Nutrition facts are details about the nutrient content of a food or drink, like calories, fat, protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. Nutrition facts can help people make informed choices about their health and dietary needs.
Here are some of the main parts of nutrition facts:
- Calories: The amount of energy that a food or drink gives. Calories are needed to power the body’s functions, but eating too many or too few can lead to gaining or losing weight.
- Fat: A nutrient that gives energy and helps the body take in certain vitamins. Fat can be divided into saturated, unsaturated, and trans fats. Saturated and trans fats are linked to a higher risk of heart disease and should be limited, while unsaturated fats are good for heart health and should be eaten in moderation.
- Protein: A nutrient that is needed for building and fixing tissues, muscles, and organs. Protein can be found in animal and plant sources, like meat, eggs, dairy, beans, nuts, and seeds. How much protein you need changes depending on your age, how active you are, and your health.
- Carbohydrates: A nutrient that is the main source of energy for the body. Carbohydrates can be simple or complex. Simple carbohydrates are sugars that are quickly digested and absorbed, like glucose, fructose, and sucrose. Complex carbohydrates are starches and fibers that are slowly digited and absorbed, like whole grains, vegetables, and fruits. Complex carbohydrates are better than simple carbohydrates, as they give more lasting energy and stop blood sugar spikes and crashes.
- Vitamins: Organic compounds that are needed in small amounts for different functions in the body, like growth, development, immunity, and metabolism. Vitamins can be water-soluble or fat-soluble. Water-soluble vitamins, like vitamin C and B vitamins, are not stored in the body and need to be replenished regularly. Fat-soluble vitamins, like vitamin A, D, E, and K, are stored in the body and can build up to toxic levels if eaten in excess.
- Minerals: Inorganic elements that are needed in small amounts for different functions in the body, like making bones, nerve transmission, muscle contraction, and fluid balance. Minerals can be major or trace minerals. Major minerals, like calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium, are needed in larger amounts than trace minerals, like iron, zinc, copper, and iodine.
Nutrition facts can be found on food labels, online databases, or mobile apps. They can help people compare different products, plan balanced meals, and meet their nutritional goals. But, nutrition facts are not the only thing to consider when choosing healthy foods. Other things, like ingredients, additives, how the food is processed, and portion sizes, can also affect the quality and safety of food. So, people should use nutrition facts as a guide, not a rule, and talk to a health professional if they have any questions or worries about their diet.
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