FOOD AND CALORIES

 

FOOD AND CALORIES

What does calories have to do with my food intake? 

My own view is just to eat and get my belly filled for the day. I just know that sometimes when I eat, I noticed I added weight while sometimes it would just be like I've not been eating for years. What could be the cause of this?

Hmmm, Food and calories 

Calories matter in your diet because they determine whether you gain,  lose or maintain your weight. In addition, both the total number of calories you consume and the source of these calories can impact your health.  Calories are essential for human health. The key is consuming the right amount. Everyone requires different amounts of energy each day, depending on age, sex, size, and activity level. A calorie is a unit of energy.

In nutrition, calories refer to the energy people get from the food and drink they consume, and the energy they use in physical activity.  Most of the weight loss centers focus on reducing the intake of calories. Most people only associate calories with food and drink, but anything that contains energy has calories.

 The human body needs calories to survive. Without energy, the cells in the body would die, the heart and lungs would stop, and the organs would not be able to carry out the basic processes needed for living. People absorb this energy from food and drink. If people consumed only the number of calories needed every day, they would probably have healthy lives.

Calorie consumption that is too low or too high will eventually lead to health problems. The number of calories in food tells us how much potential energy they contain. It is not only calories that are important, but also the substance from which the calories are taken.   

   Caloric Balance 

Clara and Flora's discussion

Clara: I think I will be on diet for the next two months, I really need to shed weight. 

Flora: Shed weight, you say? 

Clara: yes, of course. I really need to. I'm on caloric excess and it has caused me to gain more weight than I ought to.

Flora: there you go again, what's the meaning of caloric excess?

The caloric balance of your diet is one factor in determining your overall health. You are in caloric balance when, over time, the number of calories you take in matches the number of calories you burn through metabolism and physical activity. In caloric excess, you consume more calories than you use and can lead to weight gain. In contrast, a caloric deficit means you are burning more calories than you consume, causing you to lose body mass. During times of growth, a caloric excess is necessary, but unintentionally eating more than you need leads to unwanted weight gain. Deliberately putting yourself in a caloric deficit can then help you shed unwanted pounds.If you are trying to decrease your total calorie intake, eating more low-calorie foods, such as certain fruits and vegetables, is an easy way to achieve that goal not placing yourself on diet that is more or less starving yourself. 

High calorie intake will cause stress on your body. High caloric foods are high in fats and sugars. Calories aren't bad for you. Your body needs calories for energy. But eating too many calories and not burning enough of them off through activity, can lead to weight gain. Consuming more calories than you burn may cause you to become overweight or obese. This increases your risk for cancer and other chronic health problems.

Thanks for reading!

Article By: 

Oladoja Beatrice

Food, Nutrients and Health

References;

www.healthline.com › health 

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com

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