7 Things You Need To Know About The New Nutrition Label

77% of U.S. adults report referencing the nutrition facts label when selecting groceries. Do they know how to use it?

Saturated fat, Trans fat, and Cholesterol

Saturated fat and trans fat intake are linked to heart disease, so choosing products low (5% or less) is a good idea if heart health is a concern of yours. I honestly don’t understand why cholesterol is still on the label – it’s connection to blood cholesterol was debunked a long time ago (saturated and trans fat affect blood cholesterol levels). Just ignore it.

Sodium

Eating high amounts of sodium contributes to high blood pressure, so watch the sodium and aim for low sodium.

(Keep in mind, if you are eating a high sodium dish, like soup, and it’s >20% DV for sodium, this isn’t a big deal when the rest of your day is low sodium. Don’t forget to look at how foods look in the context of your day. Context matters.)