Food

Here’s Why Counting Calories Really Isn’t Necessary For Weight Loss

Published

7 years ago

January 15, 2017

As a registered dietitian, the thought of anyone counting calories, aka the energy you get from what you eat and drink, causes me to sigh audibly. Counting calories is a time-consuming, soul-sucking practice that’s actually a lesson in futility, as far as I’m concerned.Yet people continue to do it. They pull out their calorie-tracking apps and plug in whatever foods they’ve eaten, feeling guilty when they go over their “recommended” calorie amounts, then running to the gym to try to undo it all. And I can’t blame them: The idea that monitoring all your calories is key for weight loss is a popular one.While I do think there’s value in recording the foods you’ve eaten to understand what you’re consuming and offer accountability, and while I do think it’s important to know relative calories (e.g., cake: high, broccoli: low), it’s a colossal waste of time to drill it down to every single calorie that passes your lips.Of course, calories do count, since they’re what you consume when all is said and done. But counting calories can be a real drag at best, and a dangerous practice at worst. Not only does it get you focusing on numbers instead of enjoying the food you’re eating, it can be a slippery slope from paying attention to calorie counts to obsessing over them. For anyone with a history of disordered eating, counting calories might be something to avoid. If you have or are in recovery from an eating disorder, it’s best to talk to your doctor before changing your eating habits or tracking your food. Plus, weight loss is about so much more than calories. It encompasses exercise, how you sleep, how stressed you are, and health issues that you may not be able to control, like hormonal changes. That’s why, if losing weight is your goal, it’s important to acknowledge how individual a process it is and figure out how to do it in a way that’s healthy for you. And no matter your goals, spending vast amounts of energy and time poring over calories might not get you very far. Here’s why.1. You likely have no idea how many calories you actually need.In order to accurately count calories for weight loss, you’d need to know your basal metabolic rate, or how many calories your body burns each day simply to stay alive and keep all your systems running. And unless you’ve done indirect calorimetry, which I can almost guarantee you haven’t—it involves lying with a mask on, hooked up to a very expensive piece of machinery for a prolonged period of time to measure your oxygen intake and carbon dioxide expulsion—you really are playing with arbitrary numbers. Although it’s the “gold standard” of figuring out how many calories you use per day, like anything else, indirect calorimetry can have flaws.Yes, you can approximate the number of calories you use in a day via equations and apps, but that’s all you get: an approximation. If even the “gold standard” machine can be wrong, then why let some app or equation determine how much you should be eating?2. You don’t know how many calories your body is absorbing from food.Let’s say that by some miracle, you know exactly how many calories you need to eat per day for weight loss. That’s great, but you’re not out of the woods, thanks to the question of absorption.We used to think that since 3,500 calories equal a pound, every time you eat 3,500 extra calories beyond what your body needs, you end up gaining that weight. Now we know better: Not all calories are equal like we thought.Everything from how your food is processed to how much fiber it contains determines how many calories you’re absorbing from it. Even the bacteria in your gut may play a part in how you digest food and how many calories you derive from it.For example, you’ll absorb more calories from cooked meat versus raw, and peanut butter versus whole peanuts. Due to size differences, one sweet potato varies in calories from another before you even take it off the shelf at the store. Calories absorbed is a complex business that’s light years beyond any calorie-counting app on the market.3. Calorie counts on packages aren’t necessarily accurate.But wait! Even if you know how many calories you need and how many you’re absorbing, you’re not done! In fact, the Food and Drug Administration allows up to 20 percent margin of error in the numbers on those nutrition labels you likely rely on to count many of your calories. Meaning, that 250-calorie snack you’re eating might actually have 200 calories—or 300.4. Counting calories can encourage you to ignore your hunger cues.Focusing entirely on calories, instead of the quality of the food you’re eating and how you actually feel before chowing down (hungry, bored, stressed, etc.), can wreak havoc on those precious hunger cues you’re born with. Whether you’re eating just because you “have calories left,” even though you’re not truly hungry, or you’re not eating because you’ve “gone over” your calorie allotment for the day, but you’re actually still hungry, you’re doing the same thing: ignoring what your body is trying to tell you.Trust your body, because it knows what it needs a lot more than some random number or tracker.5. Calorie counting adds to the misconception you can “work off” the food you eat.One of the things that angers me most about calorie-counting apps is the impression they give that you can exercise yourself “back into the green.” Going over your “calorie allowance” again and again because you think you can burn off the transgressions? Nope. Your body doesn’t burn off food calorie-for-calorie like that.A 2014 study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine emphasized that “it is where the calories come from that is crucial” in determining whether your body is tempted to store them as fat, use them for energy, or apply them to some other mechanism, the study authors explain.Plus, if you do routinely overindulge then try to work it off in the gym, you’ll be exercising for a very long time, depending on the size of the junky meals you’ve eaten. This, in turn, may cause you to become hungrier…and eat more. Vicious cycle? Definitely.The good news is that when you only overeat from time to time, your body can handle those extra calories without making you gain weight. It’s when you overeat on a more frequent basis that you can get into weight-gain territory.Instead of counting every calorie you eat (or you THINK you’re eating…and absorbing), if you’re hoping to lose weight, try this instead.Opt mostly for fresh, whole foods when you’re grocery shopping, and think of it as eating food, not calories. Try as hard as you can to look at your diet as a whole instead of the sum of its parts. That means focusing on healthy items like vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean protein, and it also means eating mindfully—slowing down, eating until you’re satisfied, and giving deprivation a pass. If you eat a balanced diet most of the time, your body will most likely respond by finding its balance—no calorie counting required.Keep in touch with me on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. For diet reviews, blog posts, and recipes, check out Abby Langer Nutrition.You may also like: How To Make Healthy High-Protein Avocado Boats

Food

Advantages of online bakeries

Published

1 year ago

January 22, 2023

Adam T

In the modern world, after the advancement in online bakeries, they provide doorstep delivery to their customer’s doorstep. Apart from this, online bakeries also provide many facilities along with their service therefore, nowadays, the demand for online bakeries is increasing day by day. All people celebrate their celebrations however they are big or small, therefore, it is important to be a cake for celebrating celebrations in everyone’s life. Therefore, if you are planning for any occasion or celebration then you must go for the online cakes in Ludhiana and Chennai bakeries because they provide good quality that is very delicious in taste. After compromising this cake in your celebration, it will make a special and unforgettable moment in your life.

Apart from this, for all special occasions, there are available various options of cakes to choose from. You can also get online cake delivery in Chennai and Ludhiana according to your preference from these online bakeries. Additionally, people can also avail the benefits of lots of advantageous facilities that are provided by online bakeries. Therefore, thousands of people order cakes every day for birthdays, wedding anniversaries, bon voyages, goodbye parties, or such small yet important celebrations or occasions. They can also deliver cakes to their dear ones and show their love and care to them. Generally, online bakeries are the best platform to express your love for the special ones in your life.

With online cake delivery in Chennai and Ludhiana bakeries, you can place your order and also get delivered the cake for all the essential parties and celebrations of your life. This will surely top up your celebrations. Celebrate the special moment of your life with your beloved ones through the delicious cake or mark the new beginning of your new life with a baby shower cake or promotion and also celebrate festivals. Hence, there is no negating that cakes express our feeling and love in the best possible way.

Here are mentioned some advantages of online bakery that are undermentioned: –

Provides diverse options to choose from: – If we consider the best parts of online cakes in Ludhiana and Chennai bakeries then they provide diverse designs and flavors of cakes therefore, you can opt for the one you want to like to have. Online shopping offers a huge variety of cakes with their designs, flavors, and sizes. You can easily order a cake for different occasions and celebrations, such as birthdays, anniversaries, promotions, marriages, farewell, new year parties, etc.

Provides footstep delivery: – Generally, after the advancement in online bakeries, now they provide doorstep delivery to their online buyers within less time. Suppose that you get online cake delivery in Chennaiand Ludhiana without leaving the comfort of your home then this is an exotic experience for you. Additionally, you can also save time, effort, and money and use it on other essential work.

Conclusion

To conclude, now you know deeply about online cake delivery in Chennai and Ludhiana so place your next order from it.

Food

6 Reasons to Incorporate Seafood into Your Diet

Published

2 years ago

July 13, 2022

Adam T

6 Reasons to Incorporate Seafood into Your Diet

How many meals do you prepare with seafood each week? Whether you’re a pescatarian or a meat-lover, seafood can add some really amazing benefits to your meals. Not only do foods like tilapia and shrimp add flavor and substance, but it can be an incredibly healthy addition to your diet.

There are so many types of seafood and most of them have a unique flavor. Even different types of white fish can taste different, despite a similar flavor. Some popular seafood options include cod, halibut, salmon, tilapia, perch, and trout. Of course, there’s also lobster, crab, and shrimp.

If you’re looking for ways to prepare healthy meals you can enjoy, here are 6 of the best reasons to start cooking with seafood.

1. Seafood tacos are amazing

Most people like tacos, but there’s something extra amazing about fish tacos. You can’t replicate the flavor with beef or chicken – it just isn’t the same. The flavor is similar, but it’s too heavy. Fish tacos are lighter, and that makes certain flavor profiles stand out more. For instance, a creamy lime flavor is one of the best ways to enjoy this meal.

For example, one of the best ways to prepare seafood tacos is to combine lobster with cabbage, radish, garlic, and sour cream with cilantro and fresh lime squeezed on top. Lobster tacos with avocado and lime crema is the perfect recipe for every seafood lover.

2. Fish contains omega-3 fatty acids

Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for brain health, among other things. Eating fish one or two times per week will give you enough omega-3 fatty acids. However, you can still eat fish more often than that and get bigger benefits.

Fish contains DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), which supports brain and eye development. Doctors recommend fish to pregnant women for this reason.

Although fish is healthy, larger fish can be high in mercury. Ideally, you should eat smaller fish because they contain less mercury. Tuna, for example, is usually high in mercury, but salmon, sardines, and trout tend to contain less mercury.

3. Fish is high in essential nutrients

When you eat fish, you’ll get plenty of essential nutrients like protein, iodine, vitamin D, and other vitamins and minerals. Fish is an easy source of these nutrients because it doesn’t take much time to cook. You can toss a filet in a pan and fry it up in butter, oil, or even water in just about 20 minutes.

If you don’t have much time to cook, but you need a good source of nutrients, start adding fish to your meals at least three times per week. Fish is considered to be heart-healthy. According to data published by Healthline, over 40,000 men who ate fish every week had a 15% lower risk of heart disease.

4. Fish is versatile

Fish can be added to just about anything. It’s good by itself, in salads, soups, sandwiches, and more.

Have you ever had fish pasta? It’s actually quite good. Just like you can make pasta with tomato or alfredo sauce and meat, you can also make the same dishes with fish. Shrimp is especially delicious in most pasta dishes and makes them taste hearty.

Fish tastes amazing with just about any vegetable, sauce, or topping. You can make a fish salad topped with ranch dressing and cheese, or put cheese directly on your fish filet. You can make lighter dressings, like cilantro lime or lemon, or you can just eat a fish filet with pepper and lemon.

5. Fish goes great with side dishes

Side dishes that go well with fish include ratatouille, potatoes, risotto, French fries, South Indian lemon rice, and various slaws. Technically, you can eat fish with just about anything on the side because it’s so light, it rarely clashes with other foods.

6. It’s easy to find pre-cooked fish

One of the best reasons to add fish to your diet is that you can find pre-cooked fish. When you’re pressed for time, finding pre-cooked meals is important, and thankfully, there are plenty of pre-made fish dishes that only require being heated. Even shrimp comes pre-cooked, de-veined, and with the tail off for easy preparation.

Add variety to your meals with fish

If you’re looking for variety at the dinner table, try adding fish to your meals. In addition to easy cooking, fish is tasty, light, and nutritious. Once you start eating fish regularly, you may even start to like it better than beef and chicken.

Food

How Probiotics can Help Improve Your Health

Published

2 years ago

July 5, 2022

Adam T

Many people take supplements to improve their health in a variety of different ways. Some of the most popular supplements taken are those that improve digestive health. With 20 million Americans suffering from chronic digestive diseases, it’s no wonder so many people are looking for ways to heal their digestive system! There are many different kinds of supplements to improve gut health, and it is important to know what they each do in order to find the best one for you.

One of the most popular digestive supplements is probiotics. Found in yogurt, cheese, and other fermented foods, probiotics colonize the digestive tract and provide various health benefits. While these are typically considered safe, they could potentially pose a risk to people who are immunocompromised.

Immunocompromised people can still take supplements to help their digestive health. These are known as immunobiotics and help trigger a stronger immune response but do not colonize in the body. These are a safer alternative to probiotics and can still provide similar health benefits.

Prebiotics are another supplement, but these are not digested by the human body. Instead, these feed beneficial bacteria in the digestive system, keeping the bacteria healthy and encouraging the absorption of nutrients. These are typically found in high fiber foods like broccoli, yams, and apples.

Clearly digestive supplements work in a variety of ways to help improve your health. It is important to know how they work and the benefits they provide in order to understand which supplement can benefit you the most. Always make sure to consult your doctor before starting a new supplement or diet to make sure you stay healthy and safe. For more information, take a look at the infographic below: