The packaging on food usually contains a label which can give some clues as to the health properties of the food. Learning to read these labels, and being able to interpret the information is an important part of remaining healthy. The most obvious information on the label will be the energy content of the food and the proportion of fat, carbohydrate and protein. This is important information if there is a risk that the food may contain high amounts of hidden energy in the form of sugar and fat. Another interesting aspect of food labels are the ingredients. Most whole foods will not have ingredients as the food is a single item, and fruits and vegetables fall into this category. However, processed and mixed foods often contain preservatives and additives such as colourings and flavor enhancers, and the label will identify these ingredients. Lastly there may be information about some of the key vitamins and minerals in the food, and this can be used to identify if the food may provide particular health benefits against specific conditions.
Eat Well, Stay Healthy, Protect Yourself
RdB
