A calorie is not a calorie!

How many times have you picked up a food product only to check out the calories? You might scroll down and look at the fat, carbs, sodium and sugar too- 180 calories for 2 cookies…and then you start doing the math in your head, how many cookies can you eat while staying within your calorie budget for the day, why would I choose to eat fruit instead of a cookie if they have the same amount of calories, am I right?

The thing is, is not all calories are equal.

We have been brainwashed our entire lives-

We have villainized the calorie, obsessed over it, hated it…. The calorie has been the source for much pain, and little pleasure.

But why is this the wrong way of thinking?

Weight gain has more to do with how calories are stored. We are not getting bigger because we are eating more calories that are good for us. Let that sink in for a moment. If we ate the same amount of calories in whole food as we eat in processed food, we wouldn’t have metabolic diseases, heart diseases and all kinds of other ailments. Why? Simply because your body would probably be satisfied with a lesser amount, and fiber  plus good quality protein fills you up. Vitamins and minerals replenish your system, natural glucose fuels your brain and the healthy fats too, your gut is fed, you liver is protected.

Take fructose (the sugar in fruit) for example, any processed product with this ingredient is NOT equal to a fruit, nor is it equal to glucose, the most common form of sugar. Calories from added fructose in processed food is significantly higher, it doesn’t get metabolized by your entire body like glucose, and it only affects your liver or I should say damages it. (Have you heard of NAFLD- Non-Alcohol fatty liver disease?) To add insult to injury, it also raises the hormone ghrelin, which increases appetite, so not only are your blood sugar levels spiking, but your liver is also getting damaged AND your body is telling you it wants more.

We also have to consider that calories from whole foods are packed with natural fiber and since fiber isn’t digested in the duodenum (small intestine) you aren’t absorbing all the calories, a portion of those calories are brought down to your larger intestine and becomes food for your gut. So, a calorie is not a calorie.

The Thermic Effect of Food or TEF is the amount of energy it takes for your body to digest, absorb, and metabolize the food you eat, the higher the percentage the more energy is burned. So, a calorie is not a calorie once again. Protein generates the most energy at 25-30% , carbohydrates at 6-8% and fat at 2-3% (Side note, not all fats are burned either, but that’s for another blog.)

Lastly, fat from calories is not all stored equally either, when we eat calories from added sugar it stores as fat in the liver, not our buts or belly’s and that might excite you as it won’t affect your speedo or bikini goals but a fatty liver causes metabolic disease.

Just to recap a calorie is more than just a number on the nutrition facts label, you might be better off asking yourself what ingredients make up this calorie? The list of ingredients tell you much more about what your absorbing. Calories from processed foods high in added sugar and fat don’t burn as quickly, harm your liver and other organs, they mess with your hormones and leave you feeling hungry. Isn’t it interesting that we only really started counting calories when we had packaging?  When you choose to eat whole food (Fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts and seeds, ethically raised meat) you are supplying your body with the energy it needs, you are supporting your liver, and your gut, you are satisfying your hunger for less, meaning you are getting more bang for your buck. Don’t believe me? Try it. 🙂