Calories are units used to measure heat and energy. Although they have a “bad reputation”, calories are the energy that our body needs to function well. The issue is that the same calorie can be nutritious or not at all.
This is a very important theme. Because calories have become the obsession of many people who are looking to lose weight and who, with little information, for example, can go to the market and read the back of the products looking only for calories and not nutrients. If our diet is based on this concept, it is possible to eat the calories that our body needs, but without any nutritional contribution. It would be like filling the tank of a car with water. It would be crowded, but it wouldn’t work for walking.
That is what explains, for example, why there are people who are overweight and yet are undernourished. Bottom line: Calories and nutrients don’t always go hand in hand.
But they can go! Those are the “good calories.” And you need to know them to stop being afraid of the energy meter your body needs to stay healthy.
Good calories are found in:
Good carbs: whole wheat bread, brown rice, quinoa, oats, vegetables and fruits. They contain fiber, minerals, vitamins and antioxidants, and some also healthy fats.
healthy fat: vegetable oils, such as olive oil, nuts and dried fruits. They provide healthy fats such as omega-3 fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, and polyunsaturated fatty acids.
lean proteins: low-fat dairy, legumes, nuts and seeds. They provide essential proteins, vitamins and minerals, such as iron.
The “bad calories” are found in foods high in sugar or processed food that does not provide nutrients but calories that are empty of nutritional content. For example, powdered juices, soft drinks, or industrial jams: if you notice, they provide calories, but very few essential nutrients for the body. On the contrary, nuts such as almonds or walnuts, although they provide calories and for this reason their portions must be regulated, they add to the body healthy fats that it needs to function well.
Important: It should be clarified that La Bioguía does not give medical advice or prescribe the use of techniques as a form of treatment for physical or mental problems without the advice of a doctor, either directly or indirectly. In the case of applying any information on this site for this purpose, La Bioguía does not assume responsibility for these acts. The intention of the site is only to offer information of a general nature to help in the search for personal development and growth.