Understanding Food Labels

Health claims on food packages can be confusing, and it's sometimes hard to reconcile the information on the front of the package with what's on the nutrition facts panel on the back of the package. Making informed choices about the food you buy can help you maintain a healthy diet. Understanding food nutrition labels is essential to that process. Knowing your numbers for recommended daily calorie and nutrient intake can help you make choices to stay within healthy guidelines and to manage your weight.

Manufacturers have the option of providing addition information. But sometimes a little interpretation is required. For example what, exactly, is "low fat?" Here are the per-serving requirements that must be met before using these claims:

• Fat-Free: Less than 0.5 grams of fat, with no added fat or oil.
• Low fat: 3 grams or less of fat.
• Less fat: 25% or less fat than the comparison food.
• Saturated Fat Free: Less than 0.5 grams of saturated fat and 0.5 grams of trans-fatty acids.
• Cholesterol-Free: Less than 2 mg cholesterol and 2 grams or less saturated fat.
• Low Cholesterol: 20 mg or less cholesterol and 2 grams or less saturated fat.
• Reduced Calorie: At least 25% fewer calories than the comparison food.
• Low Calorie: 40 calories or less.
• Extra Lean: Less than 5 grams of fat, 2 grams of saturated fat, and 95 mg of cholesterol per (100 gram) serving of meat, poultry or seafood.
• Lean: Less than 10 grams of fat, 4.5 g of saturated fat, and 95 mg of cholesterol per (100 gram) serving of meat, poultry or seafood.
• Light (fat): 50% or less of the fat than in the comparison food.
• Light (calories): 1/3 fewer calories than the comparison food.
• High-Fiber: 5 grams or more fiber.
• Sugar-Free: Less than 0.5 grams of sugar.
• Sodium-Free or Salt-Free: Less than 5 mg of sodium.
• Low Sodium: 140 mg or less.
• Very Low Sodium: 35 mg or less.
• Healthy: A food low in fat, saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium, that contains at least 10% of the Daily Values for vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, calcium, protein or fiber.
• "High", "Rich in" or "Excellent Source": 20% or more of the Daily Value for the designated nutrient.
• "Good Source Of", "More", or "Added": The food provides 10% more of the Daily Value for a given nutrient than the comparison food.
• "Less", "Fewer" or "Reduced": At least 25% less of a given nutrient or calories than the comparison food.
• "Low", "Little", "Few", or "Low Source of": An amount that would allow frequent consumption of the food without exceeding the Daily Value for the nutrient.

What to consider when going through Food Labels?

Consider the following when examining a food nutrition label:

• Serving Size/Servings Per Container: Serving sizes are standardized in measurements (cups, etc.) so you can compare similar foods. Numbers listed for calories and nutrient amounts are based on this "serving size." If you consume more than a serving then you must recognize that you are consuming additional calories and nutrients.
• Calories: Calories are energy. The trick is to consume the right amount of calories and get the recommended number of nutrients at the same time.
• % Daily Value: This tells you what percentage of daily nutrient requirements a food contains. Percentages of daily values (DV) are based on a 2000 calorie a day diet. A DV greater than 20% of any vitamin or mineral indicates that a food is a good source of that nutrient.
• Total Fat: Your fat intake throughout the course of the day should be about 30% of your total calories. The food label provides separate numbers for "trans," monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, and saturated fats. Try to limit your intake of trans fats. The monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats are healthier for your heart than the trans (although consumption of them should also be limited).
• Sodium: To lessen your risk of hypertension, limit yourself to 1,500 milligrams of sodium per day.
• Potassium: This mineral helps balance sodium levels in your blood. Although there is no "Recommended Daily Allowance," experts agree that you need 2,000 - 3,500 milligrams daily.
• Dietary Fiber: Fiber is the important key in managing your weight. Fiber helps you lose weight by making you feel full. Both soluble and insoluble fibers are beneficial for protecting your arteries from cholesterol buildup and assisting your digestive system. Look for food high in fiber. You need 25 to 35 grams daily to stay healthy.
• Sugars: Labels do not differentiate between natural and refined sugars, so look for added sugars in the ingredients list. High fructose corn syrup, cane syrup, brown rice syrup or evaporated cane juice are examples of refined sugars.
• Protein: It is recommended that you should have 0.8 grams of protein for every kilogram of body weight. So, divide your weight in pounds by 2.2 to get your weight in kilograms, then multiply that number by .8 to get the number of grams of protein needed each day. For example, if you weigh 135 pounds, or 61 kilograms, you will need about 49 grams of protein per day.
• Vitamin A: The recommended daily allowance for vitamin A is 900 micrograms per day. Vitamin A is an essential vitamin for maintaining healthy eyes and preventing infection.
• Vitamin C: This is an essential nutrient with disease-fighting antioxidants. The recommended daily allowance is 75 milligrams. Manufacturers add it to all sorts of foods so be careful not to get too much. Excess Vitamin C may result in gastrointestinal problems.

At first, the need to be vigilant with food labels will be a hard lesson, but as time passes reading labels will become second nature. It will be well worth the investment, and, in the end, your health will be better for it.