Who doesn’t want to feel and look his or her best? It’s a rhetorical question, but could the task of looking our best be as simple as paying close attention to what we consume? It could certainly be a start. There is no question that diet affects our overall health and appearance.

We may be familiar with the saying, “You are what you eat,” but how many of us really note what we are eating and how much, or evaluate the nutritional content of any given food we eat? Do high obesity rates indicate that too many of us are eating mindlessly?

For decades, health and medical authorities have been telling Westerners that a nutritious and well-balanced diet reduces the risk of some cancers, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, obesity and many other health-related issues. Recommendations made by these authorities, together with current public health concerns, have opened the way for the public to have access to information that can lead to healthier choices.

America's Nutritional Labeling and Education Act of 1990 and the nutrition labeling regulations established by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1994 now require manufacturers of packaged food products to inform the public of certain nutrition information. In 2006 the FDA required the disclosure of trans fatty acid (trans fat) contained in these products. Out of these regulations came the Nutrition Facts label we have today, which can be found on the front, side or back of a product.

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