Home > Manufacturers > Product Categories > Page Title
General Health Articles
Calories
For many people wishing to lose weight, calories will become an everyday preoccupation as reducing the intake of calories is an established, and some say the only way to lose weight. Even those diets which don't use the counting of calories as their basis in fact often cause weight loss due to the automatic reduction of calories by means of cutting down or cutting out, high calorie foods.
For example, a low fat diet is based on the premise that not only will the calorie intake be reduced by cutting out high calorie fats but also the intake of other relatively high calorie foods such as bread and potatoes will automatically be limited because they are less palatable to eat in significant quantities without additional ingredients such as butter, spreads, sauces or items like cheese. The same is true for other diets such as high protein or high carbohydrate diets. But what are calories and how do they work?
Calorie is the name given to a unit of energy, which is defined by the amount of energy or heat it takes to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water by 1°C or 1.8°F so in fact, although most of us associate calories with food, they apply to all energy sources, for example petrol, electricity or gas, which is why you will often see a calorific value somewhere on your electricity or gas bills.
In food terms, the general use of the base word "calorie" is technically incorrect as 1 food calorie is equal to 1000 calories which is the amount of energy/heat required to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) of water by 1°C or 1.8°F. Strictly speaking, when food calories are being referred to on packaging etc., the term kilocalorie should be used.
Although the above description may seem to confuse things where food calories (kilocalories) are concerned, most food packaging or food calorie lists showing the amount of calories will be referring to kilocalories. The same generally applies to charts stating how many calories certain exercises burn up. For the purpose of clarification, in this article the term "calorie," means a food calorie i.e. kilocalorie.
Everything we do requires energy, from blinking to running a marathon, as well as regulating normal body functions such as temperature control, growth, cell replacement and breathing. We even use energy when we sleep. Through various processes, the body converts the calories in food into energy or fuel which can be used by our bodies.
The amount of calories required depends upon how much energy an individual is using. Believe it or not, an active child can need more calories than an adult who works at a desk.
If a person takes in more calories than is required to meet their energy output, the excess calories are converted to fat which is merely a form of stored of energy which can be called upon by the body in the future should it need to e.g. in the case of famine and starvation. However, until such time the storage of excess calories causes weight gain. By the same token, the intake of too few calories causes weight loss as the body will use any fat which has been stored for energy.
One pound (0.5 kilogram) of stored fat contains about 3,500 calories and ALL food contains calories, albeit some a lot less than others.
How to Cut 500 Calories a Day
Want to supercharge your rate of weight loss while on The Chocolate Weight Loss Diet? Lose an extra pound-per-week by cutting just 500 calories from your regular diet each day. Does 500 calories sound like a lot? You may be surprised at just how easy it is to make small changes in your daily diet to lose an additional pound before your next weigh-in... And while one pound may not sound like much, that can mean more than 50 pounds over the course of a year.
Food for thought: Here's 10 ways to cut 500 calories a day:
1. SAY, "NO!" TO SOFT DRINKS
Carbonated soda pop or soft drinks are responsible for up to 10 percent of America's total caloric intake. Each cup (8 oz.) of regular soft drink contains from 100 to 150 calories per cup. If you drink 2-3 12 oz. cans a day, you could cut 500 calories by passing on the pop.
2. SNACK EXCHANGE
Replace high calorie snack items such as, chips, candy, etc. with healthy low calorie/high fiber snacks. Fruits and vegetables contain few calories and offer plenty of fiber (that makes you feel fuller, longer), with bonus vitamins and minerals.
3. ESPRESSO STAND WITH CARE
A 16 ounce Starbucks Caffé Mocha has more calories than a cheeseburger at McDonalds! Keep in mind that you're also getting 15 grams of fat and 33 grams of sugar. Vie instead for the 16 ounce Coffee of the Week, and the calorie count drops to a measly 5 calories. Keep in mind: Standing at the espresso stand burns more calories than sitting at the espresso stand.
4. EAT SMART-SIZED PORTIONS
Read labels or check nutrition information via the Internet. Adjust your serving size according to your research. When in a restaurant, don't hesitate to order from the children's menu for smaller portions. Consider putting less on your plate or (if your served a full plate, like at a restaurant) cut your calories in half by only eating half the meal. By slowing down your eating pace, you will achieve more satiety (hunger satisfaction) while consuming less.
5. MANAGE YOUR MENU ITEMS
You can save up to 300 calories by selecting 6 ounces of broiled fish as your main dish instead of a run o' the mill 6 ounce burger. By making smart main dish selections, you can easily drop 500 calories over the course of a day, or more, with little effort. If you have options, simply opt for the healthier menu item - you can eat a little more - increasing your satisfaction, while cutting extra calories.
6. SMART FOOD PREPARATION
When cooking at home, simply prepare your food in ways that will save you the extra calories. By grilling your chicken instead of frying it, you not only save unwanted calories, you also reduce the fat content. Choose the baked potato over fries, consider using herbal flavorings in the kitchen, like Ms. Dash, and a non-fat cooking spray.
|
