This was written for the Huffington Post but we loved how this article was written. Its always confusing really understanding labels. Here are some highlights.
By, Laura Schocker
One step to fighting the obesity battle might just be printed on the back of your food package. New research published in the journal Agricultural Economics suggests that people who read nutrition labels tend to be slimmer than those who don’t. And that effect was especially pronounced among women: Female study participants who scanned labels were more than eight pounds lighter than their non-label-reading peers.
Of course, it could be that those who look at labels are already more health-conscious, but it can only help to understand what’s really in your food. And while the finding is somewhat intuitive, the truth is that many of us aren’t reading those labels. A study published last year in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association found that while a third of people say they always look at the calorie counts on a label, in reality only 9 percent really do. And just 1 percent looked at the other components, including total fat, trans fat, sugar and serving size.
“The results of this study suggest that consumers have a finite attention span for Nutrition Facts labels: although most consumers did view labels, very few consumers viewed every component on any label,” study researchers Dan J. Graham, Ph.D. and Robert W. Jeffrey, Ph.D., of the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, wrote in their findings.
So how can we make label reading more accessible?
Smart Ways To Read A Nutrition Label
Serving Size
“The entire food label is based on one thing, and that’s serving size,” Blatner says. “It is the most underestimated, under-written about, under-talked about thing on a food label.”
And so, accordingly, this should be the first thing you look at when scanning the back of a package. Planning to eat all three servings in a bag of pretzels? You’ll need to remember to multiply all the numbers below by three.
Learn more about how serving sizes are determined here.
Calories (And Calories From Fat)
Now that two thirds of the U.S. population is overweight or obese, Blatner says calories should be your next stop when evaluating a label. “Calories make the world go round with weight,” she says.
Forty calories per serving is considered “low,” 100 calories is “moderate” and 400 calories and beyond is “high,” according to the American Heart Association. Food labels are based on a 2,000 calorie diet — you might need more or less depending on your age, weight, gender and activity level. For reference, calculate your recommended daily calorie intake by clicking over to the Mayo Clinic, and speak to your doctor for specific recommendations.
As for that “calories from fat” line? Skip it, Smithson says. “It’s confusing and it doesn’t give as much great information as the other parts of the label.”
Fat (Total Fat, Saturated Fat, Trans Fat)
In the past, Blatner says, people obsessed about the “total fat” line on the label — but now we know there are actually good fats we need in our diet, namely the heart-healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats (found, for instance, in fatty fish).
So instead of focusing on the total fat count, look for saturated fats, which raise blood cholesterol levels and increase risk for heart disease and stroke. The American Heart Association recommends limiting these fats to 7 percent of total daily calories — that adds up to 16 grams for someone on a 2,000 calorie-a-day diet. Too complicated? Try the 5 and 20 trick: 5 percent of your daily value is considered low and 20 percent is considered high, anything in between is moderate. So aim for 5 percent or less on the things you don’t want (like saturated fat) and 20 percent or more on the things you do.
Trans fats are especially dangerous, as they raise your LDL (bad) cholesterol and lower your good (HDL) cholesterol at the same time, according to the Mayo Clinic. Fortunately, many manufacturers have scrambled to remove trans fat from their products. But Smithson points out that a label can say it has 0 g of trans fat as long as it actually contains .49 grams or fewer — meaning that if you consume more than one serving size, you might still go beyond the daily limits. Look for the words “partially hydrogenated” on the ingredient label, which is another way of saying trans fat, the Mayo Clinic says.
Total Carb
Despite their bad rap, carbs are an important nutrient, and a key source of energy for the body. (Complex carbohydrates, which include whole grains, are the healthier pick over refined or simple carbohydrates,
according to the NIH).
Carb counting is important for people with diabetes, Smithson explains, as carbohydrates raise blood glucose levels.
Cholesterol
“Saturated fat is tied even more to your actual body cholesterol levels than cholesterol in food itself,” Blatner says, so when doing a quick label scan, you’re better off to look for the former rather than the latter. That said, you should still keep the amount of cholesterol as low as possible (5 percent of your daily value or less according to the 5 and 20 rule).
And remember that cholesterol only occurs in animal products — if a bag of peanuts, for instance, is boasting being “cholesterol free,” that’s no great feat.
Fiber
Plenty of dietary fiber is important for maintaining intestinal regularity and bowel health, Smithson explains. Other benefits include reducing blood cholesterol levels and controlling blood sugar levels, and assisting in weight loss, according to the Mayo Clinic.
The USDA recommends consuming 14 g of fiber for every 1,000 calories per day, which adds up to 28 g for someone on a 2,000 calorie diet. But no need to do math — the 5 and 20 rule applies again; shoot to pick foods with 20 percent or more of your daily value of fiber. For a list of surprisingly rich sources of fiber, click here.
Protein
According to the CDC, about 35 percent of your daily calories should come from protein — that’s about 46 g for adult women and 56 g for adult men.
The FDA doesn’t require labels to list percent daily values for protein (unless a claim is made that it’s “high protein”), as most adults and children consume plenty of the nutrient.
Meat may be the most well-known source of protein, but it’s definitely not the only option — for a list of meat-free sources, click here.
Read your labels,stay informed, and make it part of everyday life. The benefits will be energizing.
I would like to give a shout out to Angelina Jolie. In the news today it was revealed that she had a double mastectomy back in February. Who knew? It is really none of our business, but she is always in the spotlight so I guess you just think she is off traveling somewhere if she disappears for a while. Like all of us, she had to put herself and family first and foremost and take care of personal issues. Angelina is not just an American actress or director. In 2009, and again in 2011, she was voted Hollywood’s highest-paid actress as well as the world’s “most beautiful” woman. She donates her time and money to many humanitarian causes and is a former Goodwill Ambassador for The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. She began her career alongside her father in a movie called Lookin’ to Get Out back in 1992. Although her film career began nearly 10 years after with a low budget film called Cyborg, her first leading role in a major film was in a cyber-thriller called Hackers. I thought I was up on my movie trivia, how did I possibly miss this one? I found a great article about her and besides I am tired of reading about bombers, kidnappers, and murderers….so enjoy!!! http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2013/05/14/angelina-jolie-reveals-had-preventive-double-mastectomy-after-discovering/ In closing, Angelina is a strong woman who wears many hats and can accomplish more than most women can on any given day. She works, raises a family (with plenty of help), and has time to do the impossible.
