You should try to choose products with a short ingredient list.Īs a rule of thumb, the first three ingredients largely comprise what the product is made from. The ingredients are listed in order of predominance, with the ingredients used in the greatest amount first, followed in descending order by those used in smaller amounts. You should always read the ingredient list.

Did you know that Oreos are technically vegan? Exactly, my point. Simply because the box says vegan, gluten-free, or organic, light, natural, low-fat, or low-carb does not make it automatically healthy. I know many people shy away from reading labels because they are intimidating, or they just don’t really want to know, but knowledge is power! I assure you!ĭo not trust the health claims on the front of the box. Your “10 grams” of sugar could just as easily be 12! 7 Steps On How To Read a Nutrition Labelįirst, you actually have to look at the label and the ingredient list. Another caveat, before we get started, is that the FDA permits a discrepancy of up to 20% in product labels. You are not the average person, and you will require different nutrition recommendations, especially if you have had bariatric surgery. The goal of a nutrition label is to compare food items on a standardized scale. The DV is based on a daily dietary intake of 2,000 calories, which is given as general nutrition advice. The numbers on the nutrition label are typically in grams and are converted into a percentage based on a daily value (DV).

The United States Food and Drug Administration ( FDA) created food labels to help compare different food items using standard measurements and serving sizes that the “average” consumer typically eats or drinks. Well, if you follow these simple steps, you can be a pro on how to read a nutrition label and making choices to optimize your health. Nutrition labels can be tricky and confusing! So many numbers and percentages-it can be daunting to know what is actually important.

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