How to decipher the nutrition facts label

 

How to decipher the nutrition facts label

There it is on the side of your chip bag, your beverage bottle, or your supplement container: the Nutrition Facts label. But how often are you referencing it?

What does it tell you? Does this information even matter?

Don’t worry – you’re not alone in your confusion. According to the NPD Group, less than 50% of US consumers even consider looking at the label anymore. You could continue life being nutrition-label illiterate, or you could be the winner of your group’s weight-loss challenge. Let’s decipher that label!

The 2000-calorie benchmark

All Nutrition Facts labels in the U.S. are based on a 2000-calorie (per day) diet in order to standardize the information. This standard helps you better compare the nutritional values of different products.

Making the nutrition facts personal

Your goal daily caloric intake may not be 2000 calories a day, but you can still use these numbers to your advantage. Be sure to determine what amount to multiply the Nutrition Facts numbers by in order to personalize the information.

AMW008_decipher-nutrition-facts-label_BLOG_Caloric-Intake-graph 

1.) Start at the top

AMW008_Blog_decipher-nutrition-facts-label-Servings

One serving doesn’t necessarily mean one package.

Often times, packages of food are broken down into serving sizes, like 1 bar, 12 fluid ounces, or 1 tablespoon.

2.) Check out the calories

AMW008_Blog_decipher-nutrition-facts-label-Calories

 

Deciphering the % Daily Value

AMW008_Blog_decipher-nutrition-facts-label-Daily-Value

These values are there to help you understand how these nutrients fit into the total daily diet of a 2000-calorie diet.

As long as the serving sizes are similar, these percentages can be a great tool in comparing the nutrient content of different products and how they fit into your daily diet.

In general,

  • 5% or less is considered a Low % Daily Value
  • 20% or more is considered a High % Daily Value

3.) Look at the nutrients you want to limit

AMW008_Blog_decipher-nutrition-facts-label-Limit

Look for Low (5% or less) % Daily Values of these nutrients.

Fast facts about fats

You want to limit your fat intake. However, not all fats are unhealthy.

  • Unhealthy: Saturated Fat
    • Don’t avoid it; focus on moderation
  • Healthy: Monounsaturated Fat, Polyunsaturated Fat
  • Avoid: Trans Fat

4.) Eye the nutrients to get enough

AMW008_Blog_decipher-nutrition-facts-label-Enough

Look for High (20% or more) % Daily Values of these nutrients.

Online purchases: We keep you informed

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You can consider nutritional information with Nutrilite products even when you’re shopping online. To see a product’s Nutrition Facts, follow these steps:

  1. Go to the product’s page
  2. Click on the “More” tab and select “Resources”
  3. Click on the link that has “Supplement Label” in its name

Understanding the Nutrition Facts label empowers you to make better nutrition decisions. With your tool kit of resources, feel confident in your efforts of achieving your optimal health. If you would like to look more into Nutrilite products and see why they are the #1 in the world for vitamins and dietary supplements, Visit Amway™

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