Counting Calories

So people ask me for advice on what to eat when they are sick, when they are tired, when they want to lose weight...and I figured to write down here to help everyone out with what I have found.

First, one blog is not going to cover it.

Second, two blogs just not going to work either.

Let's start with the basics, counting calories.  A calorie is nothing more than a unit of energy we get from food.  100 calories from an apple is the same as 100 calories from refined sugar which is the same as 100 calories from red meat.

Now there are two things to consider when selecting foods or drinks for our caloric intake.

Number one:  what type of food is necessary for energy, for rebuilding the body and/or storing up for future energy needs.  The different types of foods range from: proteins, carbs, fats, alcohols, sweeteners, fibers, and erythritol.  Erythritol?  That can't be healthy.  It will not kill you, but does not really help in the healthy eating arena.  All these categories can be broken down into glucose for the body to use as energy.  But here is the consideration, how much energy does it take to break these things down into simple glucose the body can use.  Meat takes a great deal of energy to break down.  This is why we often go into food comas after big meals.  Energy is diverted to help digest that large pizza, 5lb burrito or the all you can eat bar.

So now you are thinking, "Well, I'll just down a couple spoonfuls of white sugar and have all the energy I need."  Um...WRONG!!!

Number Two:  is about digestibility of food.  Our bodies have evolved over at least a billionty years.  It takes more than just calories to fuel us.  The quality of food is as important as the quantity.  You would actually gain more energy from a spoonful of Turbinado sugar than refined white sugar.  The less commercially processed the food is, the more we can gain from it.

The body digests, filters and distributes nutrients to where they are needed.  If you drink a soda pop, you may get some energy from it.  The body may send some of the moisture to parts of the body needing it.  And then it looks at the crap that is left over and promptly sends it to the tush (we may need this later) storage area.

What! No way, you say.  I give you diet sodas as an example.  Take an 18 ounce bottle.  What is in there that gives it one calorie?  We know there is water and a bunch of chemicals that makes it taste like the "real" stuff.  But why drink it?  Would you drink water mixed with beetle carapaces?  Or do you drink it because you can drink a twelve pack and the 12 calories won't add to your weight?

Guess what?  There are some things your body will not digest and if you are lucky, it will pass through.  Otherwise, it stores these "things" in the tush, thighs, belly or where-ever you store your potential energy.

One final note.  Just remember we do not eat to lose weight, we eat to live.  You eat well, you live well.  If you want to know the quality of your fuel, just take notes of everything you eat in one week.  And be honest to yourself.  You deserve at least that.