What is a Calorie ?

Good question, what is a calorie ? Calorie is a household word, although, exactly what a calorie does is confusing to most of us. If you ask a hundred people what is a calorie, most will tell you “calories make me fat.” Calories have a bad reputation and are considered by many as the enemy. Not many people truly understand what is a calorie, and why calories are so crucial to their bodies.

a calorie is the energy it takes to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water by 1 degree Celsius

Calories are energy that fuel our body, much like petrol, which fuels our motor vehicles. Without sufficient calories our heart, lungs and brain just would not work. Many of us have no idea how many calories our body needs just to exist, and function in our day to day tasks.

An adult requires at least 1000 / 1400 calories per day, to have enough energy to fuel key organs, brain, heart, and lungs. This minimum number of calories is your resting metabolic rate (RMR) and it varies, depending on age, sex, weight, and muscle mass. In order to have enough energy, you need more energy than what is required from your resting metabolic rate (RMR). This extra energy normally amounts to 400 / 600 extra calories per day which is the energy you need to function, as opposed to just lying still all day. These numbers are general averages and a professional dietitian can help you determine exactly how many calories your body requires.

So, what is a Calorie got to do with Weight Gain

If you eat too many calories than your body requires each day, you will eventually gain weight. It takes over 3500 calories to gain 1 lb of fat, which means,  if your body requires 2000 calories a day to maintain its current weight but each day you consume 2500,  in one week you would gain 1 lb. Over eating in one day does not cause instant weight gain, but over the week, it does.

What is a Calorie got to do with Weight Loss

To lose weight you need to burn off more calories then you eat. For example, if you eat 2000 calories a day, and are maintaining your weight, you will need to burn 250 calories per day to lose a 1/2 lb in one week. If, in addition, you decreased your calorie intake by 250 calories a day, a 500 calorie a day total, you would possibly lose 1 lb per week.

Although reducing your calories in a short period of time may result in fast weight loss at first, your body is unable to   continue along this path, especially if your body is consuming below your metabolic rate. Eating later to make up for these missing calories results in gaining back the weight loss, and more, “yo yo’ing”. Also, if you force your body to restrict calories for a prolonged amount of time, your metabolism will slow down to compensate which will stop weight loss.

As with most things, moderation is the key. Managed calorie intake with moderate exercise will help you achieve and maintain natural, healthy weight loss. Calories are our friends! They are what give us energy, to play with our children, perform in our careers, enjoy family life, and live life to the full. So what is a calorie, well, you can’t live without them but you can choose healthy foods to ensure your calories are packed with disease fighting nutrients to keep you feeling healthy, fresh and young!

Now you know “what is a calorie”

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