| It is known that human beings need a certain | | | | So, what are empty calories? Empty calories |
| number of calories per day in order to | | | | are one of the biggest ways that people can |
| maintain their weight and health, but what | | | | go over their recommended daily amount of |
| are empty calories, and how do they harm us? | | | | calories - because empty calories often come |
| | | | into our bodies in covert ways. Empty |
| Calories are units of measure for energy. | | | | calories are calories (foods) that we eat or |
| They are primarily used to measure the amount | | | | drink that do not have a lot of nutrition |
| of energy found in foods, and the | | | | within them. One of the biggest offenders is |
| representation of a calorie (actually, | | | | soda and other soft drinks. One eight ounce |
| kilocalorie, or C) is the amount of energy | | | | glass of soda has about 110 calories in it - |
| needed to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram | | | | and no nutritional value. Considering most |
| of water by 1ºC. While this is one way to | | | | people will drink at least 16 ounces of soda |
| explain a calorie, it isn't really that | | | | at a time, that is 220 empty calories per |
| important in terms of everyday usage of the | | | | glass. |
| word. It is more important to understand a | | | | |
| calorie in relation to how many calories per | | | | There are other foods that are not so great |
| day we need to consume. | | | | for us - so what are empty calories in these |
| | | | foods? Fats are often considered empty |
| The average, healthy adult female should | | | | calories, especially oils that are used to |
| consume about 2000 C per day. This assumes | | | | fry fast foods and other snacks. They add |
| that she is active, does not need to lose or | | | | relatively little to your nutritional value, |
| gain weight, and is not suffering from any | | | | but add many calories to the end product. |
| illnesses that might affect her metabolism. | | | | Other snacks that are empty calories include |
| The average, healthy adult male should | | | | candies, cookies and all of those snacks that |
| consume slightly more calories, around 2200 | | | | are mostly sugar, with no whole grains, |
| C. This is due to the fact that men are | | | | fruits, vegetables or nuts. |
| usually more active than women, their | | | | |
| metabolisms tend to be higher and they also | | | | It is important not to consume too many empty |
| tend to be larger in weight and height. The | | | | calories, because they can add up - making it |
| amount of calories that we need to consume | | | | so that foods you need to eat will bump your |
| each day is actually quite small, especially | | | | calories for the day up too high. Stick to |
| if you think of it in terms of food - for | | | | foods that are low in calories and high in |
| instance, one yogurt is about 180 calories. | | | | nutrition. |
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