Nutrition basics
Learning Center
Water: How much should you drink every day?
Know how much water to drink to stay healthy and hydrated.
Sodium: How to tame your salt habit
Find out which foods have lots of this mineral and get tips on how to cut back.
Dietary fat: Know which to choose
Not all fat is created equal. Find out which type of fat to choose — and which to avoid — for good health.
Caffeine: How much is too much?
Is your caffeine habit causing problems? Find out how much is too much and if you need to curb your consumption.
Carbohydrates: How carbs fit into a healthy diet
See why carbohydrates are important for your health and learn which ones to choose.
Are energy drinks bull?
Thanks to a large amount of sugar and caffeine, energy drinks might give you a temporary energy boost. But too much sugar from energy drinks can add extra pounds. And too much caffeine can cause adverse side effects, such as nervousness, stomach upset, irritability, increased heart rate and insomnia. There are better ways to boost your energy. For example, get enough sleep, exercise regularly and eat a healthy diet.
Time to cut back on caffeine?
That morning cup of coffee or early afternoon soda is probably OK. But more than 400 milligrams of caffeine a day, or more than about four cups of coffee, can cause insomnia, restlessness, headaches and other problems. Start paying attention to how much caffeine you're getting from foods and beverages. Check labels. If you decide to cut back, do it gradually. For example, drink a smaller cup of coffee each day. This will help your body get used to the lower levels of caffeine and lessen potential withdrawal effects.
Artificial sweeteners and other sugar substitutes
Get the facts on products that make food and drinks sweeter.
Fiber: Soluble or insoluble?
You need both types of fiber in your diet. Soluble, which dissolves in water, can help lower cholesterol and glucose levels. Good sources of soluble fiber include oats, beans, apples, citrus fruits, carrots and barley. Insoluble fiber, which doesn't dissolve in water, promotes the movement of material through your digestive system and can help with constipation or irregular stools. Good sources of insoluble fiber include whole-wheat flour, wheat bran, nuts and many vegetables.
Eat more of these key nutrients
The typical American diet is low in fiber, vitamin D, calcium, iron and potassium. For this reason, they're listed on the Nutrition Facts label to encourage Americans to choose foods rich in these important nutrients.
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