Not long ago, no dieter would have tried to drop a few kilos without meticulously recording that day’s “number”: the total. Whether calculated on a scrap of paper or logged in an app such as MyFitnessPal, this weight-control calculation was as familiar to many of us as the words “low fat”.– affecting about one in four people in Britain – weight-loss science has become increasingly complex.
Put simply, calories are units that measure how much energy is contained in a particular food or drink. We “burn” calories through metabolic processes, which break down the carbohydrates into sugars, the fats into glycerol and fatty acids, and the proteins into amino acids. These are transported through the bloodstream to the cells, providing them with the energy required to sustain all the body’s functions, from breathing to moving – and any excess is stored as fat.
Instead, we should be aiming to fulfil our calorie requirements from the most nourishing foods possible. “Look for foods that provide more than just energy, or calories – think about nutrients, vitamins, minerals, fibres and antioxidants, which give a whole range of health benefits,” says Cohen.
“At different ages, we need different numbers of calories, because our basal metabolic rate, which is the amount of calories the body needs to perform its basic functions, changes over time,” says Cohen. “As we age, muscle mass gradually declines, and muscle tissue burns more calories at rest than fat tissue does.”
“After 40, our bodies find it easier to gain weight,” says Cohen. For women, a decrease in the production of oestrogen and progesterone during perimenopause can contribute to weight gain. In fact, changes in hormone levels for both sexes can affect our metabolism from this point onwards. From puberty, growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor 1 slowly decrease by 1 to 2 per cent each year, and as these levels drop, so does our muscle mass.
“We know from research into the Blue Zones – the places in the world where people live the longest – that longevity and better health in old age are linked to consuming fewer calories,” says Southern. In Okinawa, in Japan, citizens stop eating when they’re 80 per cent full, meaning fewer free radicals are created during the digestive process, leading to a lower risk of cancer and dementia.
“My weight went up to just over 11 stone which, on my 5′5” frame, felt too big for me. I felt really self-conscious – there are almost no photos of me from that time – and I hated the way clothes felt on me. More than how I looked, my health was suffering. I was tired all the time and lacking in energy to play with the kids, I wasn’t sleeping well, and I was waking in the night with anxious thoughts.“I hadn’t really dieted before – apart from briefly trying the keto diet with a friend.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Source: newscomauHQ - 🏆 9. / 77 Read more »
Source: brisbanetimes - 🏆 13. / 67 Read more »
Source: theage - 🏆 8. / 77 Read more »
Source: smh - 🏆 6. / 80 Read more »
Source: FinancialReview - 🏆 2. / 90 Read more »
Source: FinancialReview - 🏆 2. / 90 Read more »