In order to maintain proper health there are particular things that every human being needs. Without these needs being fulfilled, proper functions in the body cannot be maintained, and eventually the outcome could be severe or fatal. Hence, there is a need to fulfill body needs in terms of food consumption. However, it must be realized that Carbohydrates, Fats, Proteins, and Minerals need to be consumed in appropriate quantity. Certainly, quantity does matter here because if any of these substances are out of proportion abnormalities may result. An example of this is the undesired health problems that arise with excess calories in one's diet. Indeed, here it can be asserted that consumption of fatty substances is the cause of this, which means that an individual would have to reduce the intake of fatty substances. As opposed to this consideration one may consider the minimum requirement of fatty substances. This means that there also has to be a minimum requirement of calories in the body. Understand that other food substances cannot produce calories the way that fatty substances can, there must be a minimum requirement for these as well.

Considering the minimum requirement for calorie needs it must be considered that there are other factors that are important as well. These include physical factors such as one's gender, height, weight, ration of fat to muscle, nature of the work that one does, etc. This is because all these factors interact in order to result in a minimum calorie need. For those that have fat on their body already as opposed to muscle, they may not need an intake of calories as much as an individual with less fat on his or her body. This is because of the fact that during a work out or any kind of physical exertion calories can be burned of the body itself, thereby reducing the need to consume high calorie substances.

Particular attention needs to be drawn to the fact that calories are essential for sustaining human life. If one did not have any calories in his or her bodies/he would cease to exist. Hence, even to carry out the minimum body activity such as vital activity of the body, calories are essential. Though one may not indulge in heavy exercise or any type of exertion that requires strenuous effort s/he still needs calories. However, as opposed to this minimum need for calories in the body for vital activity, there are individuals who need to do away with much of their calorie intake owing to excess weight. In order to reduce their weight there are a particular number of calories that they have to reduce cut down on. It is suggested that in order to remove 1 pound every week, one has to cut calorie consumption by 500 every day. This is because it is known that 1 pound of in one's body is equaled to 3,500 calories. It is also suggested that in order to lose weight effectively one could try consuming fewer calories. For instance consuming 250 calories less every day and exercising to burn another 250 calories by walking around 2.5 miles every day is suggested.