Which of the following nutrients must be on a nutrition facts label?

Nutrition Facts Labels: Understanding Macronutrients, Vitamins, and Minerals

Good health is essential for living a long, successful, and happy life. To achieve this, what you eat matters! Macros, vitamins, and minerals are all essential nutrients that must be present on a Nutrition Facts label. If you’re looking to make a nutritional powerhouse meal, you need to make sure these nutrients are present. Let’s take a look at what each one of these are and what they bring to the table.

What Macros Should I Look For?

Macronutrients, or macros, are the building blocks of life. The three macros you’ll see the most on nutrition labels are calories, fat, and carbohydrates. Having a good understanding of these will help you to make better meal choices.

Calories provide energy for your body, so you want to make sure you’re eating enough of it.

Fat is important for hormone production, cell membrane health, and absorption of fat-soluble vitamins.

Carbohydrates are the fuel that helps power your body. Eating the right kinds of carbs can also help stabalize blood sugar levels and keep you full longer.

Do Vitamins and Minerals Matter?

Yes! You need to make sure that you’re getting the right vitamins and minerals for your body to function efficiently. Vitamins can be divided into two categories: fat-soluble and water-soluble.

Fat-soluble Vitamins are stored in the body. They include: Vitamins A, D, E, and K.

Water-soluble Vitamins are not stored in the body and need to be taken in daily. They include: Vitamins B and C.

Minerals are divided into two groups: major minerals and trace minerals. Major minerals are the ones you need in larger amounts and trace minerals are ones you need in smaller amounts.

Healthy Eating & Nutrition Facts Labels

By keeping an eye on the types of nutrients present on Nutrition Facts labels, you can make sure you’re getting the right types of macronutrients and vitamins and minerals your body needs. Eating healthy doesn’t have to be boring or complicated! With a little bit of research and understanding of nutrition labels, you can make meals that are packed full of energy and nutrients.