OK. They determine the calorie content of a food by burning it and measuring the heat given off. When I eat, not all the food I eat gets burned up - some of it, WITH calorie content, gets passed along. Especially if it has a lot of fiber. So how can I trust the calorie counts on labels? Those are calories burned in the lab - but not necessarily the calories that will be absorbed by my body. Right?
2006-07-24 14:03:58 · 14 answers · asked by scperry_98 1 in Health ➔ Diet & Fitness
After the food is burned, the fiber is deducted by calculation before the caloric content is determined. Only the caloric content of insoluble fiber is deducted, however. This is done whether the content is determined by burning (now rare) or by calculating the content of protein, fat, and carbohydrate, each of which contains a certain amount of calories.
2006-07-24 14:10:26 · answer #1 · answered by Bad Kitty! 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Mostly it's only fiber that gets passed along.
Look at the label and run this simple formula:
g(fat) x 9 = fat calories
g(carbohydrates - not fiber) x 4 = carb. calories
g(protein) x 4 = protein calories
if those 3 don't add up to the total calories in the product, you either have a product with a lot of fiber, or like you said, it wasn't calculated correctly.
At any rate, the above formula should give you a calorie count that is most relevant.
2006-07-24 14:08:42 · answer #2 · answered by Salami and Orange Juice 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We burn calories simply digesting and absorbing food.The calories on labels are adjusted to show only what is left over after this process. Say something has 110 calories, our body will use a portion of that. So the label will just say 100 or something like that. But you really shouldn't worry about it too much, since all foods are already adjusted for you.
2006-07-24 14:19:56 · answer #3 · answered by Razzle_Dazzle_Girl 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should be concerned with what you are eating more than the calorie count. Eat healthy. Stay away from white foods (processed sugars, white rice, flour, potato, etc) and eat more veggies and whole grained foods. If you are eating balanced meals in normal proportions, calories are not an issue. Be sure to exercise as well. When some people diet, their metabolism slows down to compensate for reduced caloric intake.
2006-07-24 15:27:38 · answer #4 · answered by CatSlater 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are right, the nondigestible fiber can burn, but will not contribute to your calorie intake.
In order to get an accurate calorie count, the protein, carbohydrate, and fat must be separated from the nondigestible residue. It is not just a simple matter of burning your food.
2006-07-24 14:08:21 · answer #5 · answered by Diane D 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No...not right. You're bowels will be absorbing nutrients and calories and bringing them to your liver for processing depending on the type of food. Fiber will leave your body almost whole; but the calories are gone. Protein will be used up; not much output. And it depends on why type of calories you are using and how much exercise you get. Sorry, but your theory is not right. Study nutrition to find out more.
2006-07-24 14:07:21 · answer #6 · answered by Sassy OLD Broad 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Right, because they aren't taking into account that the body can store some of those calories as fat if you don't use them up each day during (through exercise)...
2006-07-24 14:09:46 · answer #7 · answered by ♥ jojo ♥ 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't worry so much. Go by the calorie counts on the package. You can keep track that way.
2006-07-24 14:05:40 · answer #8 · answered by Evilest_Wendy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
calories are calories
our bodies burn them up differently but they are counted the same way
2006-07-24 14:06:09 · answer #9 · answered by Enigmatic33 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if you run over 5 Km/ day you don't have to worrie about the calories and you can eat everything that you want!
2006-07-24 14:08:53 · answer #10 · answered by Florin H 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋