How to Read Food Labels

I always have to read labels on packaged foods. This is how I become familiar with a product and is ultimately how I decide to consume the item or not. I never follow the hype or new "it super-food" on the market. As a medical professional I find it important to be aware of the ingredients that are present in my food, because food is a form of medicine.   

Here are some things you should look for when reading the label:

-Serving size. This will show you how much of the item you can eat to get the calories, carbs, protein, salt and sugar that is on the label. So if the serving size states "1/2 cup" and that serving has 500mg of sodium for example, I would not recommend that product.

-Look for the total amount of carbohydrates and sugar on the label. The sugar level should ideally be zero. If your oatmeal for example has 10g of sugar you are not getting the healthiest option. 

-Look at the mg of Sodium. This number should be 135mg or less per serving. High salt intake is associated with heart disease. 

-Look at the type of fat. If the food item has trans fat I would not recommend that item. Trans fat food are also linked to heart disease. 

-Lastly be sure to read the ingredients. The list of ingredients will reflect how processed the food item potentially is. If it's a long list of ingredients with lots of ingredients that you don't recognize nor can pronounce I would not recommend that item. Choose foods that have the least number of ingredients in them. 

Being aware of what is in your favorite packaged food items is a crucial step in making healthier decisions and creating better eating habits.