What are calories?
They are considered the unit of measurement of energy. Calories are of two types: empty and others that have the role of providing nutrients. Those that provide a certain amount of calories, mean that they have the role of providing the body with the necessary energy.
How Many Calories Should We Eat Per Day?
This amount that the body needs depends on many factors. These can be: age. daily activity of each person, sex and weight, etc. The calories that should be consumed every day are:
- children: should consume between 1 600 and 2200 calories depending on how active they are during the day
- women: around 1,500 and 2,000 calories
- men: between 2,000 and 2,500 calories
How does the body use calories?
In order for the human to give his daily performance, the body needs the necessary amount of calories, the latter having the role of maintaining the energy it needs throughout the day. If we eat more calories than we can consume, then the problem of obesity arises because the calories we consume become fat and over time obesity occurs. The body needs calories to perform all functions, for example, from making the heart beat and the lungs functioning. In children, the role of calories is to help them grow.
Calories can also be helpful in helping other body functions, such as: proper functioning of the nervous system, for muscle mass, can also help repair tissues, maintain body temperature and also in biosynthetic processes. Each food has calories in its composition, some have fewer and some more calories.
What are empty calories?
These calories are those present in foods that provide calories, but without vitamins or minerals. So all foods have calories. Fruits and vegetables offer your body many nutrients and antioxidants, and empty calories only contribute to our body’s calories.
Hypercalorie foods combined with the sedentary lifestyle trend increased the risk of obesity, diabetes, hypertension or hypercholesterolemia. Foods that have low calories in their composition are: alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, energy drinks, fruit in syrup, processed sauces and pastries.