What are Empty Calories ? You should know about it

Everyday empty calories are gobbled up or gulped down by millions of unsuspecting people. Empty calories can be found in many popular beverages, snacks and foods that are the mainstay of your diet.

A look into your snack drawer, kitchen pantry, or work place vending machine may reveal a rich supply of foods and beverages that are loaded with empty calories. So, just what are empty calories? Calories that are primarily made up of solid fats and/or added sugars are called “empty calories’.

It is important to note that foods and beverages with empty calories add to your overall caloric intake but offer little to no nutritional value.

Solid fats are fats that keep their shape even when at room temperature. They are found in some foods naturally, but are routinely included in some recipes, and added to processed foods for extra flavor.

Butter and shortening are examples of solid fats Sugar is naturally found in certain foods, but sugar in excess is not your friend. 

Added sugars are sugars and syrups that are added when foods or beverages are processed or prepared. 

Solid fats and added sugars can make a food or beverage more appealing, but they also can add a lot of extra calories without nutritional value.

The added sugars in recipes and processed foods can be detrimental to your diet and health. Some examples of added sugars are corn syrup, high-fructose corn syrup and sugar.

Added sugars are found most often in cakes, cookies, pastries, and donuts (contain both solid fat and added sugars) Sodas, energy drinks, sports drinks, and fruit drinks (contain added sugars), Ice cream (contains both solid fat and added sugars)

Both solid fats and added sugars are used to enhance overall food flavor. However, solid fats and added sugars can unleash a ton of empty calories that can sabotage your best your weight loss efforts.

Cakes, cookies, pastries, sodas, cheese, pizza, sports drinks, ice cream, hot dogs and bacon are some examples of foods with empty calories There is good news. Some foods with an excess of solid fats or added sugars offer lower-calorie choices.

Drinking non-fat milk instead of whole milk is a great way to get calcium and other nutrients without extra fat and calories. Or instead of fried chicken, which is loaded with empty calories, make it a protein-rich, skinless baked chicken meal. 

Avoiding empty calories when possible can change your health profile from poor to better.