Is a Calorie, Just a Calorie?

Is a calorie Just a calorie? Yes and No. First, it’s important to know what a calorie is. In scientific terms, a calorie (kCal) is the energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of water through 1 degree celsius, equal to one thousand small calories and often used to measure the energy value of food. In layman's terms, a calorie is energy from food to fuel the body. By the scientific definition, a calorie is just a calorie, but in the nutrition world, it’s argued that not all calories are equal. Here’s a simple description on why calories are not equal. Say you ordered a 800 (kcal) meal from your local fast food joint that includes a cheeseburger with bacon (ALWAYS ADD BACON), a large fry, and a large 32oz soda. Now instead of the fast food meal, you decide to cook a homemade meal that consists of a 10oz Steak, half cup tossed salad, one sweet potato, 8 spears of asparagus, a quarter avocado, and a 32oz glass of water (zero calories).

Now comparing the two meals, the fast food meal is going to be nutrient depleted, offer no other benefits than just a high caloric intake, give you a short burst of energy (if you’re lucky), and quite possibly leave you feeling hungry for more. The homemade meal is going to be high in various micronutrients, leave you fuller longer, and give you a steady state of energy over a longer period of time. Your body NEEDS micro nutrients to be healthy and operate efficiently! This is just some of the comparisons between the two. I could keep going on, but I’ll try not to bore you so much.

So to answer the question, “is a calorie just a calorie?”, in my nutritional opinion, that’s a No. To be fair though, If we are to argue in scientific terms, then yes, a calorie is just a calorie. As humans trying for a healthy lifestyle, the type of calories matters greatly. Choosing the fast meal doesn't help us attain our genetic potential. High quality caloric foods mixed with exercise is the only way to reach and maintain our healthy lifestyle goals that we all strive for.