Staying healthy depends on many factors and your daily caloric intake is one of the most important factors. Many people think that you need two thousand calories every day to maintain or lose your weight. The reason of this misconception is the nutrition labels we find on every packed food item. These food labels state the nutritional information of the contents and mention a percentage of your daily need based on two thousand calories per day.
As it is impossible to mention the nutritional need of each person on the label, it is mentioned for an average person who needs two thousand calories per day. But your specific requirement is probably lower or higher depending on many factors.
To know a better estimate of your daily caloric needs, you can use the equations designed by mathematicians to calculate this magic number. However, using mathematical equations is not necessary nowadays. Many websites and apps calculate this information for you. All you need to do is input your age, weight, height, gender, and daily activity level. These websites will apply the formulas to this information and calculate a better estimation of your daily caloric needs.
So, should you take this many calories every day? Actually, it depends on your specific needs. These calculations assume that you want to maintain your current. What if you are trying to lose weight? If you are trying to lose weight, consume 300-500 fewer calories than this recommended value. This will create a negative caloric balance and your body will start burning the fat in order to keep up.
Similarly, if you want to gain weight, you should consume 200-500 more calories than this recommended value. Keep in mind, however, that this increased weight would accumulate in your body as fat. The best thing you should do is to have an effective exercise regimen so that you gain muscle, not fat.
Wanda Lewis is a health blogger and the founder of her own blog about fitness. She has been blogging for three years now and loves to share what she learns with others. Wanda enjoys reading, cooking, and staying active outdoors.
