The doctor dispelled the myth about the need to count calories

The doctor explained that it is easy to make a mistake when counting calories, since the calorie content indicated on food packaging may be 20 percent more or less than the actual one. In addition, caloric content depends on the method of preparation of the product. The endocrinologist cited potatoes as an example: hot boiled potatoes have a higher calorie content than chilled ones.

“Also, do not forget about the composition of the intestinal microflora and even its length. People with longer intestines absorb more calories, and therefore gain weight more actively,” the specialist warned.

Atamanova also noted that it is difficult to count calories constantly. In her opinion, figuring out how many calories are in pasta eaten at a restaurant is a tedious task. At the same time, when focusing on the number of calories, a person losing weight loses sight of the quality of the food. This, in turn, is fraught with the development of deficiencies of beneficial microelements and vitamins.

The endocrinologist urged not to count every calorie, but to adhere to moderation in everything, and also work on eating habits. “But sometimes it’s still worth looking at the calorie content of some foods. For example, a protein bar from the “Healthy Nutrition” department may contain the same number of calories as a regular chocolate bar,” Atamanova concluded.