The Truth About Calories

One of the biggest mistakes that many people make is becoming obsessed with low calorie diets. Many times low calorie diets are too low in calories and do not provide enough energy for the body to properly function. Not only do many people feel exhausted and fatigued, but this can also lead to vitamin deficiencies and lowered immune systems. This is why it is imperative that you are aware of what is in the foods that you consume in a normal diet.I was speaking with a small group recently and the subject of low calorie diets came up. I noticed the words “calories” and “fat” were being used synonymously. It was as if they did not realize that these are two very different things. While low fat diets are essential to a healthy lifestyle, your caloric intake should be neither low nor high but support your lifestyle. With all of the diet supplements, diet plans and programs for sale, it seems like advertisers have turned “calories” into a bad word. Yes, it is true that if you burn more calories than you take in, you will ultimately lose weight but that is a very simple slice of a much more complex pie.

A Calorie is the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of a liter of water 1 degree. What?!! Relax. It is just a scientific way to measure energy. That’s right, a calorie is a unit of measurement (neither good nor bad). Fat is one of the three primary sources of calories along with carbohydrates and protein.

If you need to lose weight, a reduction of 500 or more calories each day from added sugar, fat, and alcohol is a good strategy. For example, drink water flavored with lemon or lime, seltzer water or a diet soda instead of a sugar-sweetened beverage, or use a non-caloric sweetener instead of a sweetener with calories. Together these small changes can quickly add up to 500 calories!

By Gartrell White

Total Fitness Control