Low-calorie foods are incredibly popular today. But sometimes getting carried away with them is as foolish as thinking, “If I eat this cake in small pieces, I can eat twice as much.” You need to count calories for better
health.First of all, you need to understand that food marketers do not always care about your interests. The creation of a “low-calorie” alternative is aimed at increasing sales rather than improving consumer health. And when you count your calories, there is something more important than the numbers on the package. This “something” is called the “calorie-satiety ratio.”
The Basics Of The Calorie-Satiety Ratio
You’ve probably seen products on sale that read “100 calories.” Yes, they really have fewer calories. But at the same time, they may not give a feeling of satiety (or “fullness”). Eat one such packet and try to say that you are not hungry after that. Conversely, a regular chicken breast can have twice as many calories, but you can feel full even before eating everything.
The feeling of satiety consists not only of physical but also of psychological components. After all, you cannot be full if you are constantly deprived of your usual food.
Psychological Versus Physical
Even if you are not physically hungry, you may still feel the need to eat something. For example, you may want to eat something sweet even though your stomach is already full. In this case, sugar-free jelly can be a great option as you can satisfy your craving for something sweet without consuming hundreds of extra calories.
Let’s say you like the taste of Oreo cookies more than anything else. If a 100-calorie packet of these cookies can make you feel “mentally satiated,” then eating these cookies would be a smart decision. However, it’s important to keep this in mind and understand when choosing the low-calorie option is actually beneficial, and when it’s the other way around.
Factors To Consider While Deciding What To Eat
Given that the total calorie content is not always the most important factor in decision-making, there are several things to consider before setting your “calorie budget.”
1- Ratio of Trace Elements
The ratio of trace elements in dishes is much more important than calories. There is one study that suggests that increasing protein and decreasing carbohydrates will make your diet more satisfying. And while dieters are trying to get the most out of their meals, you might want to experiment a little with this ratio.
2- Never Trust the Seller
One saying goes: “Never trust the seller.” And in the food industry, it is relevant as nowhere else. For example, the twelve monkeys e-liquid seller would say that the liquid is free of nicotine but make a decision based on the numbers you see on the labels. The people who create “low-calorie” versions of food are marketers, not nutritionists. Their main job is to get you to buy this product, not help you lose weight.
3- Train Your Mind
Don’t label your food as good or bad. Instead, think about food with the concept of ROI in mind. In this context, the “low calorie” parameter can be useful, but a lot depends on the person, the situation, the environment, on thirst, and many other factors. Under these conditions, the only way to know for sure is to study oneself and train mindfulness.
4- Take a Flexible Approach
This last point is especially important. Many have probably already thrown up their hands and said to themselves: “Sweet soda and cookies are not at all healthy food; they just don’t need to be consumed.” But this is a recipe for complete dietary failure.
Take a more flexible approach to your decisions and food choices. According to renowned nutritionist MacDonald, two main reasons are leading to the failure of a regular diet:
– Expectation of perfection
– Concentration for a short time
On the other hand, a flexible diet does not strive to achieve the absolute, and the emphasis in it is on both the long and short term.
Summing Up
The right count of calories will help you gain the desired results; good health and loss of weight. Therefore, whatever amount you think is suitable for you, stay consistent with it. Once you gain the desired results, get on a regular diet.