Your body needs calories to function, though the kind of calories you put into your body does make a difference. When you're counting calories to lose weight, the type of calories you eat matters just as much as the overall amount of calories. Some calories are healthier for your body, while other calories offer little nutritional value and may lead to weight gain and other physical problems.
Healthy Calories
Most of the things you eat and drink contain calories, though some calories are healthier than others. Fruits and vegetables contain calories, but these foods are also nutrient-dense, which means they provide your body with important vitamins and minerals. Other types of food -- such as lean meats, whole grains and low-fat dairy products -- also contain "healthy" calories, as well as other essential nutrients. Because these types of foods are low in fat, the calories they contain are better for your body.
Calories from Fat
Calories that come from fat are generally unhealthier, and too many calories from fat can contribute to weight gain and high cholesterol. Ideally, you should get about 25 to 35 percent of your daily calories from fat, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. What kind of fat the calories come from is also important. To stay healthy, limit calories from saturated fat and trans fat, and instead focus on eating healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat.
Calculating Calories from Fat
To calculate the fat content of your food, look at the nutrition label. Divide the calories from fat by the food item's total calories, then multiply this number by 100. For instance, if a 400-calorie food contains 40 calories from fat, simply divide 40 by 400, then multiply that number by 100 to get 10, which means 10 percent of that food item's calories come from fat.
Suggestions
To stay healthy, you'll have to consider more than just calories. For example, one slice of microwaved bacon contains 42 calories, according the USDA, while one cup of cooked kale contains almost the same number of calories. Choosing kale over bacon gives your body the same amount of calories, but the calories are more nutrient-dense and more filling. When you do choose to eat food containing fat, steer clear of fast food and junk food, which sometimes contain unhealthy trans fats. Instead, choose food containing healthier fats such as lean meat, avocados and healthy oils like olive oil.
Member Comments