HEALTH TIP #18:

Nutrition food label - Vitamins & Minerals

Vitamins and minerals do not provide your body with energy, like carbohydrate, protein and fat, but they play a crucial role in maintaining a healthy body. For example, one of the roles of vitamin A is to keep your eyes and skin healthy, were as vitamin C helps maintain a good immune system to fight infections. When it comes to minerals, calcium is very important for strong bones and teeth, while iron is essential to transport the oxygen through your body.

On the nutrition facts table, you will always find vitamin A and vitamin C, as well as calcium and iron, along with nine other nutrients (fat, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, sodium, carbohydrate, fibre, sugars, protein). In Canada, it is mandatory that these 13 nutrients appear on the nutrition facts table of all packaged foods.

Depending on the product, you may also find additional vitamins and minerals listed on the food label, such as vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin K, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin B12, biotin, pantothenic acid, phosphorus, iodide, magnesium, zinc, selenium, copper, manganese, chromium, molybdenum, and chloride.

One thing that differentiates vitamins and minerals from other nutrients listed on the nutrition facts table is that vitamins and minerals are only identified as percentage of daily value, whereas the other nutrients are expressed by quantity or by both quantity and % daily value.

Remember that when looking at vitamins and minerals on food labels, you want to look for the highest percentage of daily value.

Take care of your health, you’re worth it!

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