Bella's Bites

Bella's Bites

Friday, 21 November 2014

The Wrap: A catchup from the world of science, diet, nutrition and health - A calorie is not a calorie

Last week I gave some introductions about some of the areas of interest and sources for information on the world of science as it relates to health, diet, nutrition and health.

Hopefully you have had the chance to digest that and are ready for a new serving.

In this blog I won't try and retell the information available, but simply provide an introduction and feedback.

Going back to basics, many people wonder what a calorie is, especially when we read the nutrition information on the back of the packet.  In this article, Dr Karl explains that not all calories are the same, and the way the body uses them can be very different.

The article:

http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2013/11/12/3889049.htm

What is interesting is how a calorie is just a measure of energy but its use in food labeling doesn't take into account the source of the energy.  As you can see from the article, what the calorie is contained in makes a big difference into its effect on the body and how the body uses it.  So when we read the calorie count, the missing information is where it is coming from.  You will need to read the levels of protein, fat and sugars to help be guided on its nutritional use.  Also remember that your body needs a certain level of fuel each day, so make sure it is getting the right types of fuel to match what you are doing, but also that you enjoy what you are eating and reward yourself for choosing wisely.

A big thanks to the ABC for making these articles available.

No comments:

Post a Comment