Too few calories or do certain nutrients matter more?

jackilync
jackilync Posts: 30 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I am finishing out day 9 of the 21 day sugar detox (if you're going to comment about how useless it is, please refrain, I'm looking for advice not criticism). Anyway, the past few days I've been too full to eat all of my calories. I'm getting plenty of protein though. It's not dangerous to eat too few calories if you're taking in enough other nutrients. Right?

I'm eating mostly vegetables, 1 or two pieces of fruit per day, and meats. I cook with olive oil and coconut oil. I add avacado in when fat is needed. I'm not starving by any stretch of the imagination and I feel fantastic. I am insulin resistant so this type of lifestyle (mostly paleo and all whole foods) is really good for me. I just don't want to cause issues as far as calories go, but if I understand correctly, the nutrients matter more than the calories. Just looking for perspective. Maybe from people who have done the program before but open to other opinions too.

Replies

  • fruttibiscotti
    fruttibiscotti Posts: 986 Member
    Need clarification on your question. When you say nutrients, do you mean macronutrients or micronutrients, or both?
  • RllyGudTweetr
    RllyGudTweetr Posts: 2,019 Member
    Your body needs the macronutrients, as well as the micronutrients. Depending on your definition of "under calories,' it's unlikely that you're both under calories and getting adequate macronutrients. Micronutrients are another matter entirely, as multivitamins are widely available and many foods are vitamin enriched.
  • jackilync
    jackilync Posts: 30 Member
    I am fairly certain I get plenty of Micro. I take a whole food multi-vitamin, and I eat quite a few vegetables per day. The only Macro that I can really see I may not be getting "adequate" amounts of would be carbohydrates because I don't eat bread or processed foods. I still eat complex carbs from whole foods but I don't eat anything processed. I eat plenty of protein and good fats. I don't want to just eat a bunch of empty carbohydrates or random foods when I'm already full. I guess I don't really see a point in that. I feel fantastic so I don't think that anything is wrong but I just want other opinions on the matter because I don't know much about the macro/micro aspect. I've always just thought that calories are calories and didn't really dig deeper until recently.
  • jackilync
    jackilync Posts: 30 Member
    My calorie goal is set at a little over 1500 per day and I have only been getting in around 1000 unless I add a snack in the evening.
  • Commander_Keen
    Commander_Keen Posts: 1,179 Member
    Why can't you add a little more to each meal, so it comes out to 1400-1450?

    How does cutting sugar really work out, as everything has sugar in it?
  • jackilync
    jackilync Posts: 30 Member
    I'm not cutting out all sugar, just processed sugar. I can still have natural sugar. :) I could probably add a little to each meal, I just wonder how necessary it is. I don't want to inhibit weight loss, or muscle gain, but I don't want to eat when I'm not hungry either soooo....If it's necessary I'll just add a little to each meal.
  • RllyGudTweetr
    RllyGudTweetr Posts: 2,019 Member
    I'm not cutting out all sugar, just processed sugar. I can still have natural sugar. :) I could probably add a little to each meal, I just wonder how necessary it is. I don't want to inhibit weight loss, or muscle gain, but I don't want to eat when I'm not hungry either soooo....If it's necessary I'll just add a little to each meal.
    What do you think the difference is, nutritionally, between natural sugars and processed sugars? I know that natural sugars are often paired with fiber, for example, but assuming you're already getting adequate fiber, what's the nutritional benefit to cutting out processed sugars but keeping the natural ones?

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