Things dieters should know: Empty calories versus nutrient-rich calories

 
Things dieters should know: Empty calories versus nutrient-rich calories
If you’re one of the millions of people worldwide who has suddenly discovered that your jeans don’t fit quite as well as they used to and you’re now on a weight-loss spree, willing to do whatever it takes to stop the burgeoning calories, there are some facts you should be aware of. For starters, a lot of people in a hurry to lose weight rapidly, take on crash diets and rigorous exercise routines. While both in themselves are good lifestyle changes, you should be aware of what you’re consuming and what you’re missing out on, so that your diet regimen does not harm you adversely. You must have heard the term empty calories on TV or used by nutritionists and fitness enthusiasts on and off. And if you don’t care to find out, you might be piling on just that making all efforts go to waste.
What are empty calories?
Calories that have little or no nutrient content are known as empty calories and all they do is settle on your hips, shoot up your cholesterol and give you nothing by way of essential nutrition. Unfortunately, the ‘junk food’ that most of us love is full of said empty calories. And not just chips, candy and popcorn, but also fried chicken and other deep-fried items.
So when you go out to buy your food, checking the calorie count alone is quite pointless. For example, a baked potato may have the same calorie count as a packet of potato chips. Except the baked potato is nutrient-rich, giving your body its fibre and vitamin C requirement as opposed to potato chips which is full of empty calories. So if you choose the chips over the baked potato thinking it’s the same calorie count and the chips tastes better, you will only have acne to show for it.
Dieters especially, must pay careful attention to the kind of calories they consume because it’s easy ignore the body’s nutritional requirement while keeping tabs on calories instead of the kind of calories. Empty calories must be avoided at all cost. Make sure to pile your plate with fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Eat brown bread instead of white. Fruits with low fat yogurt instead of chips when settle in front of the TV. This way, you’ll ensure that the body gets its daily dose of nutritional value and you won’t have to worry about empty calories any more.
True, it would be really great if all the foods and desserts we love to binge on were all nutrient-rich. Sometimes, it’s amazing how everything we love is loaded with empty calories that are bad for us, that it almost feels like a cosmic conspiracy. But fret not. This is the challenge that millions of people undertake all over the world, every day, so you’re not alone. Besides, give it a try – nutrient-rich, healthy snacks are not all that bad a deal and you’ll grow to love them once you get yourself into the habit.
Good luck on your diet and your fight against empty calories!