Calories and Nutrition, a primer on a calorie is a calorie
ndj1979
Posts: 29,136 Member
All calories are equal in the sense that they provide a unit of energy. So, 100 calories of carrots = 100 calories of cake, from an energy standpoint.
However, all calories DO NOT have the same nutritional profile, and THAT is where they differ. So, one will not get the same amount of nutrients from 100 calories of carrots and 100 calories of cake.
In the grand scheme of things what is going to matter is context and dosage of the foods that comprise ones overall diet. In other words, there are no bad foods, just bad diets.
Make sure that you are hitting your calorie targets, meeting macro requirements, and get adequate nutrition (micros). Oh, and continue to include in your diet the foods that you like.
This does not mean that it is OK to eat donuts and pizza for 100% of one's calories, it simply means that including donuts and pizza as a part of one's diet does not make it unhealthy.
However, all calories DO NOT have the same nutritional profile, and THAT is where they differ. So, one will not get the same amount of nutrients from 100 calories of carrots and 100 calories of cake.
In the grand scheme of things what is going to matter is context and dosage of the foods that comprise ones overall diet. In other words, there are no bad foods, just bad diets.
Make sure that you are hitting your calorie targets, meeting macro requirements, and get adequate nutrition (micros). Oh, and continue to include in your diet the foods that you like.
This does not mean that it is OK to eat donuts and pizza for 100% of one's calories, it simply means that including donuts and pizza as a part of one's diet does not make it unhealthy.
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Replies
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Good words and good luck with this one!
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1
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I'd hit more reactions if I could. I went with Awesome.3
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You've just made me ponder carrot cake. If I eat 100 cals of it, does the carrot counteract the cake?7
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livingleanlivingclean wrote: »You've just made me ponder carrot cake. If I eat 100 cals of it, does the carrot counteract the cake?
Is there a decadent thick layer of delicious cream cheese frosting?
Man, now I want carrot cake.4 -
I admire your perseverance!
and will now go back to eating my chocolate pudding.
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I commend you for continuing to try. This (along with the CICO = math thread) would be a very informative thread; I feel it will be completely derailed by lunch time though.5
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In before the awesomeness of this post gets trampled on6
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This is an excellent primer. Thank you @ndj1979.
For those who would like to further brush up on the subject, I would suggest starting with the below link. It is a quick read. Of course, there are also excellent references listed at the bottom of that link for those who want to broaden their knowledge.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_energy1 -
The fun part of this that always goes completely off the rails is that the definition of "good nutrition" is not nearly as standard as the definition of a "calorie". The energy in food is relatively known, and if you eat less than you burn, you lose weight. Easy to agree on.
But if I say something like "Carbohydrates are part of good nutrition", we'll instantly have the keto cult in here to explain why they're not. The required amounts of various vitamins and minerals are kind of fuzzy definitions. What makes a food "low nutrition" is also hard to pin down, and depends on your goals.
Which is why we tend to say "a calorie is a calorie, eat what you want but not too much". Details are hard.3 -
Cosigned.0
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annacole94 wrote: »The fun part of this that always goes completely off the rails is that the definition of "good nutrition" is not nearly as standard as the definition of a "calorie". The energy in food is relatively known, and if you eat less than you burn, you lose weight. Easy to agree on.
But if I say something like "Carbohydrates are part of good nutrition", we'll instantly have the keto cult in here to explain why they're not. The required amounts of various vitamins and minerals are kind of fuzzy definitions. What makes a food "low nutrition" is also hard to pin down, and depends on your goals.
Which is why we tend to say "a calorie is a calorie, eat what you want but not too much". Details are hard.
The "but your body processes sugar differently" post will be coming along any minute now...2 -
This is an excellent primer. Thank you @ndj1979.
For those who would like to further brush up on the subject, I would suggest starting with the below link. It is a quick read. Of course, there are also excellent references listed at the bottom of that link for those who want to broaden their knowledge.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_energy
Thanks0 -
OP--I admire your courage--carry on.2
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An entire pizza took all my calories last night0
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I propose the OP gets pasted into every single thread where someone asks if it's OK if they have a treat every night, or if they can eat "junk" food, or why "clean" eating is the only way to lose weight. Then the collective community can't be blamed for "not mentioning nutrition", or for implying that cake = broccoli, or any of the other common straw persons.
It may not convince the diehards, but it may help the multitude of lurkers.6 -
I propose the OP gets pasted into every single thread where someone asks if it's OK if they have a treat every night, or if they can eat "junk" food, or why "clean" eating is the only way to lose weight. Then the collective community can't be blamed for "not mentioning nutrition", or for implying that cake = broccoli, or any of the other common straw persons.
It may not convince the diehards, but it may help the multitude of lurkers.
Cosign2 -
DJ_Skywalker wrote: »An entire pizza took all my calories last night
It happens1 -
Another good, thoroughly detailed read on the topic: http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/is-a-calorie-a-calorie.html2
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DJ_Skywalker wrote: »An entire pizza took all my calories last night
@DJ_Skywalker
Are they being held hostage by the pizza? Do we need to send a rescue team?
@ndj1979 thanks for this, and for continuing to remind everyone that it's AOK to have that dessert with your dinner
~Lyssa2 -
As always, well said.0
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Another good, thoroughly detailed read on the topic: http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/is-a-calorie-a-calorie.html
this should be required reading0 -
kk_inprogress wrote: »As always, well said.
thx0 -
Another good, thoroughly detailed read on the topic: http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/is-a-calorie-a-calorie.html
this should be required reading
Mr. McDonald has been brought up here a good bit lately, wish some would actually read him and continue researching from there....
Excellent post again, @ndj19790 -
macgurlnet wrote: »DJ_Skywalker wrote: »An entire pizza took all my calories last night
@DJ_Skywalker
Are they being held hostage by the pizza? Do we need to send a rescue team?
@ndj1979 thanks for this, and for continuing to remind everyone that it's AOK to have that dessert with your dinner
~Lyssamacgurlnet wrote: »DJ_Skywalker wrote: »An entire pizza took all my calories last night
@DJ_Skywalker
Are they being held hostage by the pizza? Do we need to send a rescue team?
@ndj1979 thanks for this, and for continuing to remind everyone that it's AOK to have that dessert with your dinner
~Lyssa
Nawww ... no rescue needed. I just say back in my bar stool and let the pizza take advantage of me
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* Sat0
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DJ_Skywalker wrote: »macgurlnet wrote: »DJ_Skywalker wrote: »An entire pizza took all my calories last night
@DJ_Skywalker
Are they being held hostage by the pizza? Do we need to send a rescue team?
@ndj1979 thanks for this, and for continuing to remind everyone that it's AOK to have that dessert with your dinner
~Lyssamacgurlnet wrote: »DJ_Skywalker wrote: »An entire pizza took all my calories last night
@DJ_Skywalker
Are they being held hostage by the pizza? Do we need to send a rescue team?
@ndj1979 thanks for this, and for continuing to remind everyone that it's AOK to have that dessert with your dinner
~Lyssa
Nawww ... no rescue needed. I just say back in my bar stool and let the pizza take advantage of me
I may have done something similar with a beer or two last night! :laugh:
Awesome, OP!2
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