About Nutrition Facts
Nutrition science studies how food components interact with digestion, metabolism, growth, activity, and health. Simple rules can be useful, but real nutrition is often more nuanced than internet claims suggest.
Calories
A Calorie is a unit of energy.
Learn MoreFood Contains Water
Many foods meaningfully contribute to hydration.
Learn MoreFiber
Humans do not fully digest fiber.
Learn MoreProtein
More protein is not automatically better.
Learn MoreServing Size
Serving size is a reference amount.
Learn MoreCooking
Cooking can increase or decrease nutrient availability.
Learn MoreNatural Labels
Natural does not automatically mean more nutritious.
Learn MoreSupplements
Supplements are not complete food replacements.
Learn MoreMicrobiome
The gut microbiome responds to diet.
Learn MorePatterns
Long-term patterns matter more than perfection.
Learn MoreCalories
Carbohydrates and protein provide about four Calories per gram and fat about nine. Calorie content does not by itself describe a food's full nutritional value.
Food Contains Water
Fruits, vegetables, soups, yogurt, and cooked grains can contain substantial water, so total hydration comes from both drinks and foods.
Fiber
Some fibers are fermented by gut microbes, while others add bulk or hold water. Different fibers therefore have different effects.
Protein
The body needs enough protein, but carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, sleep, and physical activity also matter.
Serving Size
It standardizes label information so products can be compared. It is not always the exact amount a person should eat.
Cooking
Heat can reduce some vitamins while making other compounds easier to absorb and making starches or proteins easier to digest.
Natural Labels
Marketing words cannot replace looking at the food, ingredients, nutrient content, and overall eating pattern.
Supplements
They can provide specific nutrients, but whole foods can also supply fiber, protein, fats, carbohydrates, water, and many plant compounds.
Microbiome
Fiber types, fermented foods, medicines, illness, and many other factors influence microbial communities, and there is no single perfect microbiome.
Patterns
One snack or celebration meal does not define nutrition. Variety, adequacy, balance, and practicality are more useful ways to think about eating.