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Frequently Asked Questions
Nutrition QuestionsWhy is it always recommended that people consult their doctor before starting the program?
There are two reasons: if some time has passed since your last doctor's visit, you should have a routine check-up before starting the program. Based on the results of that check-up and your medical history, your General Practitioner can recommend an appropriate regimen. Obesity can be a contributing factor in certain medical conditions — for example, high blood pressure (hypertension), adult-onset diabetes (type II diabetes managed through diet or tablets), gallbladder problems or varicose veins. Therefore, you should also consult your doctor before following the program so that your progress can be monitored and the dosage of any medication can be adjusted if necessary.
Why can some people eat enormous amounts and never gain weight, while others gain weight just by looking at a cake?
Body build, weight and the storage of body fat are influenced by our genes. Of course, exercise (or the lack of it) along with how much and what we eat also plays a role.
What is a calorie?
The energy content of food is traditionally measured in calories. A calorie is the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of one gram of water by one degree Celsius. Since a calorie is an extremely small unit, when referring to the energy value of foods, kilocalories (equivalent to 1,000 cal) are often used.
Kilocalories are sometimes called Calories, with a capital C. In nutrition, the larger units — kilocalories and kilojoules — are used. According to the international system of units, kilocalories have been replaced by joules, and food labels now list energy values first in kilojoules and then in kilocalories. One kilojoule equals 0.238kcal. For example, the energy value of a Cambridge chocolate shake is 613KJ/146kcal.