 What Do All
 Foods Have
In 
Common? 
 
All foods, when digested, break down
through the process called digestion. Once digested, the
smaller forms of foods are now in a form that our bodies can
use.
Some foods, called proteins, break down
into amino acids. Amino acids are the "building
blocks" that make up our bodies, that is our cells, our tissues, our
blood cells, brain cells, even our tissues and
bones.
Other foods called fats, break down into fatty
acids. Fatty acids are used sparingly, but in frequently
in may of the processes in our bodies, such as in the process of
making many of the hormones that are needed to stay healthy and
for proper functioning of our various organs.
The third group of foods, called carbohydrates,
break down into glucose. Glucose is also commonly
known as "blood sugar." Glucose serves as the primary source
of fuel for our body's cells. Without glucose, certain cells,
tissues, and organs cannot carry out the function they are designed
to do. One of the most important organs that requires glucose
is the brain.
So what does all that have to do with
calories? Each of the three types of food can be broken down
and burned for fuel if needed...sort of like tearing down the walls
of your house to put fuel in the fireplace. Not always a good
plan, but it could be done in a dire situation.
If turned into fuel, food provides energy for the
body. The calorie is the way energy is measured.
Officially, the definition of a calorie is
:
"1. The unit of measure equal to the
amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of
water by 1°C at 1 atmosphere pressure. Also called
kilocalorie, kilogram calorie, large
calorie. 2. A unit of energy-producing potential equal to
this amount of heat that is contained in food and released upon
oxidation by the body. Also called nutritionist's
calorie." (online source http://www.thefreedictionary.com/calorie,
November 1, 2005)
An easier way to understand a calorie is to think of
it like using gasoline in your car...sort of like miles per
gallon. In this case, though it is calories per
gram.
When you eat a food containing protein or
carbohydrates, you are taking in 4 calories per gram of food that
you eat.
When you eat food containing fat, you are taking in
9 calories per gram of food that you eat.
The Good news: When you want to gain weight,
eating fat is the fastest way to put ON weight.
The Bad news: When you want to lose weight,
lowering the fat too far will actually make you so hungry you will
find it tough to stay on your diet. However, if you cut your
fat intake so that the calories you eat from foods containing fat
make up less than 25% of your total calories, AND you lower your
overall fat intake, you will see weight loss.
How many calories should you eat? Good
question...and not any easy one to answer. Click here for the next page where we address this
issue.
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