Sciencey Question about Calories

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  • chasingthesun85
    chasingthesun85 Posts: 22 Member
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    ScreeField wrote: »
    Sciencey Answer:

    “Calories” are a measurement of energy — it’s just a unit of energy, like Watts or Joules. Or even like: gallons or cups or teaspoons. It's just a unit of measurement. In this case, energy.

    Generally, determining how many calories are in food is done by burning the food and calculating the released heat in something called a Bomb Calorimeter. Think of using a hamburger instead of charcoal in your barbecue and calculating how many hamburgers it takes to heat up a cup of water.

    1 Calorie = energy it takes to heat up 1 liter (kg) of water by 1 degree Celsius

    The math:

    Q = mcp^T
    = (1kg)(4.18 J/g*C)(1C)
    = 4.18 kilojoules
    = 1 calorie

    So, calories are just energy. However, what your body does with that energy is a whole different story. We started with physics and now we have to shift into chemistry.

    When you eat a molecule of sucrose (sugar) what your body does first to it is to break all of the sucrose molecule’s bonds to release energy, but breaking molecular bonds takes energy.

    Sucrose has lots of bonds:

    C-C bonds: 10
    O-H bonds: 8
    C-H bonds: 14
    C-O bonds: 14

    Each of these bonds has different energies:

    C-C = 346 kJ/mol
    C-H = 411 kJ/mol
    O-H = 459 kJ/mol
    C-O = 358 kJ/mol

    So, you simply add up the bonds and sum the energy per bond.

    C-C = 346 kJ/mol x 10 bonds = 3,460 kJ/mol
    C-H = 411 kJ/mol x 14 bonds = 5,754 kJ/mol
    O-H = 459 kJ/mol x 8 bonds = 3,672 kJ/mol
    C-O = 358 kJ/mol x 14 bonds = 5,012 kJ/mol

    Total energy it takes to break apart a sucrose molecule is the sum of the above: 17,898 kJ/mol

    The next step is to reform those broken bonds into carbon dioxide and water. This also takes energy. And, you have to apply the Principle of Stoichiometric Balance which means, when you are transforming one thing to another with a chemical reaction, you can't destroy its fundamental atoms. You have to end up with the same number of each atom.

    The sucrose molecule looks like this:

    C12 H22 C11

    After digestion, there must be 12 carbons in the final product(s). They can’t go anywhere else. So, to convert the above to carbon dioxide and oxygen, you have to add 12 oxygen molecules to balance both sides of the equation:

    C12 H22 O11 + 12O2 = 12CO2 + 11H2O


    Then, there’s also the released energy to account for. There are a number of charts online that map metabolic pathways. There are maps for glucose alone that could be printed in 10 pt font and take up entire walls. One of the more well known maps was created by Dr. Donald Nicholson and I believe his map is online. None of the metabolic pathways charts are complete. They are all still works in progress.

    If you have access to a glucose metabolic pathway chart, you can see the many many different processes just to use up a glucose molecule — and you can see why there are differences in metabolism of different foods into calories. A calorie is always a calorie (that’s like saying a gallon is always a gallon). However, its the: 1) energy availability of different foods and 2) metabolic processes cause a large variation in results.

    Dannngg someone knows their stuff!! <impressed>
  • senecarr
    senecarr Posts: 5,377 Member
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    senecarr wrote: »
    nvsmomketo wrote: »
    Yeah, it is roughly 7000 exra kcal to gain 2 lobs. Roughly. And that is extra, so not including what your body burns in a day.

    I think it would also depend on what your body can physically do. I amguessing that there is a point where your body gives up on absorbing and just passes the food through. Just guessing.

    Plus some foods are more easiliy absorbed than others. That would make a difference.

    Serum insulin levels will also affect how fast you put on fat. Insulin helps store fat, so if your insulin levels are higher, you may store fat more efficinetly. Carbohydrates will raise insulin, as will protein to a much lesser degree. Those with insulin resistance (T2D or prediabetes) will have higher levels of insulin in their blood stream too.

    Insulin tells cells to store fat. That means the fat already has to be there, available to the cells. That means, the fat already has to be in your body.
    It's a common misconception that people get about insulin. Honestly, that your body stores it is actually a good thing - the alternative is that your blood stream has fat floating around which we tent to call cholesterol and triglycerides and associate with negative health outcomes.
    In people who already are generally considered healthy and have a low body fat, you'll find their insulin is more active and stores fat faster. Insulin resistance is the body doing this slower and less.
    None of that really has to do with fats being taken up from food.

    actually insulin signals cells to take up glucose not fat, what you posted is completely and utterly wrong! The glucose can be then used for energy or stored and eventually can be converted to fat. keeping it simple gotta go to work.
    It isn't an pick A or B only. Yes, insulin signals glucose uptake. It also tells fat cells to take up fats. That is what is meant when everyone takes up the soundbite of "insulin causes your body to store fat".
    diabetesresearchclinicalpractice.com/article/S0168-8227(11)70014-6/abstract
    The major effects of insulin on muscle and adipose tissue are: (1) Carbohydrate metabolism: (a) it increases the rate of glucose transport across the cell membrane, (b) it increases the rate of glycolysis by increasing hexokinase and 6-phosphofructokinase activity, (c) it stimulates the rate of glycogen synthesis and decreases the rate of glycogen breakdown. (2) Lipid metabolism: (a) it decreases the rate of lipolysis in adipose tissue and hence lowers the plasma fatty acid level, (b) it stimulates fatty acid and triacylglycerol synthesis in tissues, (c) it increases the uptake of triglycerides from the blood into adipose tissue and muscle, (d) it decreases the rate of fatty acid oxidation in muscle and liver. (3) Protein metabolism: (a) it increases the rate of transport of some amino acids into tissues, (b) it increases the rate of protein synthesis in muscle, adipose tissue, liver, and other tissues, (c) it decreases the rate of protein degradation in muscle (and perhaps other tissues).
    Conversion of glucose to fat can happen, but in humans it is not terribly efficient - the preference is to use glucose for fuel, particularly as the brain will happily go through 100 grams or more of it a day.
  • senecarr
    senecarr Posts: 5,377 Member
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    senecarr wrote: »
    nvsmomketo wrote: »
    Yeah, it is roughly 7000 exra kcal to gain 2 lobs. Roughly. And that is extra, so not including what your body burns in a day.

    I think it would also depend on what your body can physically do. I amguessing that there is a point where your body gives up on absorbing and just passes the food through. Just guessing.

    Plus some foods are more easiliy absorbed than others. That would make a difference.

    Serum insulin levels will also affect how fast you put on fat. Insulin helps store fat, so if your insulin levels are higher, you may store fat more efficinetly. Carbohydrates will raise insulin, as will protein to a much lesser degree. Those with insulin resistance (T2D or prediabetes) will have higher levels of insulin in their blood stream too.

    Insulin tells cells to store fat. That means the fat already has to be there, available to the cells. That means, the fat already has to be in your body.
    It's a common misconception that people get about insulin. Honestly, that your body stores it is actually a good thing - the alternative is that your blood stream has fat floating around which we tent to call cholesterol and triglycerides and associate with negative health outcomes.
    In people who already are generally considered healthy and have a low body fat, you'll find their insulin is more active and stores fat faster. Insulin resistance is the body doing this slower and less.
    None of that really has to do with fats being taken up from food.

    actually insulin signals cells to take up glucose not fat, what you posted is completely and utterly wrong! The glucose can be then used for energy or stored and eventually can be converted to fat. keeping it simple gotta go to work.

    ^^^This is true

    This thread is full of utter disinformation

    Your mitochondria burns your fat. Eat a deficit and exercise.

    As your muscles seek fuel your mitochondria sources glycogen and lipid mix. Exercise in a fasted state and your mitochondria physically adapts over time to source more fat

    I have lost 145 lbs of fat and reversed my diabetes doing this with dr and nutritionist supervison and 6 month blood tests along the way

    Calorie deficit sets the stage. What you do with it is a personal decision. I'm enjoying endurance training in that state.

    It works for me.

    But please anyone in this thread look up some of this stuff in Google

    There is so much wrong in this thread it is scary.
    I've already clarified why martinecoates was over simplifying.
    Go take a look at what I posted. Using Google isn't simply typing in what you want to hear.
    There is nothing special about fasted exercise. Absolutely nothing. For all the increased fat burning you're doing while fasted, your body will just source more energy from carbohydrates later if you eat foods that are a mix. The human body isn't that naive. It's had to become highly adapt at using any and all fuel it comes across, or we wouldn't be here today.
  • Duchy82
    Duchy82 Posts: 560 Member
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    nvsmomketo wrote: »
    senecarr wrote: »
    nvsmomketo wrote: »
    Yeah, it is roughly 7000 exra kcal to gain 2 lobs. Roughly. And that is extra, so not including what your body burns in a day.

    I think it would also depend on what your body can physically do. I amguessing that there is a point where your body gives up on absorbing and just passes the food through. Just guessing.

    Plus some foods are more easiliy absorbed than others. That would make a difference.

    Serum insulin levels will also affect how fast you put on fat. Insulin helps store fat, so if your insulin levels are higher, you may store fat more efficinetly. Carbohydrates will raise insulin, as will protein to a much lesser degree. Those with insulin resistance (T2D or prediabetes) will have higher levels of insulin in their blood stream too.

    Insulin tells cells to store fat. That means the fat already has to be there, available to the cells. That means, the fat already has to be in your body.
    It's a common misconception that people get about insulin. Honestly, that your body stores it is actually a good thing - the alternative is that your blood stream has fat floating around which we tent to call cholesterol and triglycerides and associate with negative health outcomes.
    In people who already are generally considered healthy and have a low body fat, you'll find their insulin is more active and stores fat faster. Insulin resistance is the body doing this slower and less.
    None of that really has to do with fats being taken up from food.

    actually insulin signals cells to take up glucose not fat, what you posted is completely and utterly wrong! The glucose can be then used for energy or stored and eventually can be converted to fat. keeping it simple gotta go to work.

    I disagree.

    Well if you mean this:

    The actions of insulin (indirect and direct) on cells include:
    Increased glycogen synthesis – insulin forces storage of glucose in liver (and muscle) cells in the form of glycogen; lowered levels of insulin cause liver cells to convert glycogen to glucose and excrete it into the blood. This is the clinical action of insulin, which is directly useful in reducing high blood glucose levels as in diabetes.
    Increased lipid synthesis – insulin forces fat cells to take in blood lipids, which are converted to triglycerides; lack of insulin causes the reverse.[35][clarification needed (see talk)]
    Increased esterification of fatty acids – forces adipose tissue to make fats (i.e., triglycerides) from fatty acid esters; lack of insulin causes the reverse.
    Decreased proteolysis – decreasing the breakdown of protein
    Decreased lipolysis – forces reduction in conversion of fat cell lipid stores into blood fatty acids; lack of insulin causes the reverse.
    Decreased gluconeogenesis – decreases production of glucose from nonsugar substrates, primarily in the liver (the vast majority of endogenous insulin arriving at the liver never leaves the liver); lack of insulin causes glucose production from assorted substrates in the liver and elsewhere.
    Decreased autophagy - decreased level of degradation of damaged organelles. Postprandial levels inhibit autophagy completely.[36]
    Increased amino acid uptake – forces cells to absorb circulating amino acids; lack of insulin inhibits absorption.
    Increased potassium uptake – forces cells to absorb serum potassium; lack of insulin inhibits absorption. Insulin's increase in cellular potassium uptake lowers potassium levels in blood. This possibly occurs via insulin-induced translocation of the Na+/K+-ATPase to the surface of skeletal muscle cells.[37][38]
    Arterial muscle tone – forces arterial wall muscle to relax, increasing blood flow, especially in microarteries; lack of insulin reduces flow by allowing these muscles to contract.
    Increase in the secretion of hydrochloric acid by parietal cells in the stomach
    Decreased renal sodium excretion.[39]

    Insulin also influences other body functions, such as vascular compliance and cognition. Once insulin enters the human brain, it enhances learning and memory and benefits verbal memory in particular.[40] Enhancing brain insulin signaling by means of intranasal insulin administration also enhances the acute thermoregulatory and glucoregulatory response to food intake, suggesting that central nervous insulin contributes to the control of whole-body energy homeostasis in humans.[41] Insulin also has stimulatory effects on gonadotropin-releasing hormone from the hypothalamus, thus favoring fertility.

    Then you are correct and I agree with you but to say that insulin just aids storing fat then that is utterly wrong furthermore grossly oversimplified. As obvious from the above (simply from Wikipedia BTW) it is also involved in the uptake of glucose and proteins by the cells and way way more

  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,626 Member
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    I was just talking about this with a friend of mine on Thursday night. She just got a Fitbit and is a scientist in organic chemistry. She says that there is no way to know exactly how many calories you get out of your food or how many you burn. All of the tools we use are useful and do help us to at least get a good best guess. The important thing is, are you getting the results you want, and if not then make some adjustments until you do.

    That's what my doctor was told, too. It's all guesswork.
  • senecarr
    senecarr Posts: 5,377 Member
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    nvsmomketo wrote: »
    senecarr wrote: »
    nvsmomketo wrote: »
    Yeah, it is roughly 7000 exra kcal to gain 2 lobs. Roughly. And that is extra, so not including what your body burns in a day.

    I think it would also depend on what your body can physically do. I amguessing that there is a point where your body gives up on absorbing and just passes the food through. Just guessing.

    Plus some foods are more easiliy absorbed than others. That would make a difference.

    Serum insulin levels will also affect how fast you put on fat. Insulin helps store fat, so if your insulin levels are higher, you may store fat more efficinetly. Carbohydrates will raise insulin, as will protein to a much lesser degree. Those with insulin resistance (T2D or prediabetes) will have higher levels of insulin in their blood stream too.

    Insulin tells cells to store fat. That means the fat already has to be there, available to the cells. That means, the fat already has to be in your body.
    It's a common misconception that people get about insulin. Honestly, that your body stores it is actually a good thing - the alternative is that your blood stream has fat floating around which we tent to call cholesterol and triglycerides and associate with negative health outcomes.
    In people who already are generally considered healthy and have a low body fat, you'll find their insulin is more active and stores fat faster. Insulin resistance is the body doing this slower and less.
    None of that really has to do with fats being taken up from food.

    actually insulin signals cells to take up glucose not fat, what you posted is completely and utterly wrong! The glucose can be then used for energy or stored and eventually can be converted to fat. keeping it simple gotta go to work.

    I disagree.

    Well if you mean this:

    The actions of insulin (indirect and direct) on cells include:
    Increased glycogen synthesis – insulin forces storage of glucose in liver (and muscle) cells in the form of glycogen; lowered levels of insulin cause liver cells to convert glycogen to glucose and excrete it into the blood. This is the clinical action of insulin, which is directly useful in reducing high blood glucose levels as in diabetes.
    Increased lipid synthesis – insulin forces fat cells to take in blood lipids, which are converted to triglycerides; lack of insulin causes the reverse.[35][clarification needed (see talk)]
    Increased esterification of fatty acids – forces adipose tissue to make fats (i.e., triglycerides) from fatty acid esters; lack of insulin causes the reverse.
    Decreased proteolysis – decreasing the breakdown of protein
    Decreased lipolysis – forces reduction in conversion of fat cell lipid stores into blood fatty acids; lack of insulin causes the reverse.
    Decreased gluconeogenesis – decreases production of glucose from nonsugar substrates, primarily in the liver (the vast majority of endogenous insulin arriving at the liver never leaves the liver); lack of insulin causes glucose production from assorted substrates in the liver and elsewhere.
    Decreased autophagy - decreased level of degradation of damaged organelles. Postprandial levels inhibit autophagy completely.[36]
    Increased amino acid uptake – forces cells to absorb circulating amino acids; lack of insulin inhibits absorption.
    Increased potassium uptake – forces cells to absorb serum potassium; lack of insulin inhibits absorption. Insulin's increase in cellular potassium uptake lowers potassium levels in blood. This possibly occurs via insulin-induced translocation of the Na+/K+-ATPase to the surface of skeletal muscle cells.[37][38]
    Arterial muscle tone – forces arterial wall muscle to relax, increasing blood flow, especially in microarteries; lack of insulin reduces flow by allowing these muscles to contract.
    Increase in the secretion of hydrochloric acid by parietal cells in the stomach
    Decreased renal sodium excretion.[39]

    Insulin also influences other body functions, such as vascular compliance and cognition. Once insulin enters the human brain, it enhances learning and memory and benefits verbal memory in particular.[40] Enhancing brain insulin signaling by means of intranasal insulin administration also enhances the acute thermoregulatory and glucoregulatory response to food intake, suggesting that central nervous insulin contributes to the control of whole-body energy homeostasis in humans.[41] Insulin also has stimulatory effects on gonadotropin-releasing hormone from the hypothalamus, thus favoring fertility.

    Then you are correct and I agree with you but to say that insulin just aids storing fat then that is utterly wrong furthermore grossly oversimplified. As obvious from the above (simply from Wikipedia BTW) it is also involved in the uptake of glucose and proteins by the cells and way way more
    You copy and pasted wikipedia without even linking it. Look at the bolded. You're saying you agree that you are wrong.
  • Duchy82
    Duchy82 Posts: 560 Member
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    senecarr wrote: »
    nvsmomketo wrote: »
    senecarr wrote: »
    nvsmomketo wrote: »
    Yeah, it is roughly 7000 exra kcal to gain 2 lobs. Roughly. And that is extra, so not including what your body burns in a day.

    I think it would also depend on what your body can physically do. I amguessing that there is a point where your body gives up on absorbing and just passes the food through. Just guessing.

    Plus some foods are more easiliy absorbed than others. That would make a difference.

    Serum insulin levels will also affect how fast you put on fat. Insulin helps store fat, so if your insulin levels are higher, you may store fat more efficinetly. Carbohydrates will raise insulin, as will protein to a much lesser degree. Those with insulin resistance (T2D or prediabetes) will have higher levels of insulin in their blood stream too.

    Insulin tells cells to store fat. That means the fat already has to be there, available to the cells. That means, the fat already has to be in your body.
    It's a common misconception that people get about insulin. Honestly, that your body stores it is actually a good thing - the alternative is that your blood stream has fat floating around which we tent to call cholesterol and triglycerides and associate with negative health outcomes.
    In people who already are generally considered healthy and have a low body fat, you'll find their insulin is more active and stores fat faster. Insulin resistance is the body doing this slower and less.
    None of that really has to do with fats being taken up from food.

    actually insulin signals cells to take up glucose not fat, what you posted is completely and utterly wrong! The glucose can be then used for energy or stored and eventually can be converted to fat. keeping it simple gotta go to work.

    I disagree.

    Well if you mean this:

    The actions of insulin (indirect and direct) on cells include:
    Increased glycogen synthesis – insulin forces storage of glucose in liver (and muscle) cells in the form of glycogen; lowered levels of insulin cause liver cells to convert glycogen to glucose and excrete it into the blood. This is the clinical action of insulin, which is directly useful in reducing high blood glucose levels as in diabetes.
    Increased lipid synthesis – insulin forces fat cells to take in blood lipids, which are converted to triglycerides; lack of insulin causes the reverse.[35][clarification needed (see talk)]
    Increased esterification of fatty acids – forces adipose tissue to make fats (i.e., triglycerides) from fatty acid esters; lack of insulin causes the reverse.
    Decreased proteolysis – decreasing the breakdown of protein
    Decreased lipolysis – forces reduction in conversion of fat cell lipid stores into blood fatty acids; lack of insulin causes the reverse.
    Decreased gluconeogenesis – decreases production of glucose from nonsugar substrates, primarily in the liver (the vast majority of endogenous insulin arriving at the liver never leaves the liver); lack of insulin causes glucose production from assorted substrates in the liver and elsewhere.
    Decreased autophagy - decreased level of degradation of damaged organelles. Postprandial levels inhibit autophagy completely.[36]
    Increased amino acid uptake – forces cells to absorb circulating amino acids; lack of insulin inhibits absorption.
    Increased potassium uptake – forces cells to absorb serum potassium; lack of insulin inhibits absorption. Insulin's increase in cellular potassium uptake lowers potassium levels in blood. This possibly occurs via insulin-induced translocation of the Na+/K+-ATPase to the surface of skeletal muscle cells.[37][38]
    Arterial muscle tone – forces arterial wall muscle to relax, increasing blood flow, especially in microarteries; lack of insulin reduces flow by allowing these muscles to contract.
    Increase in the secretion of hydrochloric acid by parietal cells in the stomach
    Decreased renal sodium excretion.[39]

    Insulin also influences other body functions, such as vascular compliance and cognition. Once insulin enters the human brain, it enhances learning and memory and benefits verbal memory in particular.[40] Enhancing brain insulin signaling by means of intranasal insulin administration also enhances the acute thermoregulatory and glucoregulatory response to food intake, suggesting that central nervous insulin contributes to the control of whole-body energy homeostasis in humans.[41] Insulin also has stimulatory effects on gonadotropin-releasing hormone from the hypothalamus, thus favoring fertility.

    Then you are correct and I agree with you but to say that insulin just aids storing fat then that is utterly wrong furthermore grossly oversimplified. As obvious from the above (simply from Wikipedia BTW) it is also involved in the uptake of glucose and proteins by the cells and way way more
    You copy and pasted wikipedia without even linking it. Look at the bolded. You're saying you agree that you are wrong.

    I was under the impression you would be intelligent enough to use Wikipedia yourself I quoted my source I believe that is sufficient. Thank you though for highlighting again that you purely focus on a tiny fraction of a part of the function of insulin. If you had read my reply correctly then you would know that I'm not denying it isn't part of its function but it is most certainly not it sole purpose or its main purpose and you conveniently skipped the other important functions in your reply as well as its not relevant really to the OPs question.

    If you feel the need to be right all the time and highjack to OPs post to argue this point then I welcome you to it, but its pretty petty.
  • senecarr
    senecarr Posts: 5,377 Member
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    senecarr wrote: »
    nvsmomketo wrote: »
    senecarr wrote: »
    nvsmomketo wrote: »
    Yeah, it is roughly 7000 exra kcal to gain 2 lobs. Roughly. And that is extra, so not including what your body burns in a day.

    I think it would also depend on what your body can physically do. I amguessing that there is a point where your body gives up on absorbing and just passes the food through. Just guessing.

    Plus some foods are more easiliy absorbed than others. That would make a difference.

    Serum insulin levels will also affect how fast you put on fat. Insulin helps store fat, so if your insulin levels are higher, you may store fat more efficinetly. Carbohydrates will raise insulin, as will protein to a much lesser degree. Those with insulin resistance (T2D or prediabetes) will have higher levels of insulin in their blood stream too.

    Insulin tells cells to store fat. That means the fat already has to be there, available to the cells. That means, the fat already has to be in your body.
    It's a common misconception that people get about insulin. Honestly, that your body stores it is actually a good thing - the alternative is that your blood stream has fat floating around which we tent to call cholesterol and triglycerides and associate with negative health outcomes.
    In people who already are generally considered healthy and have a low body fat, you'll find their insulin is more active and stores fat faster. Insulin resistance is the body doing this slower and less.
    None of that really has to do with fats being taken up from food.

    actually insulin signals cells to take up glucose not fat, what you posted is completely and utterly wrong! The glucose can be then used for energy or stored and eventually can be converted to fat. keeping it simple gotta go to work.

    I disagree.

    Well if you mean this:

    The actions of insulin (indirect and direct) on cells include:
    Increased glycogen synthesis – insulin forces storage of glucose in liver (and muscle) cells in the form of glycogen; lowered levels of insulin cause liver cells to convert glycogen to glucose and excrete it into the blood. This is the clinical action of insulin, which is directly useful in reducing high blood glucose levels as in diabetes.
    Increased lipid synthesis – insulin forces fat cells to take in blood lipids, which are converted to triglycerides; lack of insulin causes the reverse.[35][clarification needed (see talk)]
    Increased esterification of fatty acids – forces adipose tissue to make fats (i.e., triglycerides) from fatty acid esters; lack of insulin causes the reverse.
    Decreased proteolysis – decreasing the breakdown of protein
    Decreased lipolysis – forces reduction in conversion of fat cell lipid stores into blood fatty acids; lack of insulin causes the reverse.
    Decreased gluconeogenesis – decreases production of glucose from nonsugar substrates, primarily in the liver (the vast majority of endogenous insulin arriving at the liver never leaves the liver); lack of insulin causes glucose production from assorted substrates in the liver and elsewhere.
    Decreased autophagy - decreased level of degradation of damaged organelles. Postprandial levels inhibit autophagy completely.[36]
    Increased amino acid uptake – forces cells to absorb circulating amino acids; lack of insulin inhibits absorption.
    Increased potassium uptake – forces cells to absorb serum potassium; lack of insulin inhibits absorption. Insulin's increase in cellular potassium uptake lowers potassium levels in blood. This possibly occurs via insulin-induced translocation of the Na+/K+-ATPase to the surface of skeletal muscle cells.[37][38]
    Arterial muscle tone – forces arterial wall muscle to relax, increasing blood flow, especially in microarteries; lack of insulin reduces flow by allowing these muscles to contract.
    Increase in the secretion of hydrochloric acid by parietal cells in the stomach
    Decreased renal sodium excretion.[39]

    Insulin also influences other body functions, such as vascular compliance and cognition. Once insulin enters the human brain, it enhances learning and memory and benefits verbal memory in particular.[40] Enhancing brain insulin signaling by means of intranasal insulin administration also enhances the acute thermoregulatory and glucoregulatory response to food intake, suggesting that central nervous insulin contributes to the control of whole-body energy homeostasis in humans.[41] Insulin also has stimulatory effects on gonadotropin-releasing hormone from the hypothalamus, thus favoring fertility.

    Then you are correct and I agree with you but to say that insulin just aids storing fat then that is utterly wrong furthermore grossly oversimplified. As obvious from the above (simply from Wikipedia BTW) it is also involved in the uptake of glucose and proteins by the cells and way way more
    You copy and pasted wikipedia without even linking it. Look at the bolded. You're saying you agree that you are wrong.

    I was under the impression you would be intelligent enough to use Wikipedia yourself I quoted my source I believe that is sufficient. Thank you though for highlighting again that you purely focus on a tiny fraction of a part of the function of insulin. If you had read my reply correctly then you would know that I'm not denying it isn't part of its function but it is most certainly not it sole purpose or its main purpose and you conveniently skipped the other important functions in your reply as well as its not relevant really to the OPs question.

    If you feel the need to be right all the time and highjack to OPs post to argue this point then I welcome you to it, but its pretty petty.
    Can you show me where I ever said the sole function or primary function is storing fat? You pounced on me for saying insulin signals fat storage to fat cells and said it is used in taking up glucose, as if I had some how said it was only for storing fat.
    What I said was
    Insulin tells cells to store fat. That means the fat already has to be there, available to the cells. That means, the fat already has to be in your body.
    to which you replied
    actually insulin signals cells to take up glucose not fat, what you posted is completely and utterly wrong!
    You then pasted from Wikipedia, and it looks like you didn't actually read what you pasted because as I pointed out, right there are words that show what I said is, in fact, correct.
    You seem to now be trying to cover by making this about me being right or wrong, perhaps because you're worried it will be about you being right or wrong?
  • Duchy82
    Duchy82 Posts: 560 Member
    Options


    Well if you mean this:

    The actions of insulin (indirect and direct) on cells include:
    Increased glycogen synthesis – insulin forces storage of glucose in liver (and muscle) cells in the form of glycogen; lowered levels of insulin cause liver cells to convert glycogen to glucose and excrete it into the blood. This is the clinical action of insulin, which is directly useful in reducing high blood glucose levels as in diabetes.
    Increased lipid synthesis – insulin forces fat cells to take in blood lipids, which are converted to triglycerides; lack of insulin causes the reverse.[35][clarification needed (see talk)]
    Increased esterification of fatty acids – forces adipose tissue to make fats (i.e., triglycerides) from fatty acid esters; lack of insulin causes the reverse.
    Decreased proteolysis – decreasing the breakdown of protein
    Decreased lipolysis – forces reduction in conversion of fat cell lipid stores into blood fatty acids; lack of insulin causes the reverse.
    Decreased gluconeogenesis – decreases production of glucose from nonsugar substrates, primarily in the liver (the vast majority of endogenous insulin arriving at the liver never leaves the liver); lack of insulin causes glucose production from assorted substrates in the liver and elsewhere.
    Decreased autophagy - decreased level of degradation of damaged organelles. Postprandial levels inhibit autophagy completely.[36]
    Increased amino acid uptake – forces cells to absorb circulating amino acids; lack of insulin inhibits absorption.
    Increased potassium uptake – forces cells to absorb serum potassium; lack of insulin inhibits absorption. Insulin's increase in cellular potassium uptake lowers potassium levels in blood. This possibly occurs via insulin-induced translocation of the Na+/K+-ATPase to the surface of skeletal muscle cells.[37][38]
    Arterial muscle tone – forces arterial wall muscle to relax, increasing blood flow, especially in microarteries; lack of insulin reduces flow by allowing these muscles to contract.
    Increase in the secretion of hydrochloric acid by parietal cells in the stomach
    Decreased renal sodium excretion.[39]

    Insulin also influences other body functions, such as vascular compliance and cognition. Once insulin enters the human brain, it enhances learning and memory and benefits verbal memory in particular.[40] Enhancing brain insulin signaling by means of intranasal insulin administration also enhances the acute thermoregulatory and glucoregulatory response to food intake, suggesting that central nervous insulin contributes to the control of whole-body energy homeostasis in humans.[41] Insulin also has stimulatory effects on gonadotropin-releasing hormone from the hypothalamus, thus favoring fertility.

    Then you are correct and I agree with you but to say that insulin just aids storing fat then that is utterly wrong furthermore grossly oversimplified. As obvious from the above (simply from Wikipedia BTW) it is also involved in the uptake of glucose and proteins by the cells and way way more

    [/quote]
    You copy and pasted wikipedia without even linking it. Look at the bolded. You're saying you agree that you are wrong.
    [/quote]

    I was under the impression you would be intelligent enough to use Wikipedia yourself I quoted my source I believe that is sufficient. Thank you though for highlighting again that you purely focus on a tiny fraction of a part of the function of insulin. If you had read my reply correctly then you would know that I'm not denying it isn't part of its function but it is most certainly not it sole purpose or its main purpose and you conveniently skipped the other important functions in your reply as well as its not relevant really to the OPs question.

    If you feel the need to be right all the time and highjack to OPs post to argue this point then I welcome you to it, but its pretty petty.
    [/quote]
    Can you show me where I ever said the sole function or primary function is storing fat? You pounced on me for saying insulin signals fat storage to fat cells and said it is used in taking up glucose, as if I had some how said it was only for storing fat.
    What I said was
    Insulin tells cells to store fat. That means the fat already has to be there, available to the cells. That means, the fat already has to be in your body.
    to which you replied
    actually insulin signals cells to take up glucose not fat, what you posted is completely and utterly wrong!
    You then pasted from Wikipedia, and it looks like you didn't actually read what you pasted because as I pointed out, right there are words that show what I said is, in fact, correct.
    You seem to now be trying to cover by making this about me being right or wrong, perhaps because you're worried it will be about you being right or wrong?[/quote]

    I believe I already highlighted that I was wrong in part (see bolded italic previous comment) some of us have busy lives and I did in fact go back after I came home from work and actually went into more detail as to why I disagree with you and quoted from a (majority) factual source. like I said you want to argue then lets leave it at agree to disagree, I really don't want the highjack the OPs post any longer
  • PeachyCarol
    PeachyCarol Posts: 8,029 Member
    Options
    I'm just going to leave this here:

    http://weightology.net/weightologyweekly/?page_id=319
  • onyxgirl17
    onyxgirl17 Posts: 1,721 Member
    Options
    ScreeField wrote: »
    Sciencey Answer:

    “Calories” are a measurement of energy — it’s just a unit of energy, like Watts or Joules. Or even like: gallons or cups or teaspoons. It's just a unit of measurement. In this case, energy.

    Generally, determining how many calories are in food is done by burning the food and calculating the released heat in something called a Bomb Calorimeter. Think of using a hamburger instead of charcoal in your barbecue and calculating how many hamburgers it takes to heat up a cup of water.

    1 Calorie = energy it takes to heat up 1 liter (kg) of water by 1 degree Celsius

    The math:

    Q = mcp^T
    = (1kg)(4.18 J/g*C)(1C)
    = 4.18 kilojoules
    = 1 calorie

    So, calories are just energy. However, what your body does with that energy is a whole different story. We started with physics and now we have to shift into chemistry.

    When you eat a molecule of sucrose (sugar) what your body does first to it is to break all of the sucrose molecule’s bonds to release energy, but breaking molecular bonds takes energy.

    Sucrose has lots of bonds:

    C-C bonds: 10
    O-H bonds: 8
    C-H bonds: 14
    C-O bonds: 14

    Each of these bonds has different energies:

    C-C = 346 kJ/mol
    C-H = 411 kJ/mol
    O-H = 459 kJ/mol
    C-O = 358 kJ/mol

    So, you simply add up the bonds and sum the energy per bond.

    C-C = 346 kJ/mol x 10 bonds = 3,460 kJ/mol
    C-H = 411 kJ/mol x 14 bonds = 5,754 kJ/mol
    O-H = 459 kJ/mol x 8 bonds = 3,672 kJ/mol
    C-O = 358 kJ/mol x 14 bonds = 5,012 kJ/mol

    Total energy it takes to break apart a sucrose molecule is the sum of the above: 17,898 kJ/mol

    The next step is to reform those broken bonds into carbon dioxide and water. This also takes energy. And, you have to apply the Principle of Stoichiometric Balance which means, when you are transforming one thing to another with a chemical reaction, you can't destroy its fundamental atoms. You have to end up with the same number of each atom.

    The sucrose molecule looks like this:

    C12 H22 C11

    After digestion, there must be 12 carbons in the final product(s). They can’t go anywhere else. So, to convert the above to carbon dioxide and oxygen, you have to add 12 oxygen molecules to balance both sides of the equation:

    C12 H22 O11 + 12O2 = 12CO2 + 11H2O


    Then, there’s also the released energy to account for. There are a number of charts online that map metabolic pathways. There are maps for glucose alone that could be printed in 10 pt font and take up entire walls. One of the more well known maps was created by Dr. Donald Nicholson and I believe his map is online. None of the metabolic pathways charts are complete. They are all still works in progress.

    If you have access to a glucose metabolic pathway chart, you can see the many many different processes just to use up a glucose molecule — and you can see why there are differences in metabolism of different foods into calories. A calorie is always a calorie (that’s like saying a gallon is always a gallon). However, its the: 1) energy availability of different foods and 2) metabolic processes cause a large variation in results.
    I like a lot of what you have pointed out here however...17898 kJ is the estimate for an entire mole of sucrose molecules. The amount of energy released by ONE molecule is that number divided by 6.02 x 10^23 molecules per mole. Significantly less for each molecule.

    Also... breaking bonds requires energy while reforming bonds actually releases energy, it's called the energy payoff. In order to find the enthalpy, bonds broken - bonds formed is the general equation when using bond energies for your calculation.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,398 MFP Moderator
    Options


    Already beat you to it... although i embedded it :D
  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    edited July 2015
    Options
    I'm curious about the rate at which we can assimilate/store calories as weight.

    About 6500 calories/day worth (plus/minus) is what a typical male can metabolize. Eg, a typical day on the Tour de France (for riders! :wink: )...

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/active/recreational-cycling/11729780/6000-calories-What-a-Tour-de-France-rider-eats-in-just-one-day.html

    Beyond that, you're pushing old partially digested food out with new food, and not getting the full caloric bang of what you just ate.

    One of the MFP myths is that you can't outrun a diet - that's not actually true, athletes at this level are limited by the speed at which they can metabolize food, if they could find a way to digest more, they could burn more.
  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    Options
    BUT...these athletes are eating hundreds upon hundreds of grams of carbs and rebuilding glycogen stores. And carbs are the fastest metabolized macro. If the diet was e.g. fat-heavy instead, the upper calorie limit would be lower.

  • stevencloser
    stevencloser Posts: 8,911 Member
    Options
    Mr_Knight wrote: »
    I'm curious about the rate at which we can assimilate/store calories as weight.

    About 6500 calories/day worth (plus/minus) is what a typical male can metabolize. Eg, a typical day on the Tour de France (for riders! :wink: )...

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/active/recreational-cycling/11729780/6000-calories-What-a-Tour-de-France-rider-eats-in-just-one-day.html

    Beyond that, you're pushing old partially digested food out with new food, and not getting the full caloric bang of what you just ate.

    One of the MFP myths is that you can't outrun a diet - that's not actually true, athletes at this level are limited by the speed at which they can metabolize food, if they could find a way to digest more, they could burn more.

    Where'd you get the 6500 kcal from?
  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    Options
    Mr_Knight wrote: »
    I'm curious about the rate at which we can assimilate/store calories as weight.

    About 6500 calories/day worth (plus/minus) is what a typical male can metabolize. Eg, a typical day on the Tour de France (for riders! :wink: )...

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/active/recreational-cycling/11729780/6000-calories-What-a-Tour-de-France-rider-eats-in-just-one-day.html

    Beyond that, you're pushing old partially digested food out with new food, and not getting the full caloric bang of what you just ate.

    One of the MFP myths is that you can't outrun a diet - that's not actually true, athletes at this level are limited by the speed at which they can metabolize food, if they could find a way to digest more, they could burn more.

    Where'd you get the 6500 kcal from?

    A number of teams/cyclists have shared their meal plans. Some are lower, some go up to 8000.
  • stevencloser
    stevencloser Posts: 8,911 Member
    Options
    I don't see how cyclists meal plan = maximum amount someone can possibly metabolize.
  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    Options
    I don't see how cyclists meal plan = maximum amount someone can possibly metabolize.

    Because those athletes are constrained by the number of calories they can actually metabolize. That gives us an upper limit on how much food the body can actually process.
  • ScreeField
    ScreeField Posts: 180 Member
    Options
    onyxgirl17 wrote: »
    ScreeField wrote: »
    Sciencey Answer:

    “Calories” are a measurement of energy — it’s just a unit of energy, like Watts or Joules. Or even like: gallons or cups or teaspoons. It's just a unit of measurement. In this case, energy.

    Generally, determining how many calories are in food is done by burning the food and calculating the released heat in something called a Bomb Calorimeter. Think of using a hamburger instead of charcoal in your barbecue and calculating how many hamburgers it takes to heat up a cup of water.

    1 Calorie = energy it takes to heat up 1 liter (kg) of water by 1 degree Celsius

    The math:

    Q = mcp^T
    = (1kg)(4.18 J/g*C)(1C)
    = 4.18 kilojoules
    = 1 calorie

    So, calories are just energy. However, what your body does with that energy is a whole different story. We started with physics and now we have to shift into chemistry.

    When you eat a molecule of sucrose (sugar) what your body does first to it is to break all of the sucrose molecule’s bonds to release energy, but breaking molecular bonds takes energy.

    Sucrose has lots of bonds:

    C-C bonds: 10
    O-H bonds: 8
    C-H bonds: 14
    C-O bonds: 14

    Each of these bonds has different energies:

    C-C = 346 kJ/mol
    C-H = 411 kJ/mol
    O-H = 459 kJ/mol
    C-O = 358 kJ/mol

    So, you simply add up the bonds and sum the energy per bond.

    C-C = 346 kJ/mol x 10 bonds = 3,460 kJ/mol
    C-H = 411 kJ/mol x 14 bonds = 5,754 kJ/mol
    O-H = 459 kJ/mol x 8 bonds = 3,672 kJ/mol
    C-O = 358 kJ/mol x 14 bonds = 5,012 kJ/mol

    Total energy it takes to break apart a sucrose molecule is the sum of the above: 17,898 kJ/mol

    The next step is to reform those broken bonds into carbon dioxide and water. This also takes energy. And, you have to apply the Principle of Stoichiometric Balance which means, when you are transforming one thing to another with a chemical reaction, you can't destroy its fundamental atoms. You have to end up with the same number of each atom.

    The sucrose molecule looks like this:

    C12 H22 C11

    After digestion, there must be 12 carbons in the final product(s). They can’t go anywhere else. So, to convert the above to carbon dioxide and oxygen, you have to add 12 oxygen molecules to balance both sides of the equation:

    C12 H22 O11 + 12O2 = 12CO2 + 11H2O


    Then, there’s also the released energy to account for. There are a number of charts online that map metabolic pathways. There are maps for glucose alone that could be printed in 10 pt font and take up entire walls. One of the more well known maps was created by Dr. Donald Nicholson and I believe his map is online. None of the metabolic pathways charts are complete. They are all still works in progress.

    If you have access to a glucose metabolic pathway chart, you can see the many many different processes just to use up a glucose molecule — and you can see why there are differences in metabolism of different foods into calories. A calorie is always a calorie (that’s like saying a gallon is always a gallon). However, its the: 1) energy availability of different foods and 2) metabolic processes cause a large variation in results.
    I like a lot of what you have pointed out here however...17898 kJ is the estimate for an entire mole of sucrose molecules. The amount of energy released by ONE molecule is that number divided by 6.02 x 10^23 molecules per mole. Significantly less for each molecule.

    Also... breaking bonds requires energy while reforming bonds actually releases energy, it's called the energy payoff. In order to find the enthalpy, bonds broken - bonds formed is the general equation when using bond energies for your calculation.

    nice catch. I wasn't paying enough attention when I wrote it out. I'm surprised you didn't catch my oxygen/water mix up as well.
  • PeachyCarol
    PeachyCarol Posts: 8,029 Member
    edited July 2015
    Options
    psulemon wrote: »


    Already beat you to it... although i embedded it :D

    That's what I get for coming in on just about the second page of a thread :/

    It did bear repeating, though. Think we should cut and paste the text next?