Q. I’m still not seeing “added sugar” broken out in Nutrition Facts labels. Isn’t it required now?
A: Yes, but only for certain size companies. It became mandatory on Jan. 1, 2020 for manufacturers of more than $10 million in annual sales, but manufacturers of less than $10 million in annual sales have until Jan. 1, 2021 to comply.
This is an important upgrade because added sugars can lead to obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cognitive decline, and many other health problems. Natural sugars, on the other hand, are safe in moderation.
There also are several other changes that the U.S. Food & Drug Administration made: The number of servings, serving size, and calories are now in larger, bolder type to make them more obvious and readable.
Manufacturers must now include potassium along with calcium and iron, and must list the quantity, in addition to percent Daily Values. Companies are encouraged to voluntarily list actual amounts for additional nutrients as well. Listing the vitamin D amount is also now required, but vitamins A and C are no longer mandatory.
The label will no longer list calories from fat because the amount is not as important as the type. Companies must continue to list total, saturated, and trans fat amounts.
Also, the footnote at the bottom has been clarified to better explain what percent Daily Value means. For more on the new Nutrition Facts label requirements, go to: https://bit.ly/2JjJJmS.
Q. Why were the guidelines for high blood pressure changed? Does it really make that much difference?
A: The American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association (AHA) lowered the definition of hypertension from 140/90 millimeters of mercury (mmHg) to 130/80 mmHg in November 2017 after analysis revealed that earlier detection, prevention, intervention, and treatment can help save lives.
With high blood pressure on the rise, the sooner it is detected, the sooner it can be treated, with nutrition, exercise, and other lifestyle changes, or a combination of those and medicine. Women over 40 should have their blood pressure checked yearly; more often if you have been diagnosed with or are at risk for high blood pressure. If you have high blood pressure or are at risk, limit your sodium intake to 1,500 milligrams (mg) a day. You can consume that much daily without adding any table salt.
The DASH diet—Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension—is the best plan for reducing high blood pressure. It emphasizes fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, fish, poultry, nuts, seeds, and low-fat dairy. Find out more about how to lower your blood pressure here, including following the DASH dietary plan: https://bit.ly/2ibGRsF.
Remember that exercise is equally as important as a healthy diet for lowering blood pressure. The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommends 30 minutes of moderate exercise a day, five days a week, for a total of 150 minutes. For more information, go to: https://bit.ly/2Q1eF09.
-Dr. Orli R. Etingin, M.D.
The post Ask Dr. Etingin: Added sugars on Nutrition Facts labels, High blood pressure guidelines appeared first on University Health News.