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From other websitesContent disclaimerContent on this website is provided for information purposes only. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not in any way endorse or support such therapy, service, product or treatment and is not intended to replace advice from your doctor or other registered health professional. The information and materials contained on this website are not intended to constitute a comprehensive guide concerning all aspects of the therapy, product or treatment described on the website. All users are urged to always seek advice from a registered health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions and to ascertain whether the particular therapy, service, product or treatment described on the website is suitable in their circumstances. The State of Victoria and the Department of Health shall not bear any liability for reliance by any user on the materials contained on this website. Low-fat foods are only one component of weight loss. If you aren’t watching how many calories you eat, even fat-free and low-fat foods will be stored in your body as fat, leading to weight gain instead of weight loss.
OverviewWhat's the difference between fat and calories?Fat is one of six nutrients your body needs to stay healthy. The other five nutrients are:
Of these six nutrients, carbohydrates, protein and fats provide calories. Each gram of carbohydrate and protein yield 4 calories/gram. Each gram of fat yields 9 calories. A calorie is a measurement, just like a teaspoon or an inch. Calories are the amount of energy released when your body breaks down (digests and absorbs) food. The more calories a food has, the more energy it can provide to your body. When you eat more calories than you need, your body stores the extra calories as body fat. Even a fat-free food can have a lot of calories. Excess calories in any form can be stored as body fat. Why does fat get much attention?Fat gets much of the attention for many good reasons. Consider these facts:
Will I lose weight if I eat low-fat foods?It's true that a diet high in fat can lead to weight gain. But it takes more than just limiting high-fat foods to lose weight. You must also watch how many total calories you eat. Remember, extra calories even from fat-free and low-fat foods can get stored in the body as body fat. Choosing lower-fat options is a good idea to help reduce total caloric intake, but also pay attention to caloric intake from carbohydrate and protein, too. Also, substituting fat with highly processed carbohydrate-rich foods and sugars is an unhealthy trade-off; some foods labeled as “low-fat,” “reduced–fat,” or “fat-free” have more added sugar. To lose weight, you need to have a calorie deficit. One way you can achieve this is by eating less fat and fewer calories and exercising. Exercise burns calories. (Consult with your healthcare provider before starting an exercise or diet program.) How much fat should I eat?A diet that is moderate in fat content is important for maintaining a healthy weight and preventing heart disease and stroke while providing adequate and essential nutrients. The Institute of Medicine and the American Heart Association recommend a total fat intake of 25-35 percent of calories. That's about 80 grams of fat or less a day if you eat 2,000 calories a day. How can I know how much fat I am eating?
How many grams of fat should I eat each day (based on 35% calories from fat)?
Label claimsSome food labels make claims such as "low cholesterol" or "low-fat." These claims can only be used if a food meets strict government definitions. Here are some meanings:
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enews More health news + infoWhat nutrients are measured in calories?Of these six nutrients, carbohydrates, protein and fats provide calories. Each gram of carbohydrate and protein yield 4 calories/gram. Each gram of fat yields 9 calories. A calorie is a measurement, just like a teaspoon or an inch.
How do you calculate nutrients from calories?To calculate this, divide a food or drink's calories from fat by total calories (this information is on the product's food label) and then multiply by 100. For example, if a 300-calorie food has 60 calories from fat, divide 60 by 300 and then multiply by 100.
What are nutrients measured in?Most nutrients are measured in grams, also written as g. Some nutrients are measured in milligrams, or mg. Milligrams are very tiny — there are 1,000 milligrams in 1 gram. Other information on the label is given in percentages.
How is nutrient energy measured?The Calorie you see on a food package is actually a kilocalorie, or 1,000 calories. A Calorie (kcal) is the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of water 1 degree Celsius. Sometimes the energy content of food is expressed in kilojoules (kj), a metric unit. One kcal equals 4.184 kj.
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