Empty calories

Granulated sugar provides energy in the form of calories, but has no other nutritional value.

In human nutrition, empty calories are those calories found in foods and beverages (including alcohol)[1] composed primarily or solely of calorie-rich macronutrients such as sugars and fats, but little or no micronutrients, fibre, or protein. [2] Foods composed mostly of empty calories have low nutrient density, meaning few other nutrients relative to their energy content.[3] Empty calories are more difficult to fit into a diet that is both balanced and within TDEE, and so readily create an unhealthy diet.[4]

  1. ^ Veronique Chachay (April 29, 2015). "Think before you drink: alcohol's calories end up on your waistline". The Conversation. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
  2. ^ "Understanding empty calories". Harvard Health Publishing. June 16, 2016. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
  3. ^ Marion Nestle and Malden Nesheim (2013) Why Calories Count: From Science to Politics, page 3, ISBN 0520952170
  4. ^ "What are empty calories?". USDA MyPlate 2011. Archived from the original on 2014-01-30. Retrieved 2017-10-20.