What do you think... is a calorie a calorie

[natale1980]

What I mean is a 200 calorie candy bar the same as 200 calories worth of grapefruit or 200 calories of green beans?


-nat

 

[Carlyzmom]

I have often thought of that too. I do WW so I think the same thing in "points". My thoughts are, truly, no. Even though calories are the same, the way it works in your body is different.

Although there is a guy in the news that lost weight on a Twinkie diet! So, I guess calories are calories.

 

[ohMom]

i do think a calorie is a calorie is a calorie...but how you feel (energy, alertness, etc) is affected by what you choose to eat, and certainly the benefits to your body too (fiber, vitamins vs empty-sugar calories)

 

[Rose&Mike]

I think a calorie is a calorie, but I also believe food is fuel, and your body needs more than just simple calories. It needs vitamins and minerals and protein and healthy fats and fiber.

Can you lose weight by eating twinkies and sticking to a calorie range? Probably. Will you eventually end up with other health problems due to poor nutrition. Probably. And I also believe the more sugar and white flour you eat, the more sugar and white flour you want, which makes it very difficult to stick to a calorie range.

 

[disneychic2]

I think a calorie is a calorie, but I also believe food is fuel, and your body needs more than just simple calories. It needs vitamins and minerals and protein and healthy fats and fiber.

Can you lose weight by eating twinkies and sticking to a calorie range? Probably. Will you eventually end up with other health problems due to poor nutrition. Probably. And I also believe the more sugar and white flour you eat, the more sugar and white flour you want, which makes it very difficult to stick to a calorie range.

THIS!

 

[FireDancer]

A calorie is a calorie when you are speaking about it as a unit of energy, it is not true in the sense of nourishing the body. The chemical makeup and structure of the food you eat (fats, carbs, processed, whole, raw, cooked, etc) makes a big difference in how it is metabolized. For example, the Glycemic Index of the food in question will change how it behaves in the body.

Food is fuel, nothing more. Just like with other forms of fuel it's quality will determine how efficient it is at doing it's job. Eating 2,000 calories of whole foods every day will effect your health and body much differently then eating that same 2,000 calories but consuming processed garbage instead. When you eat is also important and often overlooked. Consuming 2,000 calories in three 666.66 calorie meals will not fuel the body as efficiently as eating 6 or 7 smaller meals throughout the day.

Food is only half of the health equation though, lifestyle comes into play as well. Getting exercise every day and making sure some is aerobic and some anaerobic, getting enough rest, drinking enough water, getting the right amount of sun, etc all play a part in your health that is as important as the quality of food you consume.

 

[natale1980]

I was just grabbing a snack last night and saw the calories of a grapefruit printed on the side of the bag. I just thought it was interesting to think about the fact that a calorie may indeed be a calorie no matter what you eat. I know that WW has different point values and some veggies even are 0 points. I wonder how they figured that out.

I started running again and plan on joining a health club on Wednesday. I've also cut out all sugar, gluten (I have an intolerance), and salty junk. I'm feeling much better and you can see the difference in my skin and eyes.

Thanks for your insight,
nat

 

[momof2minnies]

I guess that's where the phrase "empty calories" comes from.

 

[lisah0711]

I think a calorie is a calorie but which calories you eat will definitely affect your health. I saw this article on sparkpeople.com that made me think of this thread. http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nutrition_articles.asp?id=1260 Personally, I think I would be much more satisfied eating the plates on the left as opposed to the right, although they are each the same amount of calories. Great thread!

 

[stampingoddess]

I think a calorie is a calorie, but I also believe food is fuel, and your body needs more than just simple calories. It needs vitamins and minerals and protein and healthy fats and fiber.

Can you lose weight by eating twinkies and sticking to a calorie range? Probably. Will you eventually end up with other health problems due to poor nutrition. Probably. And I also believe the more sugar and white flour you eat, the more sugar and white flour you want, which makes it very difficult to stick to a calorie range.

I also agree and would just add that some calories certainly "last longer" by making you feel fuller and thus not tempted to reach for more calories.

 

[natale1980]

I think a calorie is a calorie but which calories you eat will definitely affect your health. I saw this article on sparkpeople.com that made me think of this thread. http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nutrition_articles.asp?id=1260 Personally, I think I would be much more satisfied eating the plates on the left as opposed to the right, although they are each the same amount of calories. Great thread!

Very cool link.