Data insights on our Diet – Part 2 Energy Consumption

Energy we get from our diet is measured in calories. Different food provides us calories in various proportions. You can think of calories almost like heat, usually more the heat we feel, more the energy intrinsically.

According to diet requirements, there are various recommendations of amount of calories required per day and we may get all the required calories from one particular type of food. The tricky part is that we will not feel energetic just by taking one particular food, there is a different science of how food plays on us, there is an element of craving, taste, smell and variety on the platter that determines how we feel after consuming the meal. Imagine consuming cereals 3 times a day which scientifically provides required calories, but it will create havoc in the mind by eating same thing everyday.

In different countries, based on culture and local seasons, many varieties of diets have developed over centuries. These diets are varied diets and are composed of multiple sources of food types.

Now, lets look at the various energy calories consumed across USA, India and Japan and sources of those diets

Analyzing the pie charts, population in USA has major pie’s from vegetal products, animal products, cereals and good percentage from sugar/sweeteners. Indian diet has a higher percentage in the vegetal products and cereal’s category and less of sugar/sweeteners or animal products compared to USA diet. In Japan, the diet is similar to the Indian one with some distribution in animal products, higher. Source of calories from sugar/sweeteners in Japan is less compared to diet in USA.

In any dietitian recommendation, distribution of calories is prescribed to meet the energy needs and appeal of taste buds.

Stay tuned for next segment where we will see protein consumption