Food labels represent more than just gift-wrapping that sells food products. You can use the FDA-required nutrition facts and ingredients lists on packages of prepared foods to safeguard your health, manage your weight and make more objective purchases. Learn how much food you should eat, and which ingredients and nutrients a food item contains. Then compare it and make informed choices to gain control over your eating habits, nutritional intake and diet-related health.
Manage Health Conditions
If your health is compromised or you are at risk for a diet-related condition, food ingredient and nutritional information may be crucial to your well-being. For example, if you are allergic to wheat or have trouble maintaining your blood count, a food label can tell you whether wheat contents or the amount of iron in the product will impact your health. In a similar manner, the facts on food labels can help consumers with high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, diabetes and other conditions make wise food comparisons and purchases.
Balance Nutritional Levels
If you live an active life and want your body to work as efficiently as possible, tracking your nutrient intake is important. By achieving your full daily values, or DVs, of vitamins, fiber, minerals and other nutrients, you can strive toward optimum health. The nutrition facts on prepared foods disclose the nutrient content in grams and/or the percentage of individual DVs. So, 1 serving of a food product that contains 50 percent DV of calcium has 500 mg, or half of the recommended daily total of calcium for a 2,000-calorie diet.
Maintain a Healthy Weight
If you want to lose, gain or maintain your weight, knowing how many calories you consume is important. At the very top of the Nutrition Facts box, you'll see the food's suggested serving size and its calorie count per serving. You can add up your calorie intake for the day and week with this information, and decide what to eat, with weight management in mind.
Avoid Chronic Diseases
If you wish to stay healthy, mobile and active as you age, reading nutrition and ingredients information can help you customize your diet. For instance, regulating your calcium or sodium intake can prevent osteoporosis or high blood pressure, and getting enough fiber and balanced nutrition can reduce your risk for some cancers. Other chronic illnesses that may be prevented through dietary means include type 2 diabetes and heart disease
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