Calories are something that everyone knows about, regardless of whether or not you’re currently on a diet or following a weight loss plan. Whenever you buy food, the calories are listed somewhere on the packaging, and when you start a weight loss program, you’re often told that calories play a large role in how much weight you will lose. It’s no question that calories are given a lot of weight when it comes to food, but many people don’t even know what they represent. For many, calories are just a number that is assigned to the food you eat, telling you how much you can have of that particular item. That’s why, in today’s post, we will discuss calories and a few myths that you should keep in mind.
With most fad diets, you’re restricted on the number of calories you can have, as well as the type of foods they can be used on. At Foodology, we have a different approach. Instead of limiting our clients, we educate them on how to properly fuel their bodies and how to create balanced meals. We give you the freedom to choose your meals wisely, and as a result, you can start to lose weight in a healthier way. Learn more about our health and nutrition courses, and sign up to start your Foodology journey today!
Myth #1: Calories Fuel Our Bodies
It’s not uncommon to hear things like “you have to eat enough calories to make sure your body has energy.” However, it’s a common misconception that calories fuel your body. In fact, calories are actually a unit of measurement for heat. The term calorie was originally used to explain the theory of heat conservation in steam engines. The definition for calories evolved once they were applied to nutrition, and now a calorie is the amount of heat it takes to raise one kilogram of water by one degree Celsius. That being said, while calories do matter, what really fuels your body is the oxidation of fat, carbohydrates, and protein, which is why you should track all four elements during your weight loss journey.
Myth #2: All Calories Are Equal
Some foods may be more calories, and some may be less, but they are all the same, right? Not exactly. As mentioned above, your body gains energy from digesting fat, carbohydrates, and protein. It’s important to note that your body uses calories simply by functioning the way it should, so in order to break down carbohydrates, fat, and protein, your body will need to use some of the calories you consumed. With that in mind, each ingredient requires more or less calories to digest. For example, your body will use more calories trying to break down protein than it needs to break down carbohydrates. Therefore, if you eat more protein than you do carbohydrates, you may find that you lose more weight, simply because it takes more work for your body to digest the protein.
Myth #3: Spreading Calories Out Leads to Weight Loss
The important thing to remember about calories is that it’s all about balance — you want to balance your intake of calories across all the meals you eat throughout the day, including snacks. One of the common misconceptions about calories is that if you spread them out, it causes you to eat less, and therefore, lose weight. However, that’s not always the case. If you eat healthy snacks throughout the day to stay satisfied and then eat smaller breakfasts, lunches, and dinners that are filled with fruits, veggies, and proteins, you may find that you lose more weight. However, if you don’t balance out your calorie intake and you still eat large meals with snacks in between, it may not have the desired effect.
Myth #4: Low-Calorie Foods Help You Lose Weight
For most diets, the name of the game is to eat fewer calories, so when you see something at the store marked as “low-calorie,” you may think that it’s the perfect way to still eat what you want while also consuming fewer calories. However, those labels are often deceiving. For example, in many cases, low-calorie foods will also be marketed as sugar-free, and it’s no secret that cutting sugar is a great way to eat low-calorie. Unfortunately, what most of those processed foods fail to mention is that while they may be sugar-free, many times manufacturers will replace the sugar with something that is equally as bad for you. This means that you may think you’re doing the right thing and eating low-calorie when really you’re still filling your body with ingredients that aren’t the healthiest.
Interested In Learning More?
There’s so much to know about calories and what is and isn’t good for your body, and at Foodology, we are here to help through our health and nutrition courses. Explore our website to learn more about how our program can help you live a healthier life and sign up to get started on your Foodology journey.
We look forward to working with you!
