Food label (You have to learn!)

Remember some nutrition label posts from littlediet? Food label is important as it shows us our intake into our own body. Recently, my patients are confuse with the advertisement about added sugar products and sugar free products. Hereby, I would like to take this post to explain further how to read the reference from a food label.

An example of nutrition facts label

Sugar is another type of carbohydrate. You may heard that sugar is referred to as simple or fast-acting carbohydrate. There are two main types of sugar. Sugars in your diet can be naturally occurring or added. Naturally occurring sugars are found naturally in foods such as fruit (fructose) and milk (lactose). Added sugars are sugars and syrups put in foods during preparation or processing, or added at the table.

On the nutrition facts label, the number of sugar grams includes both added and natural sugars.

There are many different names for sugar. The hidden ingredient with many different names. Examples of common names are table sugar, brown sugar, molasses, honey, beet sugar, cane sugar, confectioner's sugar, powdered sugar, raw sugar, turbinado, maple syrup, high-fructose corn syrup, agave nectar, and sugar cane syrup.

The major sources of added sugars are regular soft drinks, sugars, candy, cakes, cookies, pies and fruit drinks (fruitades and fruit punch); dairy desserts and milk products (ice cream, sweetened yogurt and sweetened milk), and other grains (cinnamon toast and honey-nut waffles).

Many of you consume more sugar than you realize. It’s important to be aware of how much sugar you consume because your body does'nt necessary need much sugar to function properly. Added sugars contribute zero nutrients but many added calories that can lead to extra pounds or even obesity, thereby reducing heart health.

In my next post, I am going to reveal an example of product with details explanation on the nutrition label and calories. Stay tuned!