Health Highlights

Search Health Content   Print This Page     Email to a Friend

Health Tip: Reading Food Labels How to interpret them (HealthDay News) -- Reading and understanding the nutrition facts label on food products can help you maintain a well-balanced diet that contains healthy amounts of fat and calories. Here are guidelines to help you interpret food labels, courtesy of the American Academy of Family Physicians: Pay attention to the serving size -- usually the first line on the label. The serving size is the manufacturer's estimate of how much a person is likely to eat at one time. If you eat more than the serving size, be sure to increase the label's other values accordingly. The percent daily value shows, for each ingredient, how much of that ingredient's recommended daily amount you are getting in each serving. Limit foods with unhealthy amounts of saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol. Favor foods with healthy fiber, vitamins and minerals. By Diana Kohnle Last Updated: February 2009 Copyright © 2009 ScoutNews LLC. All rights reserved.