A calorie is a unit of physical energy that basically measures the amount of heat emitted when something burns. This burning takes place in a laboratory, under controlled conditions where it is possible to measure the heat emitted.
But: our body does not have laboratory conditions, and not everything measured under such conditions is equal to what happens in the body. For example, if the excess calories are from sugar – you gain more weight, than if this excess comes from fats or proteins.
why is it happening?
It is easier for the body to use sugars for energy than fats or proteins. In addition to this, we must not forget that the consumption of sugars and sweet carbohydrates causes excessive appetite, a greater desire for “more”, and as a result a further increase in the consumption of unnecessary calories. And perhaps more importantly – high consumption of sugars for a long time can cause “metabolic syndrome”, which includes, among other things, the body’s inability to break down fat or burn calories.
The dangerous sugars are mainly the industrial ones, incl White sugar, baked goods, sweetened juices. Conversely, consuming fat as an energy source, along with protein, has been found in studies to contribute to a longer feeling of satiety, and also to a reduction in the consumption of unnecessary snacks and emotional eating.
So in conclusion, the calories that are written on the packages do not necessarily occupy the same amount in our body, and the calories that we should be most careful about – come from sugars and empty carbohydrates.