Diet Quality and the Thermodynamics of Food
A calorie is a unit of heat energy, but how your body processes that energy depends on what you eat. Different foods have different metabolic costs, known as the Thermic Effect of Food (TEF). By optimizing your diet quality, you can increase your daily energy expenditure while eating the same number of calories.
Optimizing Your Caloric Intake:
- High-TEF Foods: Protein has a TEF of 20-30%, meaning 20-30% of the calories you consume from protein are burned just digesting it.
- Satiety Metrics: Whole foods rich in fiber (vegetables, legumes) slow digestion, keeping you fuller and preventing hunger crashes.
- Volumetrics: Choose low-calorie, high-volume foods to occupy more physical space in your stomach, triggering fullness receptors.