Getting to Know Your Calorie Intake
A recommended calorie intake is included in almost every diet. However, very few include the necessary information about what it actually means.
What is a calorie? What are its origins? And most importantly, how do you calculate them in meals? Let’s tackle all of these questions one by one.
What is a calorie?
A calorie is a unit or a measurement of energy, to put it simply. Our bodies take it from the meals we eat and use it as fuel for everyday tasks – from walking to thinking, sleeping, or even creating new ideas with your brain. Even when we think that we’re not using any energy, our body organs are pumping it out every minute.
Calories that are not used are stored as fat. Your body needs it, however, when you consume way more calories than your body can burn, it can easily lead to unwanted weight gain.
– Calories can be classified as “good” or “bad.” Nuts, berries, veggies, legumes, eggs, etc. – all of these are considered as “good” calories and should be the foundation of a healthy diet.
-Fizzy drinks, bagels, sweets, chocolate bars, burgers, and other high-sugar foods are common sources of “bad” calories. They give you pleasure and make you feel full (for a while), but they don’t provide your body with anything healthy or nutritious. In other words, these are just empty calories.
How to calculate calories in meals?
Calories help you keep track of what you eat, set limits, and achieve your goals.
When you’re making home-cooked meals, counting them is simple. Quite often, the whole “math system” is written on the back of the package. If not, then you need to use measuring cups and spoons – simply add up the numbers you get and see what’s the total.
The foods you eat are equally important. Aim to spread out your carbohydrate intake throughout your day and check if the calories you consume are aligned with your goal. Naturally, your calorie intake can always be adjusted if you suddenly start exercising more, or you feel like your weight isn’t going down even if you follow the diet plan.
How do calories affect weight loss?
To lose weight, you must consume fewer calories each day than you expend. That means you should either cut back on the calories you consume or increase your physical activity to burn them off.
Reducing your carbohydrate intake will also help you reduce the amount of “bad,” empty calories stored in your body.
Counting calories can be a pain. But some tools can help you take this off your shoulders. Klinio app generates an entirely personalized meal plan just for you with already optimized portion sizes and precalculated nutritional value for each meal, including the number of calories.