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> This is an oversimplification It's perhaps the most pernicious misunderstanding of calories on the internet. All calories are not created equal. Even just
by nostromo 6y ago
> This is an oversimplification
It's perhaps the most pernicious misunderstanding of calories on the internet.
All calories are not created equal. Even just taking the same ingredient (say, an apple) and preparing it (say, by sticking the apple in a Blendtec Blender vs eating it whole) changes the amount of calories available for absorption.
- Moto7451 6y agoRight. Fiber is a debatable source of calories since their precise metabolism can change based on gut flora. As someone who lost 100lbs through calorie counting and exercise, just that subject alone was a long and interesting study. Some nutrition labels will assign them 0 calories, a seemingly benign 10 calories, or the same calories as other carbohydrates. https://www.verywellfit.com/why-are-there-calories-in-soluble-fiber-2242320 https://www.verywellfit.com/why-are-there-calories-in-solubl... https://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/ask-the-macro-manager-does-fiber-count-in-calories.html https://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/ask-the-macro-manager-does-...
- cabaalis 6y agoIs it safe to say that taking an apple and manipulating it without adding anything to it could never INCREASE the calories available? So is the reason that the calorie content in the apple changes in blending due to how difficult (or not difficult) it is to digest?
- war1025 6y ago> could never INCREASE the calories available? It wouldn't add calories, but it would make more calories available in the sense that your body is able to extract them. For instance, cooking food makes more calories bio-available.
- kortilla 6y agoNo, blending it increases the calories available to easily absorb. This is partly why juicers are unhealthy.
- nkrisc 6y agoBasically. It's similar to how we typically process meat without adding anything to it before eating it, to make it easier to digest and to increase the available calories. The way we process it is by cooking it.
- thaumasiotes 6y agoWhat do you mean by "available"? Fire was an important technology because it allows us to predigest food, getting more out of eating the same amount of stuff. This certainly does increase the calories available in the ordinary usage of the phrase -- but so does the blender example.
- Scoundreller 6y agoA blender is a bunch of knives. Just something else enabled by fire.
- hnracer 6y agoDo we approximately know by what percentage the calorie availability increases for blended vs regular fruit, for the average person?