5 reasons why we shouldn’t count calories
But it’s the golden rule for losing weight, isn’t it? Simply eat fewer calories than you burn and you will lose those extra pounds. Easy! But is that feeling of control, achieved using a seemingly simple calculation, really good for us over an extended period of time? Here we give you 5 reasons why stubbornly counting calories will not get you anywhere in the long run.
1. Low-calorie foods are not automatically healthier
As you no doubt already know, calories are a measure of energy. However, the calorie content of a food does not tell us anything about the quantity of nutrients in the food. So low-calorie does not equate per se with “healthy” and high-calorie does not necessarily mean “unhealthy”. Like an example? Avocados and nuts are high-calorie foods because they contain a lot of fat. HOWEVER: these are healthy fatty acids. Avocados also contain lots of magnesium, potassium and vitamin E. Nuts also provide fibre, proteins and magnesium. So it would be a pity to avoid these healthy all-rounders just because of their calorie content, wouldn’t it? On the other hand, there are low-calorie foods that contain hardly any nutrients. For example, konjac noodles or sweets like gummy bears will barely increase your calorie count but will not do much for your health.
2. Our bodies use energy sources differently
It might surprise you, but not every calorie is equal. The body processes calories from different food sources in different ways. This means that it’s not just the quantity of calories that matters, but also their quality. You are sure to have noticed that each food satisfies you in a different way. You could say that the body processes 100 calories of chocolate cake differently to the way it processes 100 calories of vegetables. If you eat rapidly digested carbohydrates, similar to those found in sweets and white flour products, your blood sugar level will increase quickly, triggering the release of insulin. The body cannot absorb this sudden release of energy so quickly, and the insulin has to be transported to the fat cells. In contrast, your blood sugar level will only increase slowly if you eat vegetables or wholegrain products. The muscles and organs have enough time to process the energy. Nor are sugary foods or high-calorie drinks particularly filling. These contain what are known as “empty calories”. So you have consumed the calories that you need but you still feel hungry. Another interesting fact is that if we have a generally healthy lifestyle, we automatically want to move and exercise and we don’t feel so sluggish. A super way to ensure that we are constantly burning calories.
3. Your body changes
Not only is every human being different – our bodies are also constantly changing. After all, we’re not rigid machines that are constantly consuming. That is reassuring in any case. The body knows what kind of energy it needs and when it needs it. In particular, our hormones have a part to play. Our bodies are controlled by hormones, and hormone levels depend on many factors and are also subject to fluctuation. Our age, height, weight, illnesses, muscle mass, general fitness, stress levels and diet can also have a major impact on our calorie consumption. The simple calculation of “calorie counting = weight loss” therefore seems to be very one-sided.
4. Trust your gut feeling
We’ve all done it: to see whether we want to eat a particular food or not, we first of all check the list of contents on the packaging. But wait a minute! What if healthy foods do not need a list of ingredients? Our advice is to focus less on calories in your diet; instead, concentrate on the actual food itself. The key here is a diet with as many natural products as possible, such as fruit and vegetables, fish, nuts, seeds, herbs, pulses and natural grains. These are all a good source of healthy fats, complex carbohydrates and high-quality proteins. Avoid processed foods, ready-made meals and fast food. You will gradually discover that your body will tell you when it is hungry and which nutrients it needs. Nature did not intend us to count calories. So trust yourself and trust your gut instinct instead of packaging information and advertising claims.
5. Healthy habits are more important than calorie counting
Be honest – does counting calories make you happy? The chances are it actually stresses you out to do the calculations for each meal. And a guilty conscience quickly creeps in if you have on occasion “sinned”. This has little to do with relaxed and enjoyable eating behaviour. And people who are used to counting calories for years find it hard to abandon this controlling behaviour. Be aware at this point that a good diet is just ONE aspect of a healthy lifestyle. In order to feel completely happy, several factors must be taken into consideration: getting a good night’s sleep, being outside in nature, exercising regularly, soaking up some sun and spending time with friends and family. In short, free yourself from the burden of a supposedly “perfect” diet, which only defines itself by the value on the calorie counter.
Relax – eat it easy!
Your Dole team
Photo: