Are All Calories the Same?
Water, Fiber, Fat, Calories- What Should We Count?
A recent 2-year long study of how we lose weight has told us that this is true - just count calories. Of course some don't agree with the study.
The study was done at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston (Harvard School of Public Health) and Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Louisiana. It was published in the New England Journal of Medicine. It had a lot of people and lasted a longer time than other studies so this study is considered scientifically valid.
There was no significant difference in weight loss among the participants, no matter which of the four diets they were given. The diets were based on healthy foods which had about the same amount of calories. What differed was the percentage of fat (My Milky Way theory), carbohydrates, and protiens. It seems to concur with my theory I told you in the first sentence.
People who disagree with the study and me think that a calorie from, let's say, a pear is a better calorie than the sugar and fat in my Milky Way. Sure the fruit contains nutrients so we can all agree that it is healthier but some say that the fiber in the fruit will keep you feeling full. I never heard that the grapefruit diet really worked!
The argument continues with thoughts that the reason the pear is a better choice then the Milky Way is because it has more water. A higher water content equals energy density which may be a way to measure the calories in food. There is some research that shows us if we eat food with a lot of water we'll feel more full. I have no idea if that research is scientifically valid. We can find research to back up just about any theory.
Research at Tufts in Boston Roberts looks at fiber as a way to lose weight and stop the hunger. If you eat 35 to 45 grams of fiber a day you may be less hungry. You can try these all out yourself and report back in my comment section.
Although as a person who believes in healthy eating I want to say eat the pear and I truly think you should for all the reasons above. I think; however, that a calorie is a calorie is a calorie.
Sources
Published by jobythebay
traveler, fitness guru, parent educator. View profile
- How to Lose Weight Without DietingIt is true you can lose weight without actually going on a diet and without strenuous exercise. Read this article for some tips on how to lose or maintain weight - without diets, pills, or hype.
- How to Lose WeightHow to lose weight, the diet that mankind evolved to eat. A way of eating that will make you lean and healthy for the rest of your long life.
- How to Lose Weight in 10 Days - No Crazy Diets, No PillsSo, your class reunion is coming up soon - and it's coming up in just over one week from today! So you want to know how to lose weight in 10 days - in the privacy of your home, without dieting!'
- How to Lose Weight Rapidly for WomenDo you want to learn how to lose weight in a short period of time? You should read this article. This article includes effective diet and workout tips.
- How to Lose WeightAn educational article about the basics of weight loss. Tips on how to gradually start to lose weight doing exercises and a proper diet.
- How to Lose Weight Using the U.S. Government's Food Pyramid
- How to Cut Calories and Lose Weight
- Burn Calories the Easy Way
- Lose Weight And Burn Calories Around the House
- How to Lose Weight If You Are Fat, Lazy and Hate Exercising with a Passion
- How to Lose Weight Without Surgery
- New England Journal of Medicine Study on Heart Attack Patients