Are Calories Really That Important

The human body needs calories to survive. Without energy, the cells in the body would die, the heart and lungs would stop, and the organs would not be able to carry out the basic processes needed for living. People absorb this energy from food and drink.

Do calories really matter?

There’s no way around it. Once your body’s energy needs are met, extra calories are stored for future use — some in your muscles as glycogen, but most as fat. Thus, eating more calories than you burn will cause you to gain weight, whereas eating fewer than you need will cause weight loss ( 4 ).

Can you eat anything as long as it fits your calories?

In typical calorie counting, it doesn’t take into effect the type of calories you’re consuming. As long as you stay within your calorie allowance per day, you can basically eat anything you want, including sweets and processed foods.