By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-12-16 10:16:27 | Updated at 2024-12-16 13:31:14
3 hours ago
From the mouth-watering slices of turkey to that mountain of crispy roast potatoes, have you ever wondered just how many calories you eat on Christmas Day?
Well, now you can find out using MailOnline's calculator.
Built with over 30 festive staples, it lets you choose how many servings of spuds, Brussels sprouts and pigs in blankets you'll inevitably pile onto your plate.
As well as accounting for the traditional turkey, our tool also lists gammon, duck, chicken, lamb and numerous other types of meat, or veggie alternatives, Brits might opt for.
NHS advice states men should stick to around 2,500 calories a day, while women require around 2,000.
A calorie is a way of measuring energy, either the amount contained in food or the amount used through activity.
The amount of calories a person burns each day is dictated by their metabolism — the bodily process that turns food into energy for breathing, thinking and moving.
Metabolic rate is dictated by age, sex and body size.
People put on weight when they consume more calories than they burn off through daily activities.
To lose weight, more calories need to be used than those taken in.
As a result, limiting calories is the first step for many looking to shed some pounds, with dozens of apps available to log meals and tot calories up.
However, focusing on calories alone doesn't take into account the nutrition in a person's diet, experts warn.
For example, there is only one calorie in a Diet Coke but around 100 in an apple — but the former offers no nutritional benefits, while the latter is packed with fibre, potassium and vitamin C.
And for better health, a diet needs to be packed with a variety of fruit, vegetables and wholegrains — rather than just being low in calories.
Calorie counting works for some who are trying to lose weight but many report that it didn't yield results — with factors such as the type of food eaten and gut health also affecting how many calories the body burns, studies have shown.
Those who do see success from calorie counting may also face the challenge of their body adapting to a low-calorie diet by lowering their metabolic rate — which can make it challenging to avoid piling back on the pounds.
