Are All Calories the Same?
It depends on who you ask. The overwhelming response among experts over the years has been a "calorie is a calorie is a calorie", that, no matter where your calorie comes from, it doesn't work any differently.There is a bit of controversy about whether or not a calorie's value can vary among particular foods or when people follow a certain diet.
In a study that appeared in the professional publication, Nutrition Journal, "'A calorie is a calorie' violates the second law of thermodynamics," researchers go so far as to say that the "calorie is a calorie" theory is completely untrue and is an "old idea" that has helped to continue the obesity epidemic.
But until medical science can prove there are different types of calories that bring different results, it's safe to assume that there aren't any variations.
How do Calories Get Stored as Fat?
We all have a basal caloric need that our bodies require each day to provide its minimum functions, including keeping our organs running.When you are in excess of that, your body doesn't have any choice but to do something with those extra calories. It puts them in storage in the form of fat.
In other words, calories turn into fat when they're sitting around doing nothing. When you have taken in 3,500 calories above your caloric needs ... you gain a pound.
Learn to Count Calories and You'll Lose Weight
It follows that if it takes 3,500 extra calories to gain a pound, all it takes is to cut 3,500 calories to lose one. This is best achieved by cutting some calories from your regular diet with simple changes, such as choosing reduced-calorie beverages daily and burning additional calories by exercising on a regular basis.Reducing your caloric intake by and/or burning a total of 500 calories a day will lead to an average of one pound lost each week, a healthy and sustainable rate at which to lose weight. The most important thing to remember is to not cut calories too drastically. Not only can it "backfire" and actually prevent weight loss, doing so puts your health at risk.
Sources:
Feinman, Richard D and Eugene Fine, "A calorie is a calorie" violates the second law of thermodynamics." Nutrition Journal (Conclusion), 28 July 2004. 8 Oct. 2006.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. "A Healthier You" (Web Publication). 2005. DHHS. 9 Oct. 2006.
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