This is such a loaded question and creates much debate within the fitness industry. However, before we get too stuck into this melting pot of controversy, we must address what a calorie is!
What Are Calories?
Firstly we know food contains energy, which is scientifically undeniable. We must eat, or we die. This part is pretty simple.
Now Calorie is a name given to this energy value found in food.
The process used to discover this unit or number for food involves burning the food, measuring the heat released from it and then converting the energy measurement into calories.
We can then use the calorie content of different foods, which you see on the back of the food packaging, to plan our diet not to overeat calories/energy, as excess energy is then stored as body fat. This is very important from an evolutionary standpoint, as our ability to store energy would have been vital to our survival before we had means of storage and preserving food.
Now That’s Out Of The Way, Do They Matter?
The answer is both yes and no. Here’s why.
Yes, calories ultimately matter because they determine the amount of energy that our bodies have to work with. Consuming more calories than our bodies burn will result in weight gain while consuming fewer calories than our bodies burn will result in weight loss. So, in this sense, calories do matter.
However, this is where things get confusing because foods are made up of various amounts of macronutrients and micronutrients, depending on the food.
Micronutrients are proteins, carbohydrates, fats and fibre, along with micronutrients which are vitamins and minerals.
But I Heard A Fit Pro Say “Not All Calories Are Equal”
This is where the saying not all calories are created equal isn’t entirely helpful because again a calorie is just a measurement, I think a better way of phrasing this would be not all food is created equal because the type of food we consume, for example, consuming a diet high in processed foods made with trans fats and refined sugar, can lead to weight gain and negative health consequences, even if the calorie count is low. On the other hand, in some cases, consuming a diet rich in whole foods and nutrients can lead to weight loss and improved health, even if the calorie count is slightly higher due to how our skeletal muscle and bone mass can develop and how our gut microbiome interacts with the food source.
To Conclude
It’s not just the quantity of calories that matters but also the quality of the calories we consume. Focusing on nutrient-dense, whole foods can lead to better health outcomes, even if the calorie count is slightly higher.
In conclusion, while calories do matter, it’s not just about counting them. It’s about finding a balance between consuming enough energy to fuel our bodies and consuming nutrient-dense foods that support our health.
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