this month, GQ is asking men to share their counterintuitive health resolutions for 2025. See all stories here.
By now you’ve probably read 100 articles about how to reduce your calorie intake for 2025, but my approach to eating is the opposite. I think everyone should eat it too. more. Food culture is collapsing, and people are feeling demoralized, hungry, and guilty about food that pretends to be healthy. Step away from it and put something better in its place. It’s about focusing on relatively free combinations of nutritious foods.
Now, this isn’t an overt invitation to eat more. anything I want you. Instead, we need to better understand how calories, or energy, work together with nutrients. Calories are a measure of the potential energy contained in our food, which is obtained through macronutrients (proteins, fats, carbohydrates). Our bodies break down these sources to release potential energy and convert it into energy (called ATP) that can be used by our bodies. (Remember high school biology? Sounds good.) Having this usable energy makes us feel energized. Charging completed. Ready to work. You can’t feel energetic without energy. This is one reason why food shouldn’t be demonized.
Although there is no standardized definition, nutrient density, It is typically used to compare the number of vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients and calories contained in foods. Nutrient-dense, low-calorie foods, such as fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and fish, support reactions in the body that convert calories into usable energy. Conversely, energy-dense foods contain many calories in a relatively small amount. They’re not inherently “bad” and honestly, any food is bad, but they’re usually higher in fat and contain more calories per gram of food than protein or carbohydrates. In order to incorporate energy-dense foods into your diet, it also needs to be nutrient-dense (think avocados, eggs, nuts, etc.).
This is why critics criticize “ultra-processed foods” such as sugary cereals, sodas, potato chips, and candy. The problem is not that the food is processed to be safe. That is, it is not very nutritious and contains lots of preservatives and additives, but it is energy-rich (high in calories). does little to provide It’s the help you need to extract energy from food and promote long-term health. Many food companies know this, which is why they try to “fortify” their food with nutrients after it’s manufactured. This is a trick. After processing, the fiber in white bread is not the same as the fiber in avocado. research tips If you eat the right combination of nutrient-dense and energy-dense foods, you’ll actually eat more food overall than someone who eats an energy-rich but nutrient-dense diet. However, your calorie intake will be lower.
Of course, if you want to lose weight, one way is to reduce your calories quickly and significantly, but this may not be the case. best for your body In the long run (especially if you want proper body composition with enough muscle and enough fat). If weight loss is the goal, severe calorie restriction is a short-term intervention. It can’t be done forever. To promote good health, weight loss must be maintained through long-term dietary strategies. Regain lost weight. A diet of nutrient-rich whole foods seems to be the best long-term strategy.
I also If you eat a nutritious diet, you won’t feel hungry as much.reducing the likelihood of overeating. Your metabolism may work better. your body’s energy level may increase. Then, once your body has enough of the right energy, it uses a combination of activity and exercise to use nutrients to fuel work and keep you feeling full throughout the day. Don’t be fooled by the idea that you have to “earn” what you eat by exercising. Too many people think that to be healthy they need to eat nothing and move a lot, but that’s not true.
That’s my advice. Find your zone. Eat more (foods that suit you). Let’s move enough. Please enjoy here and there. And perhaps most importantly, don’t forget to enjoy life. Let’s make it a great year.
