What Matters Most on a Nutrition Label

With so many numbers and strange words, nutrition labels can sometimes be difficult to figure out. What numbers are most important? What should we avoid? We sat down with Medical Weight Loss Expert Sheryl Bingham, FNP-C, to talk about what to look for.

Q: What is the most important information on a nutrition label?

A: Actually, there are two things you want to look for:

First, always look at the ingredients. You want whole, healthy ingredients. Simple, minimally-processed foods are the healthiest. Any time you see an ingredient with a name longer than three syllables, or that you can’t pronounce, that’s a bad sign.

Second, look out for sugar. There are a total of 61 different names for sugar. Of course, some sugar is okay. Some sugar is natural – fruits, veggies, and dairy foods all naturally contain sugar. It’s the “added sugar” that we should be uncomfortable with. Added sugars are the syrups and sugars that are added to foods during processing – sodas and desserts are the top sources of added sugars for most Americans, but it’s important to note that added sugar is also hidden in 74% of packaged foods.

Nutrition Facts

Q: What ingredients or nutrients do you want to see on a nutrition label?

A: I want to make sure that whatever I’m eating has a substantial amount of fiber. Not only is fiber not going to spike my sugars, but it’s also going to help me feel fuller, longer. It also helps:

• Lower your risk of diabetes
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Lower your risk of cancer
• Lower your risk of heart disease

Q: Can we count on multivitamins to help fill the gaps in our diet?

A: That’s a tough question because so few multivitamins are regulated by the FDA. There’s a danger in counting on over-the-counter multivitamins to make up for deficiencies in your diet when there’s no guarantee that they’re providing you the nutrients that they claim to be. The best plan of action is to eat foods that are high in vitamins and minerals.

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Sheryl Bingham, FNP-C
If you would like to schedule an appointment with Sheryl Bingham, please click here or call 801-397-6150.