Nutrition labels tell us if the food we are eating is something to have in moderation based on what it contains. Sugar, the big one, is represented on the label. Added sugars are included as well as sugar that may be naturally occurring. If sugar is something you are trying to minimize, you can directly see what your food choices contain and make a decision.
Sodium values are included so if this is also something you are aiming to consume at a minimum you can make a decision on whether or not a food is right for you. In addition, dietary fiber is included on labels and plays an important role in digestion and overall health. This value can be found as well and may be something important for you to track if you are trying to consume more fiber each day.
One last thing that is important to discuss are the other vitamins and minerals that your food contains. These are represented on the bottom and give you an idea of what micronutrients you are consuming. Potassium, Magnesium, B-Vitamins, Calcium and Iron are examples of micronutrients that you may find on a nutrition label. These values are important for individuals who are aiming to consume more or less of anything specific each day.
It is important to note that these values are also assigned percentages as previously discussed. While it is still crucial to remember that you may not have an exact 2,000 calorie diet each day, you can still observe which foods are high in certain vitamins and minerals and know that you are still consuming based on your goals. Maybe your doctor recommends that you consume no more or no less than “x” of a given vitamin or mineral so you can see where you stand based on your food and supplementation choices.
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Michael Allen
Author Bio
Michael has been working with clients in the gym and countless adults in a physical therapy setting since 2013. He spent 3 semesters working at Towson University with student-athletes from nearly every sport at the school. He served as the Strength and Conditioning Coordinator for Kennard-Dale High School during the 2019-2020 school year. His goal is to always get better and give you the safest and most effective use of your time at First Capital Gym.