﻿ How much do you know about calories and carbs?

Test Your Weight Loss Wisdom

How much do you know about calories and carbs?

By Kathleen Zelman, MPH, RD, LD
WebMD Weight Loss Clinic - Expert Column

Many people think that all they need to do is cut carbohydrates from their diet, and they will lose weight. Eating plans that cut out carbohydrates can only get their nutrients from protein, fats, and alcohol -- there are no other sources of calories. So if you cut out carbohydrates and load up on butter, bacon, and hamburger, how can you possibly lose weight?

Well, the answer is simple, and it's nothing new. No matter what you've heard about net carbs and impact carbs, weight loss boils down one thing: Calories in versus calories out.

How much do you know about carbohydrates and calories? Take this simple quiz to find out.

1. True or false: Carbohydrates are all the same, whether they come from potato chips or vegetables.

False. Technically, all carbohydrates have the same number of calories per gram. But from a nutritional standpoint, they differ greatly. A soft drink, for example, gives your body little more than simple carbohydrate calories. Compare that with carbohydrate-rich fruits, vegetables, and whole-grain products, which are loaded with fiber and antioxidants that keep you feeling good and also ward off diseases. So your best nutrition bet is to cut refined carbohydrates from foods such as sugar and white bread, and replace them with high-fiber alternatives such as whole-wheat pasta, breads, and cereals.

2. True or false: You get more calories from foods high in carbohydrates than those made up mostly of protein or fat.

False. Fat has more calories than either carbohydrates or protein.

Much like a ruler measures length, calories measure units of energy. Nearly all foods and beverages (except water) contain calories. The number of calories in food and drinks is an estimation of the energy units they contain. Calories (or, more technically, kilocalories) are used throughout the body, to fuel physical activity and keep your bodily processes running smoothly. Your heart, brain, lungs, muscles, and all your vital organs need these energy units to function (vitamins and minerals also play a key role in all of your body's metabolic functions).

Calories can only come from carbohydrates, protein, fats, and alcohol. One gram of carbohydrate equals 4 calories, as does a gram of protein. A gram of fat, meanwhile, equals 9 calories, and the same amount of alcohol equals 7 calories. So, gram for gram, fat has twice as many calories as carbohydrates or protein.

3. True or false: Most of us eat too many carbohydrates.

True. Americans eat too many calories, period, and many of them come from sweets, sugars, and fats. It's not just about too many carbohydrates but too much of everything, including protein, fat, and alcohol. Your WebMD Weight Loss Clinic eating plan follows the guidelines of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS). The NAS recommends a diet in which 45% to 60% of total calories come from carbohydrates, primarily in the form of low-fat dairy products, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains such as whole-wheat bread and brown rice. The NAS recommends that 10%-35% of calories come from protein, such as seafood, skinless poultry, and lean meat, and 20%-35% come from healthy fats such as vegetable oils, nuts, and seeds.





