Weight-Loss Software > Calorie Calculator Counter

The Best Calorie Calculator Counter

By Terry Dunkle, DietPower Editor-In-Chief*

The best calorie calculator counter is, of course, the one that's right for you. You'll find hundreds on the market. I've been testing and building them for more than 20 years. Here's what I generally recommend looking for:

Ideal Calorie Calculator Counter Download it free. (No strings.)

Food Selection

Nothing is more frustrating than a counter that continually delivers "Food not found!" messages when you are trying to log your meals. Look for a counter with at least 20,000 foods in its database.

Some online calorie counter calculators offer databases to which any use can contribute foods. Generally speaking, these are a problem, because they make you vulnerable to other users' typographical errors. If the website doesn't specifically say that it fact-checks these entries, choose another solution.

Accounting for Exercise

If you really want to control your weight, you must count not only the calories you eat, but also those you burn in exercise. Make sure your counter lets you log your workouts and awards you extra calories for them. It should also factor your calorie burn for your current weight, as a lighter person will burn fewer calories than a heavier person performing the same activity.

Nutrients

These days, even a mediocre calorie calculator counter will monitor your intake of other nutrients besides calories. The best cover dozens of nutrients. DietPower®, for example, shows your balance of 33 nutrients, from vitamin A to zinc. These can help you reduce your risks of diabetes, cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis, and many other health problems. Ask your doctor or dietitian which nutrients are most important to you.

Extra Functions

If you look carefully, you can find a counter that does even more than what we've described above. DietPower is unique in guaranteeing that you reach your goal weight on your target date by automatically adjusting your daily calorie budget to your metabolism. Like many other programs, it also lets you create, analyze, and "doctor" recipes.

Customer Service

Make sure your calorie calculator counter comes with free phone and email support by people who actually know the program. (Strangely, this is rare.) It should also offer a no-obligation free trial and a no-questions-asked refund if the program doesn't work well for you.

(Don't patronize programs that ask you to enter your credit-card number to get a "free" trial. They are probably hoping you'll forget to cancel in time to avoid charges if you don't like their product. Companies that trick people out of their money simply don't deserve your business.)

 

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*Terry Dunkle is a 30-year veteran medical journalist and consumer advocate who serves as CEO and chief editor at DietPower, Inc., a leading maker of nutrition and weight-loss software.

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