It is well known that a healthy diet can be a key to a long life. But what about the average adult? Are they eating enough to keep themselves healthy? The answer is: No! On average, an average adult consumes about 4,000 calories a day. Let’s find out why.
What Are Calories ?
Calories are the unit used to measure the amount of energy that fuels an organism’s life activities. Calories are burned from food.
When we eat food, our bodies break down the nutrients in the food to make sure that we have the energy to function.
A calorie is the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of one gram of water by one degree Celsius.
There are two types of calories, macro- and micro- calories.
- Macro – calories are calories from all foods consumed over a 24-hour period, including snacks.
- Micro – calories are calories from one small meal.
A pound of body weight contains 3,500 calories.
If a person burns 5,000 calories in a day, he or she has burned off one pound of body weight.
Some examples of how much energy is in a pound of food include:
- 1 ounce of sugar has 100 calories
- 1 cup of broccoli has 90 calories
- 1 slice of bread has 80 calories
A typical American male needs 2,000 calories per day.
A typical American female needs 1,800 calories per day.
Calories from fat are considered “bad” calories because they do not contribute to burning off weight. The calories you consume come from either carbohydrates, protein or fat.
Carbohydrates, found in vegetables, fruits and grains, are stored as glycogen in the liver and muscles. Protein, which is the main building block of muscle tissue, is broken down into amino acids which are then used to build new proteins. Fat is used for energy or insulation.
To calculate the number of calories you need, multiply your weight in pounds by 9.
Why Humans Need Calories ?
There is some evidence that our ancestors ate calories because they needed more energy for activities like running away from predators, fighting against rivals, or simply surviving in cold weather. But, we’re also aware that our bodies produce calories themselves, which means we don’t need to eat anything.
So, why do we need calories? There are several reasons.
- First, our bodies use calories to fuel basic functions, like breathing and heartbeat.
- Second, some parts of the body (brain, heart muscle, etc.) are very sensitive to low blood sugar.
- Third, our bodies use calories to make hormones, like insulin, and other important compounds.
Finally, the brain uses calories to perform its functions. This includes processing information, making decisions, and remembering things.
There is even a theory that our ancestors ate calories because they knew that eating would allow them to survive and reproduce better. In order to survive, we need to have energy to make more babies and we need to grow bigger and stronger.
How Many Calories Should We Eat?
Calorie intake has been a topic of controversy for decades. With the introduction of the Atkins Diet in the early 80s, there was a massive shift in the world of nutrition. Now, however, people are wondering if the focus should shift back towards fat.
A study released earlier this year found that saturated fat actually had positive health benefits. This led many to believe that we should reduce our intake of saturated fats and increase our intake of unsaturated fats.
But what does this really mean? Does it mean we should be eating more carbohydrates? Does it mean we should be eating less protein?
And how do we know what we need to eat anyway?
Here are a few things to consider when figuring out your daily calorie needs.
First, there is no set number of calories that we need to consume. Your calorie needs will vary based on your body weight, your age, and your gender.
The first thing we need to establish is your target weight. Calculate your ideal body weight by subtracting your height from your weight and then divide that result by two. For example, if you are 5’8″ and weigh 160 pounds, your ideal body weight would be 80 pounds.
Calculate your total daily calorie intake by multiplying your ideal weight by the following number:
Men = 2,500 calories per day
Women = 2,000 calories per day
Why an Average Adult Eats About 4 000 Calories a Day ?
The average adult eats about 4 000 calories a day.
So how come the typical American has a weight problem? According to the CDC, over half of all Americans are overweight or obese. That’s more than 1 in every 3 adults!
Now the average person spends about 2000 calories a day and eats about 2400 calories a day. That means that most people are eating less than 1200 calories a day.
Now let’s look at how much the average person consumes.
They eat about 6 meals a day. Each meal contains approximately 500 calories. That’s a total of 3000 calories for the day.
Each day, the average person consumes roughly 1500 calories. That’s about 2,500 calories a week. So in a month, the average adult eats almost 40,000 calories. That’s about 16 pounds of food.
If you eat 2,500 calories a day, you’ll gain a pound a week. If you eat 5,000 calories a day, you’ll gain a pound a day.
You may wonder why you’re gaining weight so fast when you’re consuming only 3,000 calories a day.
The first reason is that most of the foods you eat are empty calories. They provide little to no nutritional value and they are very low in calories.
The second reason is that you’re eating too many foods that are high in fat. You’re eating foods that are full of saturated and trans fats.
The third reason is that you’re eating too many foods that are high in sugar. You’re eating foods that are full of refined sugar.
The fourth reason is that you’re not getting the vitamins and minerals that you need. Many foods are packed with sodium, carbohydrates, and fat. That means you’re not getting enough vitamins and minerals in your diet.
