Understanding the FDA's Nutrition Labels, Part 2

Nielsen’s survey suggests that consumers are vulnerable to advertising when it comes to food. While 26 percent of global shoppers look at nutrition labels and scrutinize foods that they perceive as being “nonhealthy,” they do not examine the foods that they consider to be “healthy” in the same way.

Worldwide, Americans are the most likely to understand the information on the Nutrition Facts panel (67 percent as compared with the global average of 45 percent, according to Nielsen’s survey). But American consumers also appear to be the least inclined to use that information to their benefit. And while the sales of many health and wellness products may be on the rise in America — particularly those that boast “no trans or saturated fats” or claim to contain flax, hemp seed, or probiotics — obesity is also still on the rise.

Getting the Most Out of the Nutrition Facts Panel
Despite any perceived failings in the FDA’s nutrition-labeling system, it remains the primary system in the US. The FDA and USDA, along with the HHS and other governmental regulatory agencies, will continue to update the Nutrition Facts panel and other dietary guidelines for Americans and to regulate health claims based on scientific research and consensus panels.
The following are a few tips for getting the most out of the FDA’s Nutrition Facts panel:

• Pay attention to portions, and make sure you’re eating the right amount based on the actual serving size.
• Count calories to help manage your weight; make sure not to take in more calories than your body burns or you will gain weight.
• Limit saturated and trans fats, cholesterol, and sodium to reduce your risk of chronic diseases.
• Be sure you’re getting enough dietary fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, and iron in your diet — daily.
• Use the Percent Daily Value (%DV) to determine how much the nutrients per serving are contributing to your total daily diet. You can also compare %DVs of similar products to see which is higher or lower in nutrients and, therefore, which one is better for you (for instance, if one cereal has 40%DV of iron while another has 100%DV).
• Read the ingredients list to learn more about what the package contains. For instance, you may want to choose foods that contain fewer preservatives or you may be seeking more whole grains. The ingredient listing is also important if you or someone in your family has food allergies.

For more information on the Nutrition Facts panel, you can visit the FDA’s Labeling and Nutrition section or you can sign up for updates on FDA-regulated products on the FDA’s Consumer Updates page.

Understanding the FDA's Nutrition Labels

Decoding food labels and product health claims can be a challenge. Here's the key to choosing the most nutritious foods and beverages.

When shopping the grocery store for healthy foods, the Nutrition Facts panel and other health claims on packaged food can be helpful tools. But how do you know these labels are guiding you to make the healthiest and most nutritious choices for you and your family?

Government Regulation of Nutrition Facts and Claims in America
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), along with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is responsible for setting the guidelines for healthy eating in America. This includes the regulation of the FDA's Nutrition Facts panel and of any nutrition claims that manufacturers display on the packaging of food and beverages sold in the US.

The Nutrition Facts panel was initially developed by the FDA to make consumers aware of the nutrients and calories in the foods and beverages they buy and, ultimately, to help shoppers make more-healthful choices for themselves and their families. The panel is required to list the amount of calories, fats, cholesterol, sodium, carbohydrates, fiber, sugars, protein, vitamins, and minerals per serving, as well as the serving size and number of servings per container. Still, food labeling at the FDA and USDA remains a work in progress, with revisions being made as scientists uncover important nutritional revelations.

Revising Nutrition Facts
To help protect consumers from misleading claims, the FDA and USDA made a significant change to the Nutrition Facts panel requirements in 1994. The departments created guidelines for the use of such terms as “healthy,” “light,” “reduced sodium,” and “low fat” (and variations on these terms) as part of the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act. Before this provision, a food or drink that contained no fat or sodium could have been labeled as “healthy” — even jelly beans or soda.

In 1994, the FDA declared that in order to be deemed “healthy,” a food or beverage must be low in fat (including saturated fat), sodium, and cholesterol, and also contain at least 10 percent of the recommended daily value of either vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, calcium, protein, or fiber. Even big brands with the word “healthy” in their names, such as Healthy Choice, were obliged to conform to the FDA’s new labeling laws. The FDA also currently regulates terms — including "low," "reduced," "high," "free," "lean," "extra lean," "good source," "less," "light," and "more" — that may be used to describe a given nutrient.

In January 2006, in an effort to help consumers make more heart-healthy choices, the FDA began requiring manufacturers to list trans fat — that is, trans fatty acids — on the Nutrition Facts (and some Supplements Facts) panels. This addition was the result of scientific research showing that consuming trans fat can increase the risk of coronary heart disease by raising low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels, often referred to as “bad cholesterol.” Saturated fat and dietary cholesterol also increase LDL, but they have been listed on food labels since 1993.

Global Nutrition Labels
In a September 2008 Consumers and Nutrition Labeling global report by the Nielsen Company, Deepak Varma, senior vice president of Nielsen Customized Research, concluded that both the rise in obesity and the fact that heart disease is the number-one killer worldwide puts increasing pressure on governments and the food industry to better educate people about what they’re eating. “The urgent need for clear and educational labeling has become one of the most debated and controversial topics in recent years,” says Varma.

To be continued...

Young adults and healthcare. Who cares?

Young adults are the least likely among all age groups to get outpatient medical care even though there is plenty of evidence that seeing a doctor once a year or so would benefit people ages 20 to 29 just as much as older or younger folks.

Sponsored Link

Treatments  
for Swine Flu 
Find the best swine
flu pills at online
pharmacy.
Worldwide shipping.
pharmacy-adviser.com

Buy Levitra -  
2,40$ per pill 
Levitra is used
to treat erectile
dysfunction.
pharmacy-adviser.com 

Buy a link here

A study published in the September issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine used national survey data from 1996 to 2006 to show that annual visits for healthcare drops sharply between peaks of heavy usage in childhood and middle age. Young men, especially, are unlikely to get regular healthcare, as are people without insurance. About one-third of young adults are uninsured, according to the researchers from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. Young adults are also less likely to have a primary care doctor.

People in their 20s often appear to be in good health, which may lead many to conclude that they don't need healthcare. But numerous studies show that many health problems peak in early adulthood, including homicide, accidents, sexually transmitted diseases and substance abuse disorders. Rates of suicide, smoking, HIV infection and psychiatric disorders are also higher in this age group than in several other age groups. A large portion of young adults are overweight or obese or sedentary.

"In contrast to adolescents, young adults garner relatively little attention from researchers, advocacy groups, or policymakers," the authors wrote. "Our findings emphasize the need for a national agenda to improve access to care and preventive services for all young adults."

Silver Slimming product info

Product information

• For people who don’t like taking tablets
• Reductions in hunger pangs
• Totally natural and contain no additives

• The active ingredient is Fucus Vesticulous, an ocean plant extract found off the Brittany coast, which can help supoort the metabolic rate and break down fatty reserves, whilst also reducing the craving for food
• Apply one Silver Slimming Patch to one of the following areas ensuring the area is dry and free from hair: Back, shoulder, inside of the wrist, crease of elbow, upper arm, mid abdomen, behind the knee or under the arch of the foot. Replace the patch with a new one every 24 hours

Testimonials

Carole : I am just approaching 12 months of using these pills and wow! Everyone is noticing my weight loss the feeling of buying clothes because I like them and not just because they will fit is fabulous. These pills really do work and are so safe. Perseverance with these really does pay off.

Visit Slimming.com

WeightLoss Solution for you

The Two Part Effects of Sliver Slimming Patches

Silver Slimming Patches are designed to assault the most common foes of dieters in two ways. The delivery system for their all-natural ingredients is that of a patch. These devices are similar to the nicotine patches widely used by smokers to help them give up the habit. This combination of a two-part system and the use of the patch as a means of delivery of the ingredients has several benefits which may be of interest to specific dieters seeking a different way to increase their odds of successfully reducing their weight over the long term.

Many individuals who deal with a weight issue aren't particularly big eaters nor are they particularly inactive. Some individuals simply have a slow metabolism. This means that the foods they eat tend to be stored in the body as fat rather than being burned during the course of the day. There are several different natural products that combat this in various ways. Silver Slimming Patches do so via an ingredient called Fucus Vesiculosus. This is an herbal ingredient which helps to speed up the body's metabolism resulting in less of the calories consumed being stored as fat and in the consumption of some of the fat one carries.

The secondary effect of Silver Slimming Patches is that of an appetite suppressant. Some individuals happen to have a very big appetite, even when they haven't done anything particularly grueling to work up their hunger. This can result in diet plans being foiled by irresistible desires to overeat or to snack between meals. Having one's appetite better controlled also enables one to be satisfied with smaller portions at regular meals which is one of the most significant parts of determining the success or failure of any diet program, particularly over the long term.

Silver Slimming Patches are convenient in that one need not remember to take a supplement before eating or in the morning or night. This is the same convenience that makes nicotine patches so popular with smokers. The constant dosage of the Fucus Vesiculosus means that Silver Slimming Patches are always at work throughout the day and night. The fat-burning properties of the herbal ingredients are always being realized and at a steady rate. Likewise, one need not worry about a sudden spike in hunger when the Fucus Vesiculosus wears off as there is a constant amount being delivered to the body.

Silver Slimming patches are available in a 4-week course. The company also offers a discount on larger orders should one want to stick with the treatment longer than this initial period. There is a money-back guarantee attached if one is not satisfied with the product. This product is a good choice for those who don't want their dieting to become a huge part of their daily routine and who would prefer to take care of their supplement needs in one easy step. A good diet and exercise may be more effective with the use of this product.