by Doreen Martel

Created on: February 02, 2009   Last Updated: December 08, 2009

Since you made your New Years resolution to begin eating healthier you have been reading nutrition labels, but you are getting confused. There seems to be a consistency in how the labels are written. You often see fat at the top of your nutrition label, even if the number that follows it is 0. You might be wondering how the order of nutrients is determined on your nutrition label. In fact, the nutrition label is designed to help you follow your diet easier than ever!

Nutrition labels are designed so that the nutrients we either get the most of or the nutrients we get far too much of are listed first! Yes, nutrition labels are designed to put the worst of our eating habits in the forefront of our minds when we are reading them! Just consider your typical container of yogurt. The very first nutrient listed is fat!

The Worst Nutrients - Avoid high amounts

The nutrients in our diet that we abuse the most appear at the top of our nutrition labels. This typically includes fat, cholestorol and sodium. We all understand how these nutrients can affect not only our diets but our overall health. Putting these nutrients first on nutrition labels helps us be more aware of what we are putting into our bodies.

All of these nutrients that are listed first on your nutrition labels are causes of or contributors to chronic illness. These might include high blood pressure, heart disease and even cancer.

You need more - add more of these nutrients to your diet

Typically the lowest levels of nutrients are dietary fiber, Vitamins A & C, calcium and iron. We all understand the benefits of these nutrients in our diet. Adequate amounts of these nutrients can help us maintain a healthy body and reduce our risk of certain diseases.

Getting the proper amount of the nutrients that are listed typically near the middle or even at the bottom of your nutrition label can be tricky. These nutrients can help promote healthy teeth, bones and digestive functions. In addition, these nutrients can also help your heart remain healthy and promote an overall feeling of well being.

Summary

While ingredients on nutrition labels are listed from the highest content to the lowest, nutrients are not listed that way. If you are planning your diet and menus based on nutrition labels, it is helpful to know how the order of nutrients are listed on nutrition labels. Do not be fooled, read your labels carefully!

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