What is a calorie? Is it a fat? Is it energy? Is it edible? Well, yes and no. A calorie, by definition, is the measurement of potential energy in the food you eat. How many calories do I eat? The first step is to calculate your BMR. Your BMR, or basic metabolic rate, is the amount of calories you need a day without exercise or any activity. Your BMR is determined by factors like gender, weight and height. You can calculate your BMR by going to websites like, http://www.bmrcalculator.org/. Determining your BMR does not determine the total amount of calories you consume however. For example, If you have a BMR of 2,000 calories, and burn 500 calories a day of exercise, you should consume 2,500 calories a day. If you don't use enough of what you intake (say you only burn 50 calories) , you will gain weight and if you use more than you intake you will lose weight (say you burn 1,000 calories) and those are both unhealthy choices That is why there is not a set number of calories a certain person should eat? Truthfully, there is no one right answer. The thing is that different people burn calories at different rates. Also, the correct caloric intake varies from person to person, depending on several factors. Some major factors that determine caloric intake include gender, age, weight, height, activity level and metabolism. For example, a frail 80 year old women who sits at home petting her cat may only need 1,000 calories a day, but when she was a growing young teen soccer player, she needed to eat 3,000.
For teens with diabetes, determining your caloric intake is slightly different. Based on your activity and your BMR you will intake the correct amount of calories accordingly. Around 40-50% of your diet should be healthy carbs. However, you must ensure that you maintain your healthy weight.. Patients with type 1 diabetes should consume 35 calories per kilogram of body weight per day. Patients with type 2 diabetes usually consume around 1500 to 1800 calories a day. But diabetes patients should consult with a doctor to determine the appropriate calorie intake before starting a new diet.
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