Training for Book Authors
|
|
Other Resources for Book Authors & Publishers
|
|
Please Support Our Advertisers
|
|
|
|
|
Weight Loss: How to Factor in Food Labels
Copyright (c) 2010-2023 Julie J. Price
Information is an important part of any major effort, and that includes trying to lose weight. When we know exactly what's going into our bodies, we can make informed decisions about how to take control, rather than making hopeful guesses and blind leaps.
A key tool in gathering this information is the nutrition label found on the packaging of almost every piece of food we buy. This little label provides essential information summarized to help you maximize your weight-management efforts. Knowing how to read this label is a vital skill that should be part of every grocery shopping trip.
By simply taking a moment to factor in these nutritional facts, you gain concrete, reliable data that can take the guesswork out of your diet. Here, we give you the skinny on what to look for, so you can quickly get the info you need and get going.
Step One - Look at the Serving Size
This is the single most important piece of information on the Nutrition Facts label. All the other information on the list is based on a single serving size, so knowing this size is vital to understanding the rest of what we're reading.
Consider a chicken noodle soup can, for example. The label says that the soup has 890 mg of sodium, or 37% of the daily-recommended intake for a 2,000-calorie diet. This is not the total for the entire can, it is the total per serving. However, there are 2.5 servings in a single can. This means the can has 2225 mg of sodium, or 92.5% of the daily value. This is the difference between one can being a third of our daily allowance and nearly ALL of our daily allowance.
Step Two - Look at the Categories
There are a number of elements listed, always in a standard order, and again always broken down by serving size. Not every label has every item. Foods made from fruit typically don't list cholesterol, for example. As a rule of thumb, if the label doesn't list it, then that element isn't present (or at least not in a statistically significant amount). These sections typically have a hard number per servings, but also can include sub-sections explaining in more detail.
For example, the categories on our sample soup can include:
Calories: Our chicken noodle soup has 60 calories per serving, with 20 of them coming from fat.
Total Fat: This can has two grams of fat per serving, .5 of which are saturated fats. The can contains zero grams of the particularly troublesome transfats.
Step Three - Look at the Numbers
There are several important groups of numbers on every Nutrition Facts label. Each set of numbers has their own meaning, and can provide a great deal of information.
The first number to consider is typically labeled "%DV," which stands for percent of daily value. A serving of chicken noodle soup has 15mg of cholesterol, which is 5% of the daily-recommended value.
Notice that these percentages, however, are based on a 2000 calorie a day diet. Everyone's dietary needs are different, so the Nutrition Facts label has to shoot for an average. If you were an athlete training on a 2400 calorie a day diet, 5% of your daily cholesterol would be 18mg, not 15mg.
This means that while the percentages are a useful guideline, they can only serve as that. More important are the hard numbers of these ingredients, in grams and milligrams. Consult your dietician or nutritionist and establish what your target daily allowance of calories, fats, and the like will be, and then use that information to determine what your percentages are.
Step Four - Make the Info Count
Of course, we need more than a list of raw data when it comes to taking control of our eating habits. As mentioned above, remember that you need to speak with a professional and identify your specific dietary needs before you can truly take advantage of this information.
For example, a diabetic has different nutritional requirements than someone who is simply a few pounds overweight. For the diabetic, the carbohydrates section will probably be the most important, since it includes the sugar content of the food in question. For someone simply looking to lose a few pounds, knowing the calorie content is probably going to be the focus, so they can compare their exercise to their diet intake. Sodium will of course be relevant to those with high blood pressure, and so forth.
The important thing to remember is that this label is a tool for taking control, not a warning list to make you feel guilty about eating. Yes, our can of soup has a great deal of sodium in it, something that should give us pause. That doesn't mean we have to skip it, it simply means we need to consider reducing salt intake in our other foods for the rest of the day, or perhaps having only half the can at a time, with a piece of fruit as a side.
The Nutrition Facts label is a great opportunity for personal empowerment, because it gives us so much of the information we need, in one convenient place. For example, consider organizing your daily food journal in the same way a nutrition label is laid out. Take some time to examine the labels in your pantry, and find a way you can use this information to help you take control.
VOTE ON THIS ARTICLE
Needs Work >>
0 -
1 -
2 -
3 -
4 -
5
<< Excellent Article
Tell our authors what you think about their article.
|
Top-Level Category: Health and Wellness Articles || Related Categories: Food and Drink Articles and Shopping Articles
10 Most Recent Articles Written by Julie J. Price
Seven Steps to Avoiding Holiday Weight Gain
Written by: Julie J. Price |
Distributed: 2010-01-14 |
Word Count: 925 |
Page Views: 3212
| Votes: 4 |
Rating: 2.00
The holidays are here and coming with them are the
traditional, seasonal foods we all know and love. Whether
it's turkey, ham, latkes, eggnog, or sugar cookies, rich
foods tend to work their way into our hearts and bellies
this time of year, as meals and as leftovers. For those
worrying about the seasonal seven, here are seven simple
tips for keeping off the holiday pounds.
Losing Weight: How to Handle Your Cravings
Written by: Julie J. Price |
Distributed: 2010-01-12 |
Word Count: 814 |
Page Views: 3511
| Votes: 3 |
Rating: 0.33
An overactive appetite isn't easily ignored. It can be
distracting and irritating until it's satisfied and so many
people give in 'just the once,' only to eventually form
craving-oriented habits that sabotage their efforts to eat
well and maintain a healthy weight.
Losing Weight: The Power of Food Journaling
Written by: Julie J. Price |
Distributed: 2009-12-31 |
Word Count: 858 |
Page Views: 3478
| Votes: 4 |
Rating: 1.75
So many of us say we want to lose weight or eat healthier,
but frequently we don't realize what we're actually
eating. We understand that a diet of fried food is bad, or
that we need to limit our deserts, but we may not appreciate
how much of these foods we are managing to sneak into our
diets. Fortunately, there is a very simple tool called a
food journal that can help us take measure of our eating
habits. From there we can learn to manage what we eat.
All of Author's Articles on this site: Julie J. Price Articles
Most Recent "Health And Wellness" Articles
The Powerful Antioxidant You Cannot Eat Or Drink
Written by: Nate Rifkin |
Distributed: 2011-07-20 |
Word Count: 499 |
Page Views: 4305
| Votes: 1 |
Rating: 1.00
There's no need to eat or drink anything to activate your
body's powerful antioxidant to prevent free radical damage.
You'll end up healthier inside and looking better on the outside
as well.
3 Bacterial Vaginosis Remedies You Can Start Using Today
Written by: Louise Endago |
Distributed: 2011-07-20 |
Word Count: 867 |
Page Views: 7726
| Votes: 5 |
Rating: 1.20
Very few women are successful at treating bacterial
vaginosis using one treatment alone. The secret lies in
using a combination of treatments that complement one
another. In this article you will discover 3 such remedies
that give excellent results.
Encouraging Healthy Children with Outdoor Play Sets and Activities
Written by: Giana Briggs |
Distributed: 2011-03-17 |
Word Count: 410 |
Page Views: 6621
| Votes: 5 |
Rating: 0.40
Having a play set in your backyard can be a great way to get
your child off the couch and out into the fresh air. With
childhood obesity on the rise, we need to do what we can as
parents to get our children active and enjoying playing and
interacting with each other children again. Being able to go
out in the yard and have something to do is just one small
step in the right direction.
How to Recognize Anxiety in Children and Adolescents
Written by: Dr Jeannette Kavanagh |
Distributed: 2010-12-28 |
Word Count: 836 |
Page Views: 6912
| Votes: 4 |
Rating: 1.00
Problems with a too-high level anxiety can start in
childhood with children and adolescents worrying to a
greater extent than their peers about all sorts of things.
Some behaviors are an indication of a fussy and over tidy
child. When we go just a little bit over fussiness and we
have entered the realm of an anxiety disorder.
How to Tell if You Have Anxiety Disorder
Written by: Dr Jeannette Kavanagh |
Distributed: 2010-12-23 |
Word Count: 1093 |
Page Views: 6929
| Votes: 5 |
Rating: 1.20
If you're someone who can never earn enough or have enough
money to relax about it, and to enjoy spending it, you may
have underlying anxiety problems that you haven't had to
face, or you haven't wanted to face.
How to Tell the Difference Between Anxiety and Normal Worry
Written by: Dr Jeannette Kavanagh |
Distributed: 2010-12-21 |
Word Count: 979 |
Page Views: 6452
| Votes: 5 |
Rating: 0.40
Anxiety is a normal feeling people experience when faced
with threat, danger or stress. Feeling anxious can sometimes
be a good thing. Occasional anxiety is part of normal life.
However, for some people anxiety is a constant factor in
their lives. When a person has anxiety problems, it
interferes with their ability to function normally on a
daily basis. Anxiety disorder can cause people to feel
intense, long-lasting fear or worry, in addition to other
symptoms.
How to Treat Your Anxiety and Panic Attacks
Written by: Dr Jeannette Kavanagh |
Distributed: 2010-12-16 |
Word Count: 742 |
Page Views: 6510
| Votes: 7 |
Rating: 0.86
Next to Depression, one of the most common disorders which
affects an estimated 2.4 million people in America alone, is
anxiety disorder. Anxiety can manifest as a generalized
anxiety, panic attacks, social anxiety and agoraphobia.
Anxiety disorder can be mild or so totally disabling that
the person is confined to her or his home. All forms of
anxiety can be extremely frightening to those who experience
it frequently, but many individuals have found comfort in
the fact that anxiety disorders can be treated.
Anxiety Disorder and Panic Attacks: How Cognitive Behavior Therapy Can Help You
Written by: Dr Jeannette Kavanagh |
Distributed: 2010-12-09 |
Word Count: 748 |
Page Views: 6598
| Votes: 4 |
Rating: 0.25
In your journey to conquer anxiety and to eliminate panic
attacks from your day-to-day life, no one approach will be
totally right, but Cognitive Behavior Therapy can be a very
powerful part of your recovery. In this short article, I
want to explore what's involved in Cognitive Behavior
Therapy, so that you can make a decision whether or not
you'd like to explore it with your therapist.
Losing Weight - The Addiction of Comfort Food
Written by: Larry Tobin |
Distributed: 2010-11-04 |
Word Count: 863 |
Page Views: 6314
| Votes: 3 |
Rating: 0.00
Its very name is appealing - comfort food. What could be
more wonderful than a food that helps us feel better? Almost
everyone can name something that they eat when they're just
feeling sour or sad. Of course, we know that food can't be
the solution to our problems, especially the problem of
trying to lose weight and keep it off. So why do we find
ourselves trapped in the eat/feel better/feel worse/eat some
more cycle?
Understanding the Roles of Respite Caregivers for Seniors
Written by: Bob Fischer |
Distributed: 2010-11-02 |
Word Count: 582 |
Page Views: 5156
| Votes: 3 |
Rating: 0.67
Caregivers for seniors are typically paid providers but they
may also be volunteers from a government or nonprofit
organization. Where care is being provided in the home there
is often a mix of formal and informal care provided. And the
trend is towards using more formal care since, unlike the
past, more informal respite caregivers are employed. Read
on.
Most Viewed "Health And Wellness" Articles
Bone Density and Your Well Being
Written by: Kamau Austin |
Distributed: 2006-06-15 |
Word Count: 685 |
Page Views: 51626
| Votes: 47 |
Rating: 2.55
We spend a lot of time and energy thinking of ways to reduce our
weight but we need to think about the bones that form the basic
structure of the very same body. Bone density is an important
factor in helping us stay young and on our toes. Bone density
needs to be checked as we age and if found low, adequate measures
need to be taken to improve it.
President Given the Cure for Herpes and Cold Sores ?
Written by: James Kaylon McIntyre |
Distributed: 2006-11-09 |
Word Count: 404 |
Page Views: 33348
| Votes: 25 |
Rating: 2.24
Viraway was founded by a man who is in his 70s today. As a Young
man he suffered from acute cold sores. The discomfort was so
severe that he thought they would never go away. A native
American Indian gave him a tribal mixture of herbs and told him
that this mixture would eliminate the cold sores with in two
weeks...
Oyster Extract Improves Men's Sexual Health
Written by: Stephen Kavanagh |
Distributed: 2008-06-26 |
Word Count: 851 |
Page Views: 28591
| Votes: 61 |
Rating: 3.41
Description of the benefits of taking oyster extract powder for
good sexual health in men and women. Details of the features and
benefits, the different brands, the alternatives and advice on
choosing the right oyster extract product.
How to Force Your Body To Melt Fat Like Butter In A Microwave
Written by: Robert Kokoska |
Distributed: 2008-04-08 |
Word Count: 613 |
Page Views: 22740
| Votes: 37 |
Rating: 2.62
There are a couple of very simple changes you can make to the way
you eat that will force your body to become a fat burning furnace
and cause you to easily drop your unwanted pounds day after day.
Losing Weight Without Gaining Stretch Marks
Written by: Kamau Austin |
Distributed: 2006-12-11 |
Word Count: 579 |
Page Views: 21959
| Votes: 47 |
Rating: 2.70
Few things can make us as elated as seeing the pounds melt way
through our efforts of eating less and exercising more. We gain
new confidence and vitality as we watch our waistlines reappear
and become reacquainted with the tops of our feet. But as the
weight falls away we can be plagued by a new assault - one we did
not see coming - stretch marks.
Is Retinol Good for Your Skin?
Written by: Craig Elliott |
Distributed: 2007-10-04 |
Word Count: 576 |
Page Views: 19487
| Votes: 48 |
Rating: 2.60
These days, whether you have wrinkles or you are certain that you
will get them in the near future, it is hard to ignore the
hundreds of new anti aging products on the market. With retinol
and AHAs, BHAs and vitamins, it's hard to tell which products
are actually going to work and which ones are will not. While a
lot of the success rate depends on the unique qualities of your
skin, there are scientific studies that have shed light some of
the more popular skin treatments.
Mold Spores In Your Home - How Much Is To Much
Written by: Daryl Watters |
Distributed: 2007-05-15 |
Word Count: 866 |
Page Views: 19340
| Votes: 35 |
Rating: 3.03
Health responses to mold spores can be affected by the length of
time you are exposed to spores, the size or type of spore you are
exposed to, the levels of dust mite and roach allergens,
individual sensitivity to allergens, emotional stress, general
health, as well as other substances and factors that have not yet
been discovered by mold inspectors. Thus, as a result mold spore
levels alone at your property cannot always be relied on to
always answer questions such as "Are molds in my environment
making me sick."
Causes for Yellow or Dark Brown Poop - Symptoms of Healthy Poop - Dr Oz's Tips to Diagnosis Yourself and Self Help
Written by: John Khu |
Distributed: 2009-12-29 |
Word Count: 545 |
Page Views: 16427
| Votes: 18 |
Rating: 1.94
Now the question arises how to detox your body? Body toxins
are accumulated due to improper food consumption; sedentary
lifestyle also causes digestion problem and heavy metal
toxins to accumulate in our body. Therefore, in order to
avoid bowel problem, your body needs to heavy metal detox.
What Does a Stun Gun Do to the Human Body?
Written by: Fred Cheney |
Distributed: 2008-01-02 |
Word Count: 494 |
Page Views: 16341
| Votes: 29 |
Rating: 3.03
The word "stun" has a mysterious ring to it. It is synonymous
with words like "overwhelm," "stupefy," and "daze." What
do these words really mean? In other words, what would happen to
your victim if you touch him with your stun gun? What would
happen to you if you stunned yourself? Could someone be
permanently injured, or worse, die? To sum it up: What are the
effects of a stun gun shock? These are all important questions -
questions with solid answers.
14 Causes of Constipation
Written by: Howard Richman |
Distributed: 2008-12-02 |
Word Count: 1642 |
Page Views: 16202
| Votes: 13 |
Rating: 2.85
For people who know all about drinking liquids and eating fiber
but still have never been able to break free of their curse of
constipation, this article offers many other considerations that
will help the reader find solutions to lifelong constipation.
Highest Ranked "Health And Wellness" Articles
Which Full Face CPAP Mask is Best for You?
Written by: Chris Vasta |
Distributed: 2009-09-01 |
Word Count: 690 |
Page Views: 9537
| Votes: 12 |
Rating: 3.42
If you've been diagnosed with Sleep Apnea, you are
undoubtedly trying to narrow the choice of masks. If your
mouth opens during sleep, one option would be full face CPAP
masks. The full face CPAP mask is used to deliver pressure
through both the nose and mouth. Trying to decide which full
face CPAP mask to use can be complex and expensive. The
number of mask options available is confounding. Based upon
comfort, fit, good seal, and durability, we recommend the
following three full face CPAP masks.
Oyster Extract Improves Men's Sexual Health
Written by: Stephen Kavanagh |
Distributed: 2008-06-26 |
Word Count: 851 |
Page Views: 28591
| Votes: 61 |
Rating: 3.41
Description of the benefits of taking oyster extract powder for
good sexual health in men and women. Details of the features and
benefits, the different brands, the alternatives and advice on
choosing the right oyster extract product.
What Makes Tea So Effective At Preventing Heart Disease?
Written by: Jon M. Stout |
Distributed: 2007-02-02 |
Word Count: 812 |
Page Views: 4498
| Votes: 9 |
Rating: 3.22
Many bodies of research have shown that tea is effective at
preventing heart disease in several ways. Tea prevents the
oxidation of LDL cholesterol into plaque, the hard substance that
clogs our arteries, making us more susceptible to heart attacks
and strokes. Tea is also thought to have an anti-inflammatory
effect, which helps the heart in its overall function.
Green Tea May Positively Effect Stomach Cancer in Habitual Tea Drinkers
Written by: Jon M. Stout |
Distributed: 2006-11-06 |
Word Count: 535 |
Page Views: 4020
| Votes: 11 |
Rating: 3.18
Stomach Cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer-related
deaths in the Western World. In fact, the American Cancer
Society estimates that 22,228 Americans will be diagnosed with
stomach cancer during 2006. They also project that there will be
an estimated 11,430 deaths from this type of disease. Therefore,
the search for a cure for this disease has been a long standing
one. In the past, clinical researchers have hypothesized that
drinking green tea may indeed inhibit stomach carcinogenesis,
and a few case-studies with animals and human beings have
successfully broadened this theory.
A Comparison of Tattoo Removal Methods: Tattoo Removal Skin Peels Vs Tattoo Removal Creams Vs Tattoo Removal Using DermaBrasion
Written by: Abe Granberry |
Distributed: 2009-09-30 |
Word Count: 1821 |
Page Views: 8213
| Votes: 17 |
Rating: 3.18
A friend and I, along with 3 other buddies, decided to try
an experiment to remove tattoos that we have all had for
many years. Over time we just decided we no longer liked
what we saw on our arms, shoulders and chest so we decided
to test all the varieties of tattoo removal except Laser
because none of us could afford the price, plus we wanted to
see for ourselves if the other products actually worked or
were just marketing hype.
Colon Cancer: Risks and Prevention
Written by: Abel Travers |
Distributed: 2007-12-13 |
Word Count: 785 |
Page Views: 3900
| Votes: 6 |
Rating: 3.17
Cancer: it's not a word that anyone really wants to hear. While
not necessarily a death sentence, cancer is an illness that does
have a high mortality rate depending on where in the body it
strikes. Read on as we examine what can be done to head-off Colon
Cancer, the third most common cancer.
Body Detox Tips: The Dos and Don'ts
Written by: John Khu |
Distributed: 2008-12-23 |
Word Count: 496 |
Page Views: 3351
| Votes: 12 |
Rating: 3.17
Most people know about detoxing, but do they know that there are
things that we should and shouldn't do? If not, we will share
some body detox tips today so that they will know whenever they
decide to go on with a detox diet.
Stress is a Killer... Will it get YOU?
Written by: Dr. Rich Starr, PHD Psychology |
Distributed: 2004-10-05 |
Word Count: 1223 |
Page Views: 2946
| Votes: 7 |
Rating: 3.14
I have read a number of times that the medical profession does not know why a preponderance of heart attacks occur on Monday morning throughout the world.
I believe I have found an answer to this riddle.
This Killer Monday Morning Syndrome comes about, I believe, because most people have Saturday and Sunday off from work. Because of this time off from work this gives them more additional time to think about things and therefore add more additional things to their to do list, and presto they wake up Monday morning full of stress and nervousness and don’t realize or know why.
Taking the Shame out of Pudendal Neuralgia!
Written by: Violet Matthews |
Distributed: 2006-10-26 |
Word Count: 1170 |
Page Views: 6774
| Votes: 22 |
Rating: 3.14
Chronic pelvic pain has affected 15-30 percent of women and men
in the world. Finding a diagnosis and treatment can be quite
challenging. Some women and men with chronic pelvic pain have a
very rare disorder called pudendal neuralgia. Learn about the
diagnosis, treatments and outcomes from this extremely painful
neuralgia.
Breast Enlargement Through Natural Herbal Supplements - Is It Safe?
Written by: Asep Komara Sanjaya |
Distributed: 2008-03-11 |
Word Count: 342 |
Page Views: 2555
| Votes: 14 |
Rating: 3.14
Are you interested in larger breasts? Are you trying to take your
look to the next level? If so, you are not alone. There are
thousands of women the world over who are interested in larger
breasts. Not only do they think that this is attractive, but they
also know that men love this as well. But when it comes down to
it, enlarging your breasts is not always the easiest thing to do.
|
|
|
|
|
Article Reprint Rights
|

This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons License
You are not required to show the creative commons license notice when you reprint this work.
|
Article Statistics
|
Word Count: 906
Total Views: 3659
Article Rating: 1.20 of 5
Votes Cast: 5
More Articles By Author:
Articles On This Website
Last Distribution Date:
2010-01-19 11:00:00
Internal ID: #7251
|
|
|