Does MFP take into account the thermogenic effect of food?

CamilleJackie350

when calculating how many calories are in a food item?

I was reading in an article that approximately 25% of the calories in protein are used in order to actually digest the food. So doesn't that mean that only 75% of the calories in that food item 'count'?

Does MFP take this into account in their algorithm for determining how many calories are in a food?

thanks

Beastmaster50

Myth. No scientific data backs that up.

Jruzer

I don't think it's a myth, but the 25% figure is for protein: it's much lower for carbohydrates and fats. It's called the thermic effect of food, or TEF. I wouldn't use this as any kind of reason to change your budget, however: I suspect it may already be included.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8561055
"Measuring the Thermic Effect of Food"

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2400767
"Thermic effect of food in man: effect of meal composition, and energy content"

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9449148
"The thermic effect of food and obesity: a critical review"

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6357848
"Thermogenic responses induced by nutrients in man: their importance in energy balance regulation"

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7733021
"Thermic effect of food in humans: methods and results from use of a respiratory chamber"