If you asked 10 people how
many calories you should eat in a day, you would probably get 10 different
responses (and be even more confused than when you started). It's not an easy
question, yet everyone seems to think they know the answer. Instead of turning
to an online macro calculator or fitspo Instagrammer, I took this question
straight to an expert, Dr. Preeya Alexander.
Dr. Alexander, also known
as The Wholesome Doctor, is an
Australia-based general practitioner who is passionate about prevention and
enjoys a glass of wine with her healthy meals every once in a while. She gave
me the lowdown on how to really figure out how many calories you need in a day,
and her answers may surprise you.
Is
There Really a Baseline For Daily Calorie Intake?
If you've ever picked up a
fitness magazine, you've probably seen headlines like "Eat 1,200 Calories
a Day to Lose Weight Quick!" or "1,200 Calorie Jump-Start Diet."
According to Dr. Alexander, however, there is no certain calorie intake that is
right for everyone; how many calories you need varies based on a number of
factors (so please don't fall for those lose-weight-quick starvation diets).
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In medicine, energy is often
measured in kilojoules (as opposed to calories), and 8,700 kJ per day is a common
baseline. This is roughly the equivalent of 2,000 calories per day, a higher
number than you might expect. The mistake so many of us make, though, is
thinking of food intake only in terms of weight loss or weight gain.
