The concept of empty Calories

[namguy]

When foods are labelled "empty calories" does this essentially mean they have no nutritious value, or in other words - little to no vitamins and/or minerals in them?

If the above is correct, given that one eats an optimal amount of vitamins/minerals from other sources, would eating "empty calorie" food sources be acceptable for increasing the calorie count (during bulking)?

Thanks

[boyscouT]

Bulking or cutting, it all depends on your preference and what you want going into your body.

[in10city]

Depends on what the food item is and when it is consumed.

I think if you provide what you are planning on eating and when, you would get a more than another generality for an answer .

[namguy]

Alright... say for example, you're aiming for 200g protein/400g carbs/80g fat.

and you're currently at 170g P/250g C/ 50g F for the day

this is your last meal and you have say a Big Mac - 30g P / 50g C / 30g F.

you've eaten well earlier in the day and got a lot of the vitamins and minerals and so forth from those meals.

how detrimental would it be to get your calories from a meal like this to reach your caloric goals? obviously it would be better to get it from a "cleaner" source, i just searching for an answer as to how horrible these "empty calories" really are

[runtime]

for me, it means...there is very little to no nutritional value and basically something to stay away from.

[2bbig]

For me it's the Quality of the calorie from the whole food.

[boyscouT]

Alright... say for example, you're aiming for 200g protein/400g carbs/80g fat.

and you're currently at 170g P/250g C/ 50g F for the day

this is your last meal and you have say a Big Mac - 30g P / 50g C / 30g F.

you've eaten well earlier in the day and got a lot of the vitamins and minerals and so forth from those meals.

how detrimental would it be to get your calories from a meal like this to reach your caloric goals? obviously it would be better to get it from a "cleaner" source, i just searching for an answer as to how horrible these "empty calories" really are

If I were you i'd eat the big mac. Enjoy.

[smackdaddyD]

Not neccessarily.

For instance, a lot of "empty calories" are actually "unhealthy calories"...they aren't just calories devoid of micro nutrients, they are calories that can cause harm to your body.

- Processed carbs cause severe glucose and insulin spikes, which over long periods of time can cause a wide variety of health problems. Sugar and flour are empty calories that don't hurt everybody equally, but should be avoided when possible. At least minimized.

- Trans-Fatty Acids cause misshapen cell walls, which can cause blood vessel damage, an increase in the bad cholesterol, and a decrease in the good cholesterol. Hydrogenated oils are in almost everything these days that people would consider "empty calories".

[in10city]

If I were you i'd eat the big mac. Enjoy.

You forgot to say "Oh, by the way, I'll always look better at the beach than you" .

Maybe instead of having 1 completely crappy meal, spread the extra calories / junk you wish to consume over all of your good meals.

A Big Mac isn't empty calories. A soda or candy bar is more like 'empty calories'.

[namguy]

Not neccessarily.

For instance, a lot of "empty calories" are actually "unhealthy calories"...they aren't just calories devoid of micro nutrients, they are calories that can cause harm to your body.

- Processed carbs cause severe glucose and insulin spikes, which over long periods of time can cause a wide variety of health problems. Sugar and flour are empty calories that don't hurt everybody equally, but should be avoided when possible. At least minimized.

- Trans-Fatty Acids cause misshapen cell walls, which can cause blood vessel damage, an increase in the bad cholesterol, and a decrease in the good cholesterol. Hydrogenated oils are in almost everything these days that people would consider "empty calories".

Good post, makes sense...

I guess in moderation though, empty cals are not horrible horrible (depending on how clean u want to be).

[boyscouT]

Good post, makes sense...

I guess in moderation though, empty cals are not horrible horrible (depending on how clean u want to be).

You gotta live a little

[2bbig]

Good post, makes sense...

I guess in moderation though, empty cals are not horrible horrible (depending on how clean u want to be).

Definitely, Good post. Key word is Moderation and also Dedication. If you want a good Quality Body you have too feed it properly. In saying that it doesnt hurt to have the Occasional Big Mac. IMO

[boyscouT]

Definitely, Good post. Key word is Moderation and also Dedication. If you want a good Quality Body you have too feed it properly. In saying that it doesnt hurt to have the Occasional Big Mac. IMO

Big Mac's sure do taste good.

[2bbig]

Big Mac's sure do taste good.

How about Arbys Beef and Cheddar? uhmmm.

[boyscouT]

How about Arbys Beef and Cheddar? uhmmm.

Never had one... how much is it? I'm not a fan of the taste of cheddar either

[2bbig]

www.arbys.com/
Might not be in the U.S.

[boyscouT]

www.arbys.com/
Might not be in the U.S.

Oh no it's in the U.S for sure, just didn't know you weren't in the States.

Where you from?