Nutrition and weight loss experts are always telling us to ‘read the label’ on the foods we eat, but you need a calculator and a degree in food science to understand what all the data mean. So the Institute of Medicine proposed this year a new easier-to-understand labeling standard that highlights key information: the amount of calories per serving, along with check marks indicating whether the product meets acceptable levels of sodium, added sugars and trans or saturated fats. A food with three checks, for instance, would meet all the requirements for being a relatively healthy choice. The system isn’t perfect — a Diet Coke would get three checks for being low in salt, sugar and fat, while more nutritious 1% milk would get only two points because of its fat content — but it would be a good start for helping busy consumers glean the most important nutrition info at a glance.
8 Health Stories to Watch in 2012
These events captivated the American public in 2011 — and they may matter even more in 2012. Keep an eye out.