Although you may see the term "nutrition" quite often, you may not know what it means. Your diet is composed of everything you eat. Each food or beverage item is assigned a nutritional value. If you are unsure of what nutritional values are, organizations like the U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA, provide resources to help you understand and identify nutritional values.
Importance of Nutritional Values
Nutritional values tell you how many nutrients are contained in a certain food item. Because it is necessary to monitor your intake of certain foods and nutrients, the Food and Drug Administration, FDA, requires food manufacturers to communicate nutritional values to consumers of these foods.
Calories
One of the most common nutritional values is calories. Caloric values play a significant role in your health because calories are the measurement used to provide a general indication of a food or beverage item's health value. Calories are a helpful tool in helping you to monitor your actual caloric intake in comparison to your recommended caloric intake. On average, most adults can consume 2,000 calories daily and maintain a healthy weight. However, this amount can vary due to age, gender or physical activity.
Fat
Fats are another common nutritional value. It is important to limit your intake to prevent the development of cardiovascular disease. According to MayoClinic.com, if you consume 2,000 calories daily, you can consume 44 to 78 g of total fat daily. This includes 16 to 22 g of saturated fat. A food label can provide you with additional information on how much fat is included in a food item.
Protein
Protein is an important nutritional value to monitor because it is an essential part of your diet. Protein is needed to keep your muscles healthy and provide your body with an energy source. MayoClinic.com advises that consuming 50 to 175 g of protein daily is considered a healthy limit.
Cholesterol
Foods such as meats or others containing animal fats may also contain cholesterol. Like fat, cholesterol is a controversial part of nutrition because when consumed in excess, it can lead to the development of high cholesterol or contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease. However, consuming some cholesterol is okay. According to the USDA, you should limit your daily cholesterol intake to 300 mg. However, reducing it to 200 mg can also reduce your risk for cardiovascular disease.
Sodium
Sodium is also a component of nutrition. Therefore, some is necessary to assist in healthy heart functioning and other body processes. If you eat 2,000 calories daily, you can consume 1,500 mg of sodium, according to the USDA.
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