A Calorie Is a Calorie Is a Calorie, Right?

If you're counting calories, you're probably just concerned about the number. If you are keeping a meal under 250 calories, it doesn't matter whether you get those 250 calories from a big bowl of steamed veggies or a sliver of cheesecake (other than the fact that getting your nutrition from cheesecake isn't good for your overall health), right? Not necessarily.

According to Diet Blog, some researchers are saying that's not the case, and some calories are more likely to become fat than others. Basically, sugary treats cause your blood glucose levels to spike, which makes your body release more insulin. And, some experts say that "controlling insulin secretion is the key to losing weight."

I know -- this means that substituting Christmas cookies for a nutritious dinner, even if the calories are equal, is a bad idea. And for that, I'm sorry. But hey, anything I can do to help you avoid a little seasonal weight gain is a good thing, right? So make sure you're not just counting calories, but counting the right calories.