BMI/Calories- Ever Wonder What the Food Labels Really Mean?-

How to Read a Food Label:

“Nutritionlabel.” Fruit Seasons. 2007. 26 May 2007 < fruitseasons.com/healthguide/nutritionlabel/ >.

2.  Calories:  What we use to fuel our body for energy to live.  When we eat too many calories, our body cannot use all of them.  After not being used in about 8 hours, these extra calories are stored in our body as fat. ("What happens when you pig out.")

3.  (Saturated and Trans)Fat, Cholestrol, Sodium:  Saturated and Trans Fat are the "bad" fats.  They are what clog your arteries.  Cholesterol is a waxy substance that can be found in all parts of your body. It aids in the production of cell membranes, some hormones, and vitamin D. The cholesterol in your blood comes from two sources: the foods you eat and your liver. However, your liver makes all of the cholesterol your body needs.  Cholesterol and other fats are transported in your blood stream in the form of spherical particles called lipoproteins. The two most commonly known lipoproteins are low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and high-density lipoproteins (HDL). ("Cholesterol.")

4.  Vitamin A, C, Calcuim and Iron:  Vitamin A is an important vitamin.  A Vitamin A deficiency can cause: night blindness, corneal drying, triangular grey spots on eye , corneal degeneration and blindness, impaired immunity, hypokeratosis- white lumps at hair follicles, and softening of the cornea ("Vitamin A").  It really messes up your eyes in general.  Vitamin C deficiency causes scurvy.  This leads to liver spots, and advanced scurvy can make one lose their teeth, and eventually die.  Our bodies don't make Vitamin C, so we must consume it to stay healthy ("Vitamin C.").  Calcium is what keeps our teeth and bones strong and healthy.  This helps to prevent osteoporosis ("Calcium.").  When our bodies don't have enough iron, it causes an iron deficiency called anemia.  The blood cells cannot carry enough oxygen throughout our blood stream.  We should not take iron supplements unless told by a doctor to do so, because it can actually harm the body when there is an excess ("Iron Deficiency anemia."). 

5. The footnote is to let you know how much of each nutrient you should eat.