Still Believe 'A Calorie Is a Calorie'?

(...) A calorie is a measurement of energy (a matter of physics), not a value judgment on where that energy goes (a matter of biochemistry). As my book Fat Chanceexplains, you get sick from inappropriate energy storage (in your liver and muscle), not defective energy balance (bigger love handles). Nonetheless, "a calorie is a calorie" continues to be promulgated by the food industry as their defense against their culpability for the current epidemic of obesity and chronic metabolic disease. But it is as dishonest as a three-dollar bill. Here are just four examples that refute this dogma:

1. Fiber. You eat 160 calories in almonds, but you absorb only 130. The fiber in the almonds delays absorption of calories into the bloodstream, delivering those calories to the bacteria in your intestine, which chew them up. Because a calorie is not a calorie.

1. Protein. When it comes to food, you have to put energy in to get energy out. You have to put twice as much energy in to metabolize protein as you do carbohydrate; this is called the thermic effect of food. So protein wastes more energy in its processing. Plus protein reduces hunger better than carbohydrate. Because a calorie is not a calorie.

1. Fat. All fats release nine calories per gram when burned. But omega-3 fats are heart-healthy and will save your life, while trans fats clog your arteries, leading to a heart attack. Because a calorie is not a calorie.

1. Sugar. This is the "big kahuna" of the "big lie." Sugar is not one chemical. It's two. Glucose is the energy of life. Every cell in every organism on the planet can burn glucose for energy. Glucose is mildly sweet, but not very interesting (think molasses). Fructose is an entirely different animal. Fructose is very sweet, the molecule we seek. Both burn at four calories per gram. If fructose were just like glucose, then sugar or high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) would be just like starch. But fructose is not glucose. Because a calorie is not a calorie.

Up until now, scientists have shown that sugar is "associated" or "correlated" with various chronic metabolic diseases. For instance, the increase in sugar consumption over the past 30 years paralleled the increase in obesity, diabetes and heart disease. Areas that drink more soda (e.g., the American Southeast) experience higher prevalences of these diseases. But correlation is not causation.(....)

Great article Hala. Thanks for sharing it.

Struggling with regain and maintenance, makes this article even more relavant for me. Really trying to eat better and limiting process foods. 

Yes, thanks for sharing. Very interesting. Always wondered how claims that you can eat anything as long as you stayed within a certain amount of calories per day was legit. 

Have a great day,

Amie

Have you watched Dr. Lustig's videos on You Tube?  They are called "Sugar the Bitter Truth" and "Fat Chance".  if you liked his book and this article, you'll really want to see these.  

He he makes sense.  

Shirley

Yes i did. And that applies to me and my body. I can eat a lot of calories as long as i limit sweet or starchy Carbs.  When i introduce carbs - even on limited calorie diet i star gaing. 

I also can eat more foods s long as they are in natural state ~ i.e. nuts vs nut butters.