Curious About Low-Calorie Diets? Here is the Guide

According to the World Health Organization, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the world. Type 2 diabetes is one of the fastest growing chronic diseases worldwide. People with metabolic syndrome, which refers to a collection of symptoms like hypertension and obesity, are also increasing at an exponential rate. These preventable diseases all share one common cause — a poor diet. Fortunately, you can drastically reduce your risk by improving your diet and losing weight. 

What is a Low-Calorie Diet?

A low-calorie diet is one that restricts your calories intake below the standard requirement. The 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans provides caloric intake levels that men and women need to maintain their respective weights. For men, they range from 2000 to 3000 calories daily based on age and activity levels. The caloric range for women is from 1800-2400 calories a day to maintain weight.

A low-calorie diet is one that is below your weight maintenance goal to promote weight loss. Health professionals usually recommend a 500 calorie deficit to your daily goal to yield a loss of one to two pounds per week. Generally, a low-calorie diet for men should be at least 1500 calories per day and 1300 calories per day for women depending on age and activity levels.

This conservative recommendation is to support an active lifestyle and prevent any negative health effects. As always, you should consult a medical professional or registered dietitian for a personalized weight loss plan.

How To Enjoy Full Flavors on Low-Calorie Diets

Don’t rush to the stores to stock up on low-calorie foods just yet! You will still be able to enjoy most the food without sacrificing taste or flavors. One simple way to start cutting calories is by focusing on small changes such as condiments and beverages. For example, two tablespoons of Ranch dressing has 145 calories and one tablespoon of mayonnaise has 94 calories. These calories add up fast so be mindful of the amount you consume or switch to a healthier alternative like Italian dressing or Greek yogurt. Same principle applies to beverages. Instead of a large cup of Frappacuino which contains at least 500 calories, opt for a smaller size or a lighter version and enjoy every sip of it.

Eat Balanced Meals and Focus on Variety is the Key

Contrary to popular belief, low calorie-diets do not necessarily mean less food. It all depends on where your calories come from. On a 1500 calorie diet for example, you can easily exceed the goal at one meal if you choose high calorie fast food options. Instead, you can build a healthy plate filled with lean protein, whole grains, fruits and vegetables for far fewer calories and feel more satiated. This is the time to add more variety and color to your plate—not take away food from your diet. Most importantly, distribute your calories evenly throughout the day to keep your energy and metabolism up.

Staying Active

By adding regular exercise to your routine, you can expedite the weight loss process and see results faster. It creates a greater calorie deficit in the weight loss equation and helps to keep the weight off long term. The best exercise is the one you enjoy doing and can adhere to. From cardio, high intensity workouts, resistance training to fun group classes, there is always something for everyone. Not quite ready to exercise? A simple stroll around the park or a short walk during your lunch break all count as physical activity. The goal is to be active daily for at least 30 minutes.

Sometimes our busy schedules get in the way and it might be challenging to meet the daily nutrient requirements on low-calorie diets. The Xtend-Life Zupafood Elite supplement is a convenient solution to bridge the nutrient gap and support your overall health. Its proprietary blend of superfoods, medicinal mushrooms as well as spirulina help to boost your energy levels, slow down aging and support a healthy heart, digestion and immunity.

New research findings on low-calorie diets support the benefits of weight loss in prevention of chronic diseases especially for men. By adopting small lifestyle changes, eating balanced meals and staying active, both men and women can enjoy the benefits of low calorie diets without jeopardizing your health.

References

[1] WHO I The Top 10 Causes of Death. World Health Organization 2018. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/the-top-10-causes-of-death. Accessed May 29, 2019.
[2] WHO | Diabetes. World Health Organization; WHO [Internet]. 2016 Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/diabetes. Accessed May 29, 2019.
[3] Christensen, P, Meinert Larsen, T, Westerterp‐Plantenga, M, et al. (2018). Men and women respond differently to rapid weight loss: Metabolic outcomes of a multi‐centre intervention study after a low‐energy diet in 2500 overweight, individuals with pre‐diabetes (PREVIEW). Diabetes Obes Metab. 20, 2840– 2851. https://doi.org/10.1111/dom.13466
[4] 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Appendix 2. Estimated Calorie Needs per Day, by Age, Sex, and Physical Activity Levels. https://health.gov/dietaryguidelines/2015/guidelines/appendix-2/#footnote-2