Food labels provide key to healthy food choices
In 1862, President Abraham Lincoln launched the Department of Agriculture and the Bureau of Chemistry, the predecessor of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In 1990, the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act (NLEA) was passed, requiring all packaged foods to bear nutrition labeling.
We've all seen the nutrition labels on foods we purchase, but how many of us really pay attention and understand the information that label provides?" Nutrition facts on food labels provide information that can help you compare similar products made by different manufacturers, evaluate the difference between things like reduced fat, low fat and no fat, and make informed decisions about what you eat every day," says William Polinski, DO, a Cleveland Clinic cardiologist who sees patients at Medina Hospital and the Wooster Family Health Center.
The nutrition label on packaged food is broken down into a few key elements:
* Serving size and number of servings contained in the package
* Calorie count and calories from fat per serving
* Fat and sodium content
* Carbohydrate content
* Nutrient information
* Protein content
* Percent daily value of the food item
"According to the FDA, the percent daily value is key to a balanced diet," says Dr. Polinski. "It provides information on whether a food is high or low in a nutrient, along with total fat content, so they can compare the daily value percentage for total fat in each food product to see which one is higher or lower in that nutrient."
Other things to keep in mind are:
* Fat-free doesn't mean calorie free.
* Serving size is not the same as portion size.
* To help reduce risk of heart disease, select foods that are low in saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol.
* Not all carbohydrates are bad - those coming from fruits, vegetables, beans and whole grains are healthy and can reduce the risk of heart disease and improve digestion.
In addition, Dr. Polinski says the largest cardiovascular benefit may be derived from lowering trans-fatty acids from processed foods in the diet.
To schedule an appointment with Dr. Polinski or another Cleveland Clinic cardiologist, call 330.287.4500. Cleveland Clinic offers same-day appointments. For more information about food labels, go to www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines.