Normal Calorie Intake for Females

Calorie is often associated with fattening foods and has always been viewed suspiciously, as not a good thing to have in the body. But exactly what is a calorie? A calorie is a unit of energy, energy that works like fuel for the body. Energy is needed for all activities in the body, viz. functioning of the brain, pumping blood in the heart, breathing, muscle movement, etc. Calories in the food refer to the amount of energy the food possesses. The carbohydrates, proteins and fats are broken down metabolically into glucose, amino acid and fatty acids respectively. These molecules enter the bloodstream, providing energy to all parts of our bodies. The following paragraphs will help one understand all about the normal calorie intake for females.

Normal Calorie Intake for a Woman
As a woman, it is imperative to pay attention to our body's energy needs. According to Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a woman's daily calorie intake should be between 1500 to 2000 a day. But this need also depends a lot on height, weight, lifestyle and health of a woman. Calorie intake also depends on the physical considerations as a calorie requirement requisite. Calorific requirements are normally calculated for the following reasons: maintaining weight and energy levels or losing or gaining weight.

Calculation of Daily Calorie Intake for Females
Most dietitians and nutritionists use the Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) to determine calorie needs. A BMR is the bare minimum calorific requirement calculated for basic functions of the body. While assessing a BMR, its calculation is restricted to the body's internal functions and not the activities done by manner of exercise or other laborious work.

Calorie Intake in Females to Gain Weight
Once the calorie intake has been calculated using the BMR, one can decide how much calorie one needs to feed the body to gain weight. This calculation will help you understand the basics of weight gain. You would be required to consume more calories and burn less. It is estimated that one pound of body weight is approximately equivalent to 3500 calories. So the additional calorie intake will depend upon how much weight you want to gain. So eat foods that are high on calories or simply speaking, just eat more.

Calorie Intake in Females to Lose Weight
As mentioned above, a pound of body weight is about 3500 calories, so for those who need to lose weight, a calorie deficit diet is what is needed. A combination of lesser caloric diet intake with an increase in the exercise regime will prove to be an efficient way to lose weight. Consuming foods that are listed under low low calorie food list will definitely help. Eating a combination of restricted protein and fat, a no-carbohydrate diet will be beneficial. More on free low calorie recipes

For optimum health, gain as well as loss should be gradual. Never push the body by stuffing it with more calories nor deprive it by drastically reducing it. There are many foods that help one to gain weight as well as lose weight the healthy way. Before going on a program for calorie intake (increase or decrease), research the food well. exercises will also go a long way in helping one not only burn calories but also increase appetite. Normal calorie intake for females should be given priority as a woman's body undergoes many hormonal changes. To live healthy and well, sufficient amount of calories that convert to energy is essential. Read more on food calories list