If your looking to eat more healthy it can be confusing trying to decide which is healthier, the low fat product or the reduced fat one? when advertising products the labels which are used can be quite misleading and for that reason this article has been written.

Here we aim to dissect the mumbo jumbo and give it to you as it is.

Low calorie – This means that there are less than 40 calories per serving, ideal products for low calorie diets, but be sure to also check the amount of saturated fats and sugary carbs.

Low cholesterol – This means that there is less than 20mg of cholesterol and 2g or less of saturated fats per serving, good for low fat diets and those looking to lower cholesterol levels. Be sure to check overall salt (sodium) contents.

Reduced (fat, calories, sugar etc) – This means that there is 25% less of the specified nutrient compared to the usual contents, a product advertising 25% less fat means that compared to its original version or compared to the competitive comparison it has 25% less fat. Good when your looking to eat similar foods but want to watch your weight, usually these products will still taste the same but you’ll feel better because they are healthier.

Good source of – A product that is a good source of vitamin C would mean that the product provides you with at least 10% of you recommended daily intake of vitamin C per serving.

Calorie free – This is actually mis-leading and does not mean it contains 0 calories, it actually means that it has less than 5 calories per serving. Ideal foods for low calorie diets.

Fat/Sugar free - Like above does not mean that the product is fat or sugar free, it just means that it has less than 0.5g of fat/sugar per serving. These products should aid diets well and help with weight loss.

Low sodium – For those that are unaware sodium is salt, the salt equivalent of sodium is usually higher than the sodium amount, so 1gm of sodium could mean 1.5gm of salt. Low sodium means that there is less than 140mg of sodium per serving. Good for helping to lower blood pressure.

High in (Fibre, Iron etc) – A product that is high in calcium would provide you with at least 20% of your recommended daily intake of calcium per serving. Ideal when your lacking certain nutrients in your body, a common problem is lack of iron.

Light – As in lighter versions of products such as flora light, light means that it either contains half the amount of fat or 1/3 fewer calories compared to its non-light version. Gives you a good reason to swap for a lighter, healthier version of what you already eat. Like reduced versions of items these don’t usually taste much different and a are a great way to eat a bit healthier.

Healthy – Any product that is listed as healthy should have reduced fats, sodium and cholesterol and must provide at least 10% of your recommended daily intake of vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, protein, calcium and fibre. The ultimate health food, usually things like fruit smoothies will fall into this category providing they contain only naturally occurring sugars.