Stupid question...

shavasana
shavasana Posts: 17 Member
edited September 21 in Food and Nutrition
What are empty calories and why should I care?

This term gets thrown around a lot and I don't know that I fully understand what it means.

Thanks

Replies

  • lotusfromthemud
    lotusfromthemud Posts: 5,335 Member
    "Empty calories" are calories with little to no nutritional value in them. Like, for example, refined sugar and junk food in general.

    Oh, and you should care because you want the food you eat to run your body effectively, and empty calories usually give a quick rush and an almost immediate crash.

    HTH
  • maddox22
    maddox22 Posts: 91
    Another reason you should care is that empty calories don't get you any closer to your nutrient goals, but they do count toward your calorie goals. So if you're consuming, for example, 300 calories of soda every day, that is 300 calories fewer that you have to work with to get all the protein, calcium, fiber, etc., that you need.

    Foods with a lot of empty calories also tend not to fill you up as long, so you end up eating more overall.
  • neenaleigh
    neenaleigh Posts: 584 Member
    mmmmmm...im a empty calorie junkie!!!!
  • shavasana
    shavasana Posts: 17 Member
    Another reason you should care is that empty calories don't get you any closer to your nutrient goals, but they do count toward your calorie goals. So if you're consuming, for example, 300 calories of soda every day, that is 300 calories fewer that you have to work with to get all the protein, calcium, fiber, etc., that you need.

    Foods with a lot of empty calories also tend not to fill you up as long, so you end up eating more overall.

    wow...so then if I consume empty calories should I stop at my alotted caloric intake or should I continue to consume "proper" calories despite my empty calorie intake?
  • lutzsher
    lutzsher Posts: 1,153 Member
    Don't forget alcohol . . . the BIGGEST empty calorie offender!

    Yes, those empty calories count toward your daily goal . . . they are just not nutritious for your body in the least!
  • lotusfromthemud
    lotusfromthemud Posts: 5,335 Member
    Another reason you should care is that empty calories don't get you any closer to your nutrient goals, but they do count toward your calorie goals. So if you're consuming, for example, 300 calories of soda every day, that is 300 calories fewer that you have to work with to get all the protein, calcium, fiber, etc., that you need.

    Foods with a lot of empty calories also tend not to fill you up as long, so you end up eating more overall.

    wow...so then if I consume empty calories should I stop at my alotted caloric intake or should I continue to consume "proper" calories despite my empty calorie intake?

    Only if you want to gain weight. That's the reason to avoid empty calories, you get no value in them, but they contribute to weight gain.

    The fact that the standard american diet is so heavy (no pun intended) on empty calories is the reason that obesity is such a problem (or one of the main reasons, IMHO). We eat too much and take in too little nutrition.
  • shavasana
    shavasana Posts: 17 Member
    So I can eat empty calories, but they will negatively impact my fitness goals and basically make me feel like crap.

    Thanks people. You are a wealth of goodness.
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