Calories are not equal.
Like millions of others around the globe, I once struggled with sustaining a healthy weight, despite spending money on a registered dietician and being told to eat 1,200 to 1,400 calories a day. The low-calorie plan I was put on, in addition to my exercise habits, temporarily destroyed my metabolism and mental health. It was not unusual for me to hit the gym for a six to ten-mile run before arriving at work at 7:30AM. Since leaving corporate in 2018, I have sustained a nearly 40lb weight loss, despite efforts to make me gain weight and living in extreme adversity.
Today, I weigh in at about 133lbs at 5'10" tall and have kept my weight off going on four years. Through my health journey, I learned that not all calories are equal and if fact, I do NOT COUNT CALORIES. I now cook 95% of all my meals with one ingredient, foods grown or born. The only things I do my best to avoid are: artificial sweeteners, refined flour, dairy (except butter) red meat (personal preference - I do not believe anything is wrong with red meat, it's just not what I want) and corn syrup. I do eat a ton of fresh fruit, veggies, rice, oatmeal, potatoes, dark chocolate, nuts, fish, eggs, chicken, and shellfish.?
Because of my experiences, I was curious how we got to counting calories in the first place. Here is what I learned.
The whole idea of counting calories was developed on a false premise in the 1960s. That is when artificial sugars were created, and ultra-processed food took off, creating a multi-billion dollar industry. As Americans became overweight, some scientists?were paid money?to create a study that pointed the finger at fat, not sugar, as to why Americans were getting fat.?
领英推荐
To further support the idea of fat making Americans fat, the Calorie Control Council was launched in 1966. The Calorie Control Council is an international association representing the low- and reduced-calorie food and beverage industry. Today it represents manufacturers and suppliers of low- and reduced-calorie foods and beverages, including manufacturers and suppliers of more than two dozen different alternative sweeteners, fibers, and other low-calorie, dietary ingredients. Council staff includes experts certified in public health, food, and nutrition.
According to the Center for Public Integrity, the CCC “is run by an account executive with a global management and public relations firm called the Kellen Group, represents the low- and reduced-calorie food and beverage industry. But it functions more like an industry front group than a trade association. The President of the CCC is or once was President, works for the PR firm the Kellen Company.
In addition to the Calorie Control Council, the International Food Additives Council, and the International Formula Council, the Kellen Group and its subsidiary, Kellen Adams, work for a number of other businesses, organizations and front groups, including: