Label Literacy
According to the 5/20 rule, this percentage or less is considered "low" for a nutrient on a Nutrition Facts label.
What is 5%?
These are the three macronutrients that provide the body with energy in the form of calories.
What are carbohydrates, proteins, and fats?
These four words make up the "FITT" acronym used to create a specific fitness plan.
What are Frequency, Intensity, Time, and Type?
This is the recommended range of hours of sleep teenagers need each night for their bodies and brains to function best.
What is 8 to 10 hours?
While the average American eats over 3,400 mg daily, the human body actually only needs this many milligrams of sodium to function.
What is 1,500 mg?
This standardized amount on a food label is often different from the "portion size" a person actually chooses to eat.
What is serving size?
While carbohydrates and protein have 4 calories per gram, this macronutrient provides 9 calories per gram.
What is fat?
This specific fitness test is the standard method used to measure a student’s flexibility.
What is the Sit-and-Reach?
This brain chemical acts as the "major currency" of the reward system and is released after exercise or consuming sugar.
What is dopamine?
High sodium intake is a major risk factor for this medical condition, often referred to as "hypertension."
What is high blood pressure?
Found on almost all packaged foods, this section lists every component of the product in descending order, starting with the ingredient that weighs the most.
What is the Ingredient List?
This complex carbohydrate supports digestive health and adds bulk to the diet but cannot be digested by the body.
What is fiber?
This training principle states that to improve, you must gradually increase the demands placed on your body.
What is progression?
This term describes the body's natural internal process that regulates the sleep-wake cycle over a 24-hour period.
What are circadian rhythms?
Along with salting and drying, these are two common methods used to prevent food from spoiling.
What are canning and freezing?
This specific nutrient information was not required on older food labels but is now mandatory to help consumers identify sugars added during processing or packaging.
What are Added Sugars?
This vitamin is essential for proper blood clotting and is also important for strong bones.
What is Vitamin K?
This type of regular exercise is the most effective way to increase levels of "good" (HDL) cholesterol in the blood.
What is aerobic exercise?
This hormone is produced by the brain to signal that it is time to sleep, increasing when it is dark and decreasing when it is light.
What is melatonin?
This term describes foods that provide vitamins, minerals, and other healthy components with relatively few calories or added sugars.
What is nutrient-dense?
To be labeled "Low Sodium," a food product must contain this many milligrams of sodium or less per serving.
What is 140 mg?
Because it is primarily found in animal products, this vitamin often needs to be supplemented by those on a strict vegan diet.
What is Vitamin B12?
This training principle means the body adapts to the specific demands placed on it, such as doing pull-ups to strengthen back muscles.
What is specificity?
Participating in these types of activities is identified as the most likely way to help teenagers reduce feelings of loneliness.
What are team sports or group activities?
These types of calories provide energy but few or no beneficial nutrients; sugary sodas are a primary example.
What are empty calories?