“That is helpful for calibrating a proper portion size even for healthy foods.”
While society has programmed us to associate “low calorie” with “health”, many high-calorie foods (like avocados, nuts, and seeds) are packed with beneficial micronutrients and phytochemicals. So even though calories is the boldest number on the nutrition label, it doesn’t provide much intel on how metabolically beneficial a food is. When considered with other factors like how much protein, fiber, and fat are in a food, it can give you a ballpark idea of how full you might feel after eating it. “It’s also helpful to consider energy density (i.e., calories) in combination with serving size,” says Rich Joseph, MD, founder of VIM Medicine. “That is helpful for calibrating a proper portion size even for healthy foods.”