusing at times, making it hard to figure out what it all means. In this article we’re going to look at how to read nutrition labels.
The Basics
There are certain terms found on the nutrition label, usually located on the back or at the side of the food packaging.
Serving Size and Servings per Container: Serving size is the amount of food considered as one portion. If the serving size is 1 cup, it means things like calories, fat, and vitamins are based on eating 1 cup of that food. While serving per container is how many of those serving sizes are in the whole package.
Calories: Calories are measurements that tell you how much energy your body gets from the food you eat. Eating too many calories than your body needs, causes the body to store the extra energy as fat.
Daily Value (DV): Daily Value is how much of a specific nutrient you get from one serving of food compared to what your body needs in a day.
Type of Nutrients Contained In The Nutrition Label
Macronutrients
- Carbohydrates: Carbs are fuel for your body, giving you energy to get through the day.
- Protein: The body needs protein to build and fix your body’s tissues, like muscles, skin, and organs.
- Fat: Fats give you energy and help your body absorb certain vitamins.
Micronutrients
- Vitamins: Vitamins are nutrients that help your body do its job right. Each vitamin has a different purpose.
- Minerals: Minerals are nutrients that your body needs to stay healthy.
Read the Nutrition Facts
| Nutrients | What It Does |
| Total Fat | How much fat is in one serving of the food |
| Saturated Fat | It can raise your cholesterol levels |
| Trans Fat | These are the unhealthy fats that you find in a lot of processed foods |
| Cholesterol | How much cholesterol is in a serving. High cholesterol can cause heart issues |
| Sodium | Sodium is basically salt and too much of it can lead to high blood pressure |
| Total Carbohydrates | How many carbohydrates are in one serving |
| Dietary Fiber | Aids smooth digestion and helps you feel full |
| Sugars | Gives you energy |
| Protein | Builds and repairs your body |
| Vitamins and Minerals | Improves your overall health |
Daily Value (DV) Percentage
Conclusion
These days, a lot of us are trying to eat better and stay healthy. Checking the nutrition labels on food packages is a simple way to eat healthy food. These labels give you important information about what’s inside the food, like how much sugar, fat, and calories it has.
