A Beginner's Guide to Reading Nutrition Labels

Nutrition labels are great; they help you figure out the ingredients and nutritional composition of a food product. Sometimes, though, they can be a bit deceitful. That snack may look healthy with only 6% of your daily saturated fat intake and 5% of your sodium, but take a closer look, and you realize that serving size is four crackers.

With their multiple percentages and ingredients that you can’t pronounce, nutrition labels can seem intimidating, but not anymore! Download this handy guide to help you master the art of purchasing healthy (or at least healthier) food.

Other Names for Sugar and Artificial Sweeteners on Nutrition Labels

You check the nutrition label on a product, and you notice it has some added sugar. However, you take a look at the ingredient list, and sugar is nowhere to be found. There are several types of sweeteners and sugars that manufacturers use to produce their products. Check out the names for some of the most common:

• Sucrose
• High fructose corn syrup
• Cane juice crystals
• Ethyl maltol
• Maltodextrin
• Maltose
• Evaporated cane juice
• Sucanat
• Sorghum syrup
• Dextrin
• Dextrose
• Diastatic Malt
• Acesulfame-K
• Disaccharides
• And much more

Want to learn more about your unique dietary needs? Schedule an appointment with your St. Joseph and Texas A&M Health Network primary care physician. They can work with you to create a healthy eating plan and provide advice to help you achieve better overall health. You can also find more advice from our doctors at our Wellness Hub. Check it out!

Sources:

Healthline | 8 Ways Food Companies Hide the Sugar Content of Foods
Healthline | The 56 Most Common Names for Sugar (Some Are Tricky)
NHS UK | Eating Processed Foods