 food labels simplified by sarah food labels simplified by sarah admin mon 9022024 1523 in a hurry here s a quick wrapup  ingredients list  look for whole foods at the top of the ingredients list and be cautious of products where sugar salt or unhealthy fats are among the first ingredients nutritional panel  compare products using the per 100g column to choose options lower in saturated fat sugar and salt and higher in fibre and protein calorie dis counting  focus on the quality of ingredients rather than just the calorie count as lowcalorie foods can still be unhealthy due to artificial sweeteners and low fibre content for more detail read on  nutrition decoding food labels your guide to healthier choices navigating food labels can be overwhelming but understanding them is key to making informed and healthier decisions about what you eat by decoding nutritional information serving sizes and hidden ingredients you can take control of your diet and make choices that truly support your wellbeing in this post sarah our inhouse nutrition expert will break down food labels to help you understand key components and guide you towards healthier eating habits ingredients list what s really in your food  the ingredients list is more than just a collection of names it s a roadmap to understanding what you re putting into your body ingredients are listed in descending order by weight meaning that the first few ingredients make up the largest portion of the product to make healthier choices look for whole foods at the top of the list and be cautious of products where sugar salt or unhealthy fats like hydrogenated oils appear among the first ingredients it s also wise to avoid products with ingredients that you don t recognise or can t pronounce such as emulsifiers like mono and diglycerides found in baked goods and margarine or polysorbates found in ice cream and salad dressings and preservatives like potassium sorbate found in cheese and baked goods and nitrates found in bacon and sausages these additives can negatively impact your gut microbiome and may lead to poor health outcomes over time nutritional panel breaking down the numbers the nutritional panel provides detailed information about key nutrients including carbohydrates protein fat fibre sugar and salt when comparing products it s important to use the per 100g column rather than the serving size as companies can manipulate serving sizes to make their products appear healthier than they are aim for products with lower amounts of saturated fat sugar and salt to support heart health while also seeking out options with higher amounts of fibre and protein this approach helps you choose foods that contribute positively to your overall health and wellbeing calorie dis counting focus on quality not just numbers while calories are often a focal point on food packaging it s important not to be overly fixated on the calorie count alone many health foods are marketed with bold claims about being low in calories implying they are good for you however these products are often low in fibre and may be high in salt or sweetened with artificial sweeteners which can be just as harmful as refined sugars artificial sweeteners can still trigger your body to release insulin potentially leading to insulin resistance over time and increasing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes additionally these sweeteners often stimulate the hunger hormone ghrelin leading to increased food consumption and potentially more calories than your body needs throughout the day start decoding food labels today understanding food labels empowers you to make healthier choices and take control of your nutrition by learning to interpret nutritional information serving sizes and ingredient lists you can confidently select foods that align with your health goals start decoding labels today and take a proactive step towards better health  