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A Guide on Food Labels

 

A Guide on Food Labels

Brandon Partin - NASM - CPT, VC

brandonpartin95@gmail.com - 931-434-6880

What is the Nutrition Facts Panel?

The nutrition facts panel is simply a label on food products that provide information on the nutrients in a particular food item and is required to be labeled from the guidelines of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

The panel includes information on serving size, calories, and the amounts of various nutrients, including total fat, cholesterol, sodium, carbohydrates, protein, and vitamins and minerals. The panel also includes a list of ingredients used in the product. The nutrition facts panel is intended to help consumers make informed food choices and to promote public health.



What does the serving size mean?

Serving size is the reference amount based on the quantity of the product that consumers are typically thought to consume in a single sitting.



What exactly are calories?

A calorie is a unit of measurement for energy and primarily refers to the energy contents in food and beverages. The body uses food to convert into energy to help with various functions such as breathing, thinking and physical movement.


What does “Saturated Fat” and “Trans Fat” mean under Total Fat on the food label?

Saturated fat itself is primarily found in meat and dairy products and can also be found in some plant based oils. Saturated fats are labeled to be unhealthy because they can raise LDL which is known as bad cholesterol. Trans fat is a type of unsaturated fat that has been chemically altered. For example, changing a vegetable oil liquid into a solid form.


What is “Dietary Fiber”?

Dietary fiber is a substance that is often found in plant based foods that can not be absorbed and digested in the body. There are two types of fiber and they are insoluble and soluble fiber.


What is Percent Daily Value?

Percent Daily Value or (%DV) is a reference value that is found on food labels. This is essentially a way for you to understand how much of a particular nutrient you are getting from a serving of a food or beverage. These daily values are often represented under a 2,000 Calorie diet. If a food label says that a particular food item has 10% Vitamin C, then that means that food has a 10% daily value of the recommended serving of Vitamin C.



Questions to consider when reading food labels


  • Is the serving size appropriate for me?


  • Do I want more or less of this specified serving


  • Does the calorie count seem exceedingly high for the specified serving size?


  • How does this fit in the context of my diet and goals?

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