Empty Calories

Empty calories, in casual dietary terminology, are calories present in high-energy foods with poor nutritional profiles, typically from processed carbohydrates or fats. An "empty calorie" has the same energy content of any other calorie but lacks accompanying micronutrients such as vitamins, minerals, or amino acids as well as fiber as found in whole grains but less so in white flour. Michael Jacobson, head of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, coined the term in 1972.Generally, unnecessary calories are converted in the body to fat. However, if calorie intake is limited for the sake of reducing weight, insufficient vitamin and mineral intake may lead to malnutrition. Dieticians recommend in every case that nutrient-dense food such as fruit and vegetables be substituted for empty-calorie food.

Adult Energy Needs and BMI Calculator http://www.bcm.edu/cnrc/caloriesneed.htm

Foods often considered to contain mostly empty calories include:

• Sweets, Soft drinks, beverages with a low juice component, and other foods containing sugar
  
• Margarine or shortening
  
• Butter, lard, and other highly-saturated fats
  
• Alcohol.

Beer

	Regular Beer (12oz)	Light Beer (12oz)
Budweiser	145 calories	110 calories
Coors	142 calories	102 calories
Michelob	155 calories	113 calories
Miller	143 calories	96 calories
Old Milwaukee	146 calories	114 calories

Wine

	Wine (4oz)
Dry White Wine	77 calories
Sparkling Wine	92 calories
Sweet Red Wine	100 calories
Port	170 calories
Sherry	140 calories

Liquors - about 70-75 calories per ounce