Calorie Intake: What is Right for You?

Counting calories has become a popular way for people to take their health and weight into their own hands, but what many people don't realize is that the recommended caloric intake is actually different for everyone, since each individual uses and burns calories differently.

Calories are a unit of measure for the energy we derive from the food we eat. Where calories become a problem for people's weight is when excess calories are consumed and not burned, thus getting stored as fat for later use. Since many people's calorie intake is more than they need on a daily basis, the fat never gets completely used and weight gain occurs.

However, it is difficult to put a number on what a healthy, general calorie intake should be. There are a variety of factors that influence how many calories a person should consume on a daily basis, which causes that number to range anywhere from 1200 calories up to tens of thousands of calories per day. These factors include:

For example, professional athletes must consume far more calories that someone who lives a less active lifestyle just in order to maintain a healthy weight since they burn so many calories throughout the day. Meanwhile, someone who is sedentary and trying to lose weight will need to consume far less. Healthy calories can be obtained from eating fresh foods like fruits, meats, and healthy fats and carbs.

What your personal calorie intake should be depends heavily on these factors and what your weight goals are, and consulting with your doctor or an experienced nutritionist can help you determine how many calories you should be eating each day and what foods are the healthiest choices for your needs and health.