Calorie Counting
an introduction to Calorie Counting
by David Bush
 
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Which is better, carbohydrates, fat, or protein?
The correct answer is: none of the above. All three provide essential energy. You need a balanced diet with all three.

Point of Interest:
* Can you live by eating foods that have only one of the three nutrients? Probably, but that would be a pretty bland diet. The problem also comes up that you would eventually suffer from lack of certain vitamins and minerals. Each nutrient type (carbs, protein, fat) provides some vitamins and minerals, but not all.

is Fat bad?In a word, No. Fat has the most energy per unit of the three nutrients. This means that, per weight, about 1/2 pound of fat has the same number of calories as 1 pound of protein or 1 pound of carbohydrates. This doesn’t mean that you should eat 100% fat: Fat should be eaten in balance with the other energy sources: protein and carbohydrates

are Carbs bad? Again, No. In fact, carbohydrates are the most inexpensive way to get energy of all the calories. A loaf of bread or a potato costs much less to produce than a cow!

what is Fiber?Fiber is a term used for much of the undigested portion of food. Whatever fiber is in a food gets passed through your body without being digested. Fiber is not involved in your energy metabolism, but is essential to have for proper operation of your gastrointestinal tract.

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