10 Quick Tips for Deciphering Food Labels
Here are the basics of deciphering food labels, consolidated into 10 quick-reference tips, compliments of Jeffrey Novick, Director of Nutrition at the Pritikin Longevity Center & Spa.
1. Never believe the claims on the front of the box.
What many think are health claims are actually just marketing pitches and advertisements. And government approved claims, like “low-fat” and “light,” often don’t tell you the whole story. These products may be high in fat as well as sugar, salt, and/or calories.
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“Light” ice cream, for example, may still pack in 4 to 5 grams of fat per serving. And “light” and “regular” varieties of ice cream may not differ much calorically.
Never evaluate a product based on one item, such as its fat, cholesterol, sugar, carbohydrate, or salt content. Attempting to cash in on the latest diet or nutrition craze, many companies promote their products based on a single item despite other unhealthy aspects. (Remember “fat-free” foods that were full of sugar and calories?) To be truly healthy, a product must pass several criteria.
2. Always read the Nutrition Facts label and the ingredient list.
They contain information that can really help you determine how healthy a food is. Crackers, for example, may advertise on the front of the box that they’re “Trans Fat Free,” but in the ingredient list you may find fats, like palm oil and coconut oil, that are just as artery-clogging as the trans fats they replaced.
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Pritikin Perspective - Healthy Living Made
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Pritikin Perspective is a publication for Alumni of the Pritikin Longevity Center.
It is dedicated to helping people make healthy changes in their lives. The articles
in this publication should not be considered specific medical advice, as each
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advice before beginning a program of diet and exercise.
Editor/Writer: Eugenia Killoran
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