 | By Paola de Varona, News Editor | | Calorie counting is closely tied to our understanding of nutrition and health in the United States. In 1990, the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act established the nutrition labeling we've come to expect on most foods today—serving size, calories, ingredients, and nutrition content.
But here's my petition for why you should consider breaking up with that calorie counter on your phone. | | | Today's Top Story | | A Case Against Calorie Counting |  | When we're looking for a solution to overeating or a pathway to losing weight, restricting calories is often touted as the only way forward.
But I'm a testament to all the ways in which the numbers game can go wrong. I've spent most of my adolescent and adult life in a standoff with calories—often counting them at the direction of a doctor.
When I was following a nutritionist's 1,200-calorie diet plan, I found myself hungrier than I'd ever been. I tried convincing myself that my body was simply adjusting to appropriate portion sizes. But restricting calories only left me more preoccupied with food, making me hyperaware of how hungry I was and how badly I wanted it to be time for my next meal. Counting calories fueled my struggle with a binge-restrict cycle for years.
Now, more and more experts are questioning whether a numbers approach is the healthiest way to develop a good relationship with food and eating. People can consume the same number of calories, yet see very different results. How our bodies process food can depend on the type of food we're eating, our metabolism, and even our gut microbiome. A one-size-fits-all diet or meal plan is contrary to our very biology. | | Know More | | The 1,200 calorie-deficit diet is arguably one of the most pervasive weight loss strategies for women in the U.S. to this day. The jury is still out on whether this is enough calories for an average adult. But Kate Regan, a registered dietitian who focuses on intuitive eating, talks about how 1,200 calories is the requirement for a 2-year-old. | | Feel Better | | While I'm still working to shift my health goals away from weight loss, I'm trying to live a healthier lifestyle. I've been incorporating fruits and vegetables into as many meals as possible, practicing intuitive eating, and cooking some of my favorite family recipes. It can be difficult to shift from a scarcity mindset when it comes to food, so remember to give yourself grace. | | |  | | The U.S. sometimes lags behind the U.K. for about two weeks in terms of COVID-19 surges, but not always. So far, BA.2 is spreading much quicker in the U.K. than in the U.S. |  |  | | Hurricanes Impact Public Health For Months After Storm | | Hurricanes lead to many deaths in the U.S. even several weeks after the storm—perhaps more than we previously thought. A new study found that hurricanes cause a 30% uptick in deaths in the months after the weather event. Beyond injuries, health risks like infectious diseases and heart disease are high. As climate change makes these storms worse and more frequent, it's more important than ever for communities to be prepared. If you live in a hurricane zone, remember to always keep extra medications on hand during the season, stock up on safe food and water, and try to stay out of flooding. | | | | Why Do Some People Never Get COVID? | | Scientists are looking into what makes someone part of the "never COVID" cohort. This is the name researchers have given people who were exposed to the virus—without vaccine protection—but never contracted the virus. Researchers theorize that some people may have genetic variations that help protect them, existing immunity, or simply the ability (and privilege) to take further precautions and avoid exposure altogether. | | | | | |  | | In an interview with Verywell, Kelsey Lorencz, RDN, a registered dietitian, shared how intuitive eating can benefit anyone and fit a number of lifestyles. |  | | You don't have to have a disordered eating past or be a chronic dieter to learn how to eat intuitively and respect your body and yourself. If you want to stop constantly overeating, feeling guilty when you eat fun foods, or out of control when you're around those foods you never let yourself have, intuitive eating can help you create balance in your life and remove those negative feelings from food. | |  |  | Kelsey Lorencz, RDN
Registered dietitian and founder of Graciously Nourished
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