Calorie Conundrums

In this study, 25 men and women were divided into three groups, each consuming more than 900 extra calories per day. Each group consumed a different amount of protein. All three groups gained weight, but the group consuming the least amount of protein gained the least amount of weight. But everyone gained fat at roughly the same rate. The conclusions: Calories are what matter as far as weight gain goes, not so much the type of calories. But a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine in 2010 begs to differ. More than 120,000 men and women were followed in four-year intervals over anywhere from 12 to 20 years. On average, weight gain was 3 pounds during a four-year period. But those who ate more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, yogurt, and nuts gained less weight than those eating more refined carbs, like French fries, potato chips, and sugar-sweetened drinks. The lead author of the study argued that counting calories isn't enough (if you're trying to lose weight). You need to look at where those calories are coming from, too. What's the bottom line? Calories do matter, but most people don't know how many they should be taking in, and they also don't know how much they're actually consuming. Most people grossly underestimate their calorie intake, likely because they think they eat less than they really do. Being more aware of portion sizes can help with controlling calories, and reading labels and using food databases or smartphone apps can make you more "calorie...
Source: Diabetes Self-Management - Category: Diabetes Authors: Source Type: blogs