Calories in Food

Everyone is concerned about the calories in food right? All my life I've wished I was one of the lucky people who can eat whatever they want and not worry about gaining weight.

Now that I've conquered obesity, I have a different outlook about calorie intake.

Is Calorie Intake the Key to Weight Loss?

Cut the calories and get some exercise is the typical advice of many. There's just one big problem for me. I love to eat.

Because I love to eat, portion control dieting fails miserably for me. I can do it for a while, but eventually hunger takes over.

While I don't consider a low calorie diet to be the best way to lose weight, it is important to learn about calories. Without calories, we would die.

Calories in Food - What is a Calorie?

Calorie, kilogram calorie, kilocalorie, large calorie, and nutritionist's calorie is a unit of heat equal to the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one kilogram of water by one degree at one atmosphere pressure. It is used by nutritionists to characterize the energy-producing potential in food) [1].

What does this mean? The calories are the energy in food. Looking for more calorie information? Read the what is a calorie full article.

Calories in Food - Calorie Content of Foods

The calorie content of foods comes from protein, carbohydrates, and fat. Vitamins and minerals do not have calories.

Fruits mainly have calories from carbohydrates (sugar). Vegetables have calories from carbohydrates and protein. The carbohydrate value of vegetables varies greatly depending on the vegetable. Meats provide calories from protein and fat.

To learn more about protein, carbohydrates, and fat calories, read the full article about the calorie content of foods.

Calories in Food - Calories Needed per Day

The number of calories needed per day is different for each person. In general, it is recommended that women eat a 2,000 calorie diet. Men should eat a 2,500 calorie diet.

The actual calories needed per day depends on gender, age, height, muscle mass, and physical activity. Except for physical activity, these factors determine a person's Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR). Your BMR has more effect on how many calories you burn per day than does physical activity.

Learn more about calories needed per day.

Calories in Food - Restaurant Food Calories

Restaurant food is a major cause of obesity. It has lots of calories from added sugar. It usually contains high amounts of MSG to improve taste.

After some good weight loss, I treated myself to a treat meal at a restaurant. I didn't think I would gain weight from one meal. Boy was I wrong.

I gained 5 pounds from that one meal. It didn't go away in a few days, so it wasn't water weight. I was stuck in a weight loss plateau for over 3 months. That meal was not worth it!

My meal contained lots of sugar and MSG. I didn't have desert either.

A setback like that is very discouraging. I only cheated for that one meal. I only eat in restaurants if I can't avoid it. Read the full article about restaurant food calories.

Calories in Food - Negative Calorie Foods

Negative calorie foods can help with healthy weight loss. Negative calorie foods are foods that, when digested, burn more calories than they contain.

Sounds too good to be true right? Learn more by reading to full article about negative calorie foods.

Calories in Food - Calories in Fast Food

It is common knowledge that fast food is unhealthy and contributes to obesity. Have you ever asked for a nutrition guide at your favorite burger joint?

If they actually have any, you may be shocked when you read it. One meal can contain over 2,000 calories. Is it any wonder why fast food causes obesity?

Read the full article about calories in fast food.

Calories in food - How to Count Calories

How to count calories is probably one of the main questions about weight loss. There are so many foods out there. How can you accurately count the calories in them?

Measuring cups and scales are required to tools for accurate calorie counting. Is counting calories really necessary? Read the full article about how to count calories.

Calories in Food - Calorie Shifting

Calorie shifting is a very effective weight loss method. It involves varying the types of foods you eat. It is also very effective for ending weight loss plateaus.

The body isn't designed to lose fat easily. It wants to store it for a rainy day. Calorie shifting keeps the body guessing, so it can't adjust. This forces it to burn body fat as fuel. Read the full article about calorie shifting.

Calories in food - Conclusion

Are calories important? You bet they are. If you don't eat enough of them, your metabolism will slow down to compensate. A slow metabolism is not good for fat burning.

You want to keep it within reason though. If you eat too many, you will gain weight. The calories in processed foods are effectively multiplied by food additives like MSG.

The best foods are fresh, organic vegetables and fruit, grass fed beef, free range chicken and eggs, wild caught sea food, pastured pork, and whole grains. Whole foods are the key to health and vitality!

Calories in food should come from fat, protein, and carbohydrates. Keep the carbs low for weight loss. I get most of my carbs from vegetables and a little fruit.

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