Calorie is the term given to the measurement of the amount of energy that your body gets from foods or beverages. It is the basic unit of energy and it is found in all foods. The body needs calories to sustain its vital functions.
A person who consumes too few calories for a long time becomes underweight. On the other hand, a person who consumes too much calories for prolonged periods can become overweight or obese.
An extremely underweight person may be prone to disorders like a weakened immune system, organ failure, or muscle atrophy. A person who is obese or overweight may be exposed to increased risk of heart diseases, diabetes and cancer. Each individual needs to consume the right amounts of calories depending on his gender, age, muscle mass and activity level.
Here are the top 10 calorie rich foods:
1. Animal Fats
Animal fats include lard, tallow and fish oil. They are high in saturated fats and cholesterol and you need to minimize their consumption. Animal fats contain 117 calories per tablespoon.
2. Vegetable Oils
Vegetable oils include oils taken from soybeans, peanuts, palm and olive. They are the second highest supplier of calories at 124 per tablespoon. You should limit the consumption of vegetable oils as taking them in excessive quantities may result to unfavorable consequences.
When using vegetable oils, you should choose the ones that are not hydrogenated because they do not contain trans fats.
3. Nuts and Seeds
Nuts and seeds that include macadamia and sesame are rich in vitamins, minerals, healthy fats and fiber. They are good for your health most especially if they are eaten dry roasted and unsalted. They are also high in calorie content. Among them, Pilinuts have the highest amount of calories at 719 per 100 gram serving. It is closely followed by macadamia at 718 calories per 100 gram serving, and pecans at 715 calories per 100 gram serving.
4. Salad Dressings
Salad dressings are loaded with fats and oils and they don’t fit well with the lifestyles of dieters and people who are trying to lose weight. The calorie content of salad dressings depend on the quantity of oil and sugar that is used to make them. French salad dressings have the highest calories at 631 per 100g serving. Health experts do not recommend eating foods with salad dressings because of their harmful nutritional components.
5. Peanut Butter
Health experts recommend peanut butter to dieters and health conscious people. A tablespoon of peanut butter contains 94 calories.
6. Junk Foods
Junk foods include snacks and candies, and they are not suitable for health-conscious people as they can contribute to obesity and related ailments. A 100g serving of junk food can contain up to 560 calories while candy bars contain 260 calories.
7. Dark Chocolate
Dark chocolate is packed with nutrients and antioxidants and they help to provide health to your heart, but you have to eat them in moderation. Each 100g of pure baking chocolate contains 501 calories.
8. Cheese
Cheese is rich in protein and calcium but you should limit its consumption because it is high in saturated fats and cholesterol. Among the cheese types, the Norwegian Brunost has the highest amount of calorie content at 466 for every 100g serving.
9. Fried Foods
Fried foods contain saturated fats and cholesterol and you should avoid eating them in large quantities as it can contribute to an increase in weight.
Fried chicken sold at fast food chains have the highest calories at 463 per 100g serving, while French fries contain 373 calories per 100g.
10. Processed Meats
Processed meats are high in animal fats, but they are packed with vitamins and calories. The processed meat product that has the highest in calorie content is Foie Gras, the pate that is made from goose liver. It has 462 calories per 100g serving. Among the sausages, the Spanish chorizo has the highest calorie content at 455 per 100g serving. You should limit consumption of processed meats to maintain your weight and health.
