Are All Calories As Bad As Each Other?
When dieting and trying to lose weight, the one thing everyone counts is calories. Whether from fat, sugars, carbohydrates, or veggies, the number of calories consumed compared to the number of calories burned throughout the day is what will make or break any weight loss plan. If you are just starting out, or trying to learn more about counting calories, you may be wondering: are all calories as bad as each other?
Calories are used to measure the amount of energy your body receives from food. In order to stay healthy and function properly, the body must take in a certain number of calories per day. Fat, protein, and carbohydrates make up the main sources of daily energy. Fats have about nine calories per gram, while protein and carbohydrates have about four calories per gram. All calories, regardless of where they come from, are either converted to energy and burned, or stored in the body as fat. The stored calories will begin to add up in the form of extra pounds if they are not eventually burned from exercise, or if caloric intake is not reduced to encourage the body to burn the stored energy source.
While many people believe “calories are calories” that is not completely true. Some calories are considered to be “empty calories” meaning they provide the body with no real nutritional value, but are high in number, usually due to excessive amounts of sugar. This type of calorie is more easily stored in the body and turned into fat. Other types of food, while they may be high in calories, provide good nutritional properties, which enables to body to better process and use the energy.
There are a few myths that need to be debunked regarding calories as well. Some calorie counters will tell you that all of the calories from carbohydrates make you fat. That is not entirely accurate. Carbohydrates are a necessary component to a healthy diet, and provide excellent sources of grains and fiber. Refined carbohydrates (such as baked goods and desserts) contain a great deal of processed sugars and fats, which do pack a high number of calories and tend to become stored in the body. Unrefined carbohydrates tend to be high in whole grains and full of fiber, which is quite beneficial. Another common misconception is that all fats should be avoided. While fats provide twice as many calories as protein and carbohydrates, not all fats are bad. Unsaturated, and non-hydrogenated fats provide nutrients, flavor, and allow you to feel full longer. Fats also keep your metabolism in check and prevent the body from going into starvation mode. Finally, many people believe they can eat whatever they want as long as they exercise. While exercise is very important to total health, and it does burn calories, it does not undo the negative effects from eating a poor diet. Studies show that when calories are controlled, a well balanced diet is consumed, and a regular exercise program is utilized overall health is greatly improved.
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