Knowing Nutrition
What You Should be Looking at on Food Labels
Only 20 percent of people check food labels prior to purchasing. Generally calories and fat content are the only nutritional facts that are skimmed. These two stats do not determine whether a food is really “healthy”.
Although calorie and fat content are important to keep count of, the four items below tell you whether a food is truly healthy:
1.) Sugar
Sugar should be limited to less than 40 grams daily. This is the same amount in just one can of soda! Other ingredients high in sugar which may be included in the ingredient listing are high fructose corn syrup, fruit sweetener, honey, and brown-rice syrup.
2.) Sodium
Sodium should never double the number of calories in a serving. Therefore, if you purchase a meal which contains 400 calories, it should have no more than 800 milligrams of salt. Sodium absorbs your body’s water and can lead to dehydration. Many foods with high levels of sodium are generally processed and lack the nutritional value of natural foods.
3.) Fiber
Fiber helps you feel satisfied and therefore appeases hunger. Look to purchase foods that have at least 2.5 grams of fiber in a serving.
4.) Saturated Fat
Fats should be heart healthy, which means they are monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fats. Avoid products that contain saturated fats which clog the arteries and have no nutritional value.