Percent Daily Value: What does it mean?

Q.	What does Percent Daily Value mean on food labels? Eileen / Mississippi see response Mayo Clinic dietitian Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D., and colleagues answer select questions from readers.

All Food & Nutrition Q&As:

• Alkaline water: Does it have health benefits?
• Blood type diet: Any health benefits?
• Breakfast: Why is it so important?
• Butter vs. margarine: Which is better for my heart?
• Buying beef? A guide to choosing the leanest cuts



• Caffeine: Is it dehydrating or not?
• Calcium supplements: When should I take them?
• Calcium supplements: Which type of calcium is best?
• Candida cleanse: Does it treat candidiasis?
• Canned food: How long can you safely keep it?



• Canned pumpkin: Better than fresh?
• Canola oil: Does it contain toxins?
• Chocolate: Does it impair calcium absorption?
• Coffee and health: What does the research say?
• Coffee calories: How many in your cup?



• Colloidal silver: Is it safe?
• Craving and chewing ice: A sign of anemia?
• Diabetes diet: Can going vegetarian help?
• Diet soda: Is it bad for you?
• Dietary supplements vs. food: Which is better?



• E. coli: How can I tell if food is contaminated?
• Energy drinks: Do they really give me energy?
• Fat grams or percentages: Which are more important?
• Fiber supplements: Are they safe to take every day?
• Food safety: How long can you keep leftovers?



• Freezing meat: Does it kill harmful bacteria?
• Freezing or microwaving plastic: Does it release dioxins?
• Fruit juice: Is it good or bad for kids?
• Glyconutrients: What are the health benefits?
• Grapefruit juice: Can it cause drug interactions?



• Ground flaxseed: Better than whole?
• High-fructose corn syrup: Why is it so bad for me?
• Kombucha tea: What are the health benefits?
• Lentils: How do I cook with them?
• Low-sodium diet: Why is processed food so salty?



• Microwave popcorn: Is it linked to lung disease?
• Moldy cheese: Is it unsafe to eat?
• Monosodium glutamate (MSG): Is it harmful?
• Olive oil: What are the health benefits?
• Percent Daily Value: What does it mean?



• Phenylalanine in diet soda: Is it harmful?
• Prenatal vitamins: OK for women who aren't pregnant?
• Reactive hypoglycemia: What causes it?
• Roasting nuts: Lower fat by roasting in the shell?
• Sea salt vs. table salt: Which is better?



• Smart Balance: Are cholesterol-lowering products safe for everyone?
• Stevia: Is it available in the United States?
• Thanksgiving turkey: Can you cook it frozen?
• Too skinny? How to add pounds safely
• Vitamin C: Can too much be harmful?



• Vitamin D: How much do I need?
• Vitamin water: Better than plain water?
• White whole-wheat bread: Is it good for me?
• Yerba mate: Is it safe to drink?

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