The word empty calorie is related with junk or snack foods e.g. potato chips, pastries, cakes etc.  Nowadays people consume a large amount of food (junk food) that contains empty calories.

What is calorie?

Calorie is a unit of energy used to measure the increase in temperature of 1 gram of water by 1degree Celsius.

What is empty calorie?

It is a unit of carbohydrate, ethanol and some fat based energy , that comes from different processed food that are rich in sugar and salt, but lack in protein, vitamin, essential amino acid etc.

General idea about empty calorie

There are 45 nutrients that are essential for our health.  But nowadays we do not get any mineral (calcium. Magnesium), vitamin(C, D)due to our fast paced lives which means we have no time to consume fresh food and usually prefer processed food, which are overloaded with calorie and lack of essential nutrients.

Empty calories in relation to lose weight

We use the word empty calorie in relation to lose weight. But it does not help us. Because it is rich in excess calorie and carbohydrate. So consumption of empty calorie food means consumption of excess calorie and carbohydrate than body needs.

Empty calories in relation to gain weight

If we consume some food that contains no fat, but is high in carbohydrate and calorie, then we can gain body weight. People think that as they consume food that has no fat, there is no chance to gain body weight. But consumption of that type of food which is overloaded with carbohydrate and calorie means deposition of excess calorie and carbohydrate in our adipose tissue as fat. As a result of that we gain weight.

Foods that are contain empty calorie

• Sausages ( fat)
• Hot dogs  ( fat)
• Bacon  ( fat)
• Ice cream ( sugar and fat)
• Pizza  ( fat)
• Drinks – soft drinks, sports drinks ( sugar)
• Cakes (sugar and fat)
• Cookies (sugar and fat)
• Pastries (sugar and fat)

Table of daily limits of consumption of empty calorie (for male) 

Gender	Age	Total calorie needs	Daily limit of empty calorie
Male	2-3	1050 kcal	140 kcal
	4-8	1225-1425 kcal	135 kcal
	9-13	1875 kcal	156 kcal
	14-18	2225 kcal	270 kcal
	19-30	2401 kcal	329 kcal
	31-50	2230 kcal	260 kcal
	51+	2020 kcal	262 kcal

 

Table of daily limits of consumption of empty calorie (for female)

Gender	Age	Total calorie needs	Daily limit of empty calorie
Female	2-3	1050 kcal	140 kcal
	4-8	1225 -1425 kcal	135 kcal
	9-13	1675 kcal	125 kcal
	14-18	1880 kcal	156 kcal
	19-30	2020 kcal	254 kcal
	31-50	1810 kcal	161 kcal
	51+	1615 kcal	115 kcal

Problems of empty calorie

• Empty calories does not supply any necessary elements needed for our body.
• It does not give us energy to survive.
• It makes it harder to lose body weight.

Things that you should know about empty calorie

Calorie gives us energy for survive. In the modern world people do not understand the value of daily calorie intake. They do not know that to have all functions properly we need energy. People consume junk food regularly or fast. By doing this they either become obese or they are become too lean. Because they consume empty calorie which is not good for our health. So for good health we have to consume a balanced diet.