To say it simply, a calorie is a unit of energy. In nutrition and everyday language, calories refer to energy consumption through eating and drinking, and energy usage through physical activity.
Today, two out of three Americans are obese or overweight. If the current trajectory continues, one in two adults will be obese by 2030.
Globally, 1.9 billion adults are overweight or obese, according to the World Health Organization. Roughly four in 10 adults are overweight, and more than one in 10 are obese, a condition that increases the risk of heart disease, diabetes, kidney problems and joint disorders in addition to multiple types of cancers. 20% of all cancers diagnosed in the US are related to body fatness, physical inactivity, excess alcohol consumption, and/or poor nutrition, and thus could also be prevented.
Just as your stomach, muscles, and heart feed on the nutrients that food supplies, so does the brain. So, what does the food you eat have to do with how your brain functions?
The pleasure of eating a candy bar lasts just a few minutes while burning off those calories can take nearly an hour.
According to a study published in Neurology®, poor physical fitness in middle age may be linked to a smaller brain size 20 years later.
According to the C.D.C., in 2015, more than 78 million U.S. adults were obese.
In 2016, an estimated 1,685,210 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in the United States and 595,690 people will die from the disease. Although a few patients diagnosed with cancer can attribute their illness to a hereditary abnormal gene, most people believe their cancer was a result of a DNA mutation possibly caused by a handful of external factors such as environmental radiation, toxins, and poor diet. However, this may not be the case, as some bouts of cancer may be linked to the manner in which cancer cells produce energy.
Research shows that memory loss can begin as early as your 20s, and it continues as you age. Thankfully, taking a few easy steps throughout your day can help you stay sharp. When you eat a heart-healthy diet that is low in saturated fat, you reduce your risk for high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity, all of which are believed to contribute to memory loss.
