Dieters Beware of Nutritional Labels
By
Nov 3, 2006, 21:11
What's on the front of food packages does not always stack up to the nutritional facts on the back. Food labels are merely a secret code that needs deciphering. The miscalculation and confusion of food labels attributes for the overwhelming rate of diet failure.
Here are a few nutritional labels warnings that dieters should beware of.
Low-caloric foods
Low-caloric foods can offer a false sense of dieting. Of course, meals are low in calories when only a teaspoon serving is consumed. When reading the caloric value of a food, remember to consider the actual serving size opposed to the sweet sound the calories. For example, with merely 110 calories (per serving) Breyer's Double Churned, Low Fat Ice Cream is a dieter's dream come true; however the actual serving size is only half a cup.
The Skinny on Fat
Watch the fat. Whether it's saturated fat or trans fat, these fats are not diet-friendly. They are not even recommended for a nutritionally rich diet. Try to select foods with monounsaturated or polyunsaturated in fat because these fats are deemed more heart healthy than trans and saturated fat.
Low-Fat Drawbacks
While minimizing fat intake can be diet-friendly, the body requires a certain percentage of fat. But beware of low-fat foods because many are loaded in sodium. Too much sodium is not the ultimate diet plan. Based on the recommendations of The American Heart Association (AHA), adults should not exceed more than 2,300 mg of sodium a day.
Choose the Fiber
When shopping for breads, cereal and other whole grain products, review the nutritional label. Look for at least a minimum of two grams or more of dietary fiber in each serving. Since, fiber is heart-healthy, do not pay attention to the carbohydrates.
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