Read Food Labels

About

Understanding food labels is crucial for making informed dietary choices, particularly when it comes to identifying hidden sugars in packaged foods. The Nutrition Facts label provides essential information about the nutritional content of a product, including serving size, total calories, and amounts of key nutrients like fats, sugars, and sodium. It also highlights added sugars, which are distinct from naturally occurring sugars found in foods like fruits and dairy products[1][4]. By examining these labels, consumers can compare products and select options with fewer unwanted nutrients. Reading food labels effectively involves several steps. First, check the serving size to ensure you're calculating nutrients accurately. Then, focus on limiting saturated fats, added sugars, and sodium while increasing intake of beneficial nutrients like fiber and potassium[1][3]. Colour-coded labels can also help quickly identify products high in certain nutrients. Understanding these labels empowers consumers to make healthier choices and manage their daily intake of essential nutrients[2][3].