Understanding Calories: What They Are, What They Do, and How to Get Them Right

Host: Christopher L. Camp, M.D.

Guest: Jason Ewoldt, M.S., RDN

There aren’t many words out there than can conjure up emotions, confusion, and frustration quite like the word we are discussing today, and that word is “calories.” However, a discussion on calories doesn’t have to be so complex and loaded with this unnecessary baggage. Today, we are going to bring clarity to the topic by focusing on what you really need to know from both a scientific and practical perspective. In addition to better understanding what they are, we will discuss ways to help you know what your body’s caloric needs are for losing weight or maintaining a healthy weight. Finally, we will discuss practical strategies that help you achieve your fitness and health goals.

The three big questions we will tackle in this episode are: 1) What are calories, and why do they matter? 2) Why do people often misunderstand calories, and why is it so hard to get it right? 3) What can I do to figure out my caloric needs and actually stick to them?

To help us answer these questions, my guest today is Jason Ewoldt M.S., RDN, who is a registered and licensed dietician and certified sports specialist dietician at Mayo Clinic.

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