Reading the Nutrition Label on Packaged Foods

June 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment
The "Nutrition Facts" table indicate...

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When you grocery shop, do you take the time to read the nutrition label? If you answered no, don’t feel too bad; as many Americans don’t read or don’t understand the nutrition label. Reading and understanding the nutrition label on your food can help you stay healthy and avoid or reduce certain medical conditions. Here are the different aspects of a nutrition label that you need to know.

  • Serving size

The serving size refers to the quantity of servings in the package. For example, a 12 ounce box of cereal usually has a serving size of half a cup and can provide up to six bowls of cereal. An important factor to note is that each time you add a serving you double the other nutritional figures. So if the label shows sodium is 120mg, two servings would equal 240mg.

  • Calories

This section on the nutrition label typically shows total calories and total calories from fat. All calorie intake on packaged foods is based on a 2000 calorie diet, which is mandated by the Food and Drug Administration. Your calorie intake increases with each serving. So if total calories are 250 and calories from fat are 50, three servings would equal 750 total calories with 150 calories coming from fat.

  • Daily Values

Daily values on a nutrition label are listed in percentages. 10 percent of calcium for example, would be the amount available in one serving. Each extra serving will add another 10 percent. According to the FDA, you should lower your intake of nutrients like cholesterol and sodium an increase your intake of nutrients like dietary fiber and vitamins.

 

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Take Good Nutrition For A Healthy Life

March 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Food is considered to be the fuel for life and for attaining a healthy life, nutritious food is very essential. Nutrition plays a very significant role for maintaining a healthy life. Today in this busy life, people are prone to various diseases due to the less intake of nutritious food. Human body requires all the nutrients for the proper functioning of the body. If you consult the doctor, he will also suggest you to have food rich in nutrients. Due to the more intake of junk food, many people suffer from problems like obesity and overweight, which in turn develops many critical diseases. Every human body is in need of mainly the following nutrients for a healthy life – water, proteins, minerals, vitamins and fiber. Majority of the packed food are processed and refined and as a result, they lack many nutrients.

Balanced diet means a diet which includes all the essential nutrients. Make sure to plan a balanced diet for a healthy life. Human body mainly requires good amount of carbohydrates, good amount of fiber foods, and other nutrients like protein, fat and minerals. Try to include many fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet, which is very nutritious. Try to consume them directly instead of cooking them; this is because uncooked food will contain more amounts of nutrients than cooked food. Some of the calcium rich foods are milk and other dairy products. Egg, meat, Soya bean are rich in proteins. Carbohydrates contents are more seen in food grains, rice and wheat.

Seniors, adults and children all require nutritious food for a healthy body. Make sure not to skip any meals in a day, especially breakfast should be taken mandatory and never try to skip it. All these can affect your health very badly. Try to be away from all the bad habits like drinking, smoking.

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Keeping your child close to health and away from obesity

July 1, 2010 By Leave a Comment
McDonald's patron, 2006.
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Cases of childhood obesity are growing in the US with one in every five children being over weight. Being over weight at a young age not only impacts a child health and growth but also takes a toll on their self confidence and character development. Obesity hampers physical development and restricts a child on indulging in sports and activities. It is difficult to control your child’s weight once it has crossed the threshold of obesity which is why it is all the more important to manage your child’s weight in the early stages.

It is good news for your child if obesity does not run in the family. Genetics play a major role in weight management and non-genetic obesity is easier to rectify. Childhood obesity is generally caused by lifestyle habits. The kind of food your child consumes and his/her level of physical activity play a big part in your child’s health and weight. With fast foods being the rave amongst children, having a healthy diet is vital for managing weight. It is not the quantity but the quality of food being consumed that determines weight gain in children. Experts advice parents to ensure that the food their children consume is low on calories and high on nutrition. Avoid foods that are rich in fats, carbohydrates and sugars. This would include most fast foods, food that has been fried chips, fizzy drinks and sodas and so on. Although it is tough to keep a child completely off such foods since they love them so much, kids should be encouraged to have salads, vegetables and fruits so that the quantity of fattening food is reduced. This ensures a more balanced and nutritious diet that helps control weight.

Parents should also encourage their kids to take up more of sports and outdoor activities from an early age. TV and video games are popular among kids and though they provide entertainment, require minimum physical activity. A balance of diet and physical workout will promote good health in your child.

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Caring for your underweight child

February 5, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Obesity is known to be a major hindrance to childhood development and more parents know how to deal with it as awareness grows. However, a child being underweight has as big an effect on childhood development as obesity. A growth chart given by pediatricians help parents to track their child’s weight growth but it can be very frustrating for them if, after what seems as every possible effort, their child is not maintaining a healthy weight. Managing a child’s weight can be a challenge, whether the child is obese or underweight. Here are a few steps that parents can follow to better manage their child’s weight:

Parents should maintain a schedule for their kids to follow. This includes everything from sleeping routines, playtimes, meal times, study time, TV time and so on. Having a regular routine to follow ensures that a child maintains a healthy lifestyle. Parents should ensure that the child has meals at regular intervals and does not stay hungry for prolonged periods. Schedule in plenty of physical activities but also make sure that the child gets plenty of sleep.

When it comes to eating habits and nutrition, parents need to make sure that their child is eating healthy. Although it is very convenient to pack a burger or sandwich for your child to carry to school, these don’t have much of nutritional value. Try to include lots of fruits, vegetables, fiber and product rich foods and dairy products as part of your child’s daily food intake. Having a balanced diet is essential for healthy weight in a child.

Try to make a healthy lifestyle a habit with your child. You could achieve this by using a sports figure that the child admires as an example of health and associate good habits like healthy eating, sports and adequate sleep with the child’s idol. Also, try and apply these lifestyle changes like meal times and nutritional habits to the entire family so that the child does not feel singled out and finds it easier to follow the habits. Following these simple steps will help you manage your child’s weight.

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