WHY DO WE NEED CALORIES?

Speaking of calories one always finds it an horrendous task to count the calories. It happens because we do not have any idea about the calorie calculations. If you ask a small boy to give you ten, Rs. 10/- notes in exchange for a hundred rupee note, he would refuse and would instead say, why should I give away ten notes for single one! Why do you think the boy said this? It's because he doesn't know counting of notes. Once you make him understand that a hundred rupee note is equivalent to ten, Rs. 10/- notes, he would instantly give you the change! Same is the case with calorie count. Let's try to make an effort in the coming texts on how to calculate calories.

Why do we need it?                         

As every vehicle requires fuel for its proper functioning, similarly our body  machine also requires some sort of fuel to run it. This fuel is the food that we consume. As is the case with every vehicle which requires a certain quantity of fuel to run for a particular disease, similar is the case with our body. This is known as the calorie requirement and for sedentary workers like us we require 1600 calories on daily basis. What happens when we take excess calories then? Unlike the car whose tank is non stretchable and will spill the excess fuel, our body's tank is stretchable and will keep accumulating these extra calories in the form of fat. This can lead to the problems like obesity and heart disease. Also remember, the calorie requirement should be well balanced with the calorie expenditure. It is a myth that one can eat as much and do vigorous physical exercise and balance it. On the contrary you would be amazed to know that half an hour of brisk walking leads to expenditure of only 240 calories at the rate of 6-8 calories per minute! Where as one gulab jamun would fetch about 300 calories in itself! So having the correct knowledge of food and combining it with regular physical activities is the road to health full life.    

                                                                                                                       

Hope you liked this blog!

This article is written by Dr. Bimal Chhajer (Heart Doctor India)