In our quest to preserving good health, many people hear the word calorie, and they begin to imagine a fattening substance and are primed to think calories are not suitable for the body. This is a misconception. Calories are measures of energy contained in the food we eat.
Carbohydrates contain more calorie when compared to fats and proteins. A diet mainly comprising carbohydrates will have more than a diet of protein-rich food.
The timing of meals is just as important as the quality of a meal. The number of calories a person consumes should take into consideration the activities of such a person.
The primary calorie needs for men and women are different. The ratio of calorie needed for a healthy life depends on the following factors:
- Basal metabolic rate
- Height
- Weight
- Age
- Sex
- Bone density
Daily needs
Perfect timing and adequate record of some metrics, such as BMI, BMR, etc., is key to assessing your daily requirements. It is essential to compute the basal metabolic rate and activity factor to monitor optimum calorie intake to maintain body weight properly.
Children
A child needs to take over 1000 calories a day for the body’s normal functions to proceed without losing weight. The calorie intake for boys is slightly higher than for girls.
Adults
A woman needs to take a basic amount of 2000 calories a day to keep healthy, no matter her daily activity schedule. A man is expected to consume about 2500 in a day to stay healthy.
Signs of low-calorie consumption
1. Hair loss: a prolonged reduction in calorie and other essential nutrients as an adult grows older can bring about hair loss.
2. Low energy levels: the lack of calorie in the body can amount to low energy levels, quick tiredness follows minor physical activities.
3. Constant hunger: as the body lacks calorie, hunger will be more pronounced, and the pangs will attack more often.
4. Inability to get pregnant: a lack of calories and a drop-in body weight in women can cause significant hormonal imbalance, which would result in the inability to get pregnant.
5. Irritation: the sensations of satiation that follow having sufficient calories from food are absent; in response, the mind reacts negatively to minor issues.
6. Sleep deprivation: eating fewer calorie than necessary can lead to poor quality of sleep. It results in lesser deep sleep, and it takes longer to fall asleep.
7. Constipation: lack of calorie and undereating can lead to slow bowel movement, which will ultimately cause constipation.
8. Feeling cold frequently: a lack of calorie would lead to the body’s inability to create heat meant to maintain its average temperature.
9. Anxiety: low-calorie consumption can lead to depression and moodiness.
