Do You Need to Count Calories from Eating Paper? Health Risks

How Many Calories Are in a Piece of Paper?

Calorie counting has become a popular method for people looking to lose weight or maintain a healthy diet. When tracking calories, some wonder if they need to count calories from non-food items like paper. This article will explore how many calories are in a piece of paper and whether it's necessary to count them.

The Basics of Calorie Counting

A calorie is a unit of energy. Calories refer specifically to kilocalories, or the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of water by 1 degree Celsius. Food calories are a measure of the potential energy in foods that can be converted into heat and used by the body.

Calorie counting involves keeping track of the calories you consume from foods and beverages over the course of a day. The goal is to create an energy deficit, where you consume fewer calories than your body burns. This deficit forces your body to use stored energy sources, like fat, leading to weight loss. Calorie intake below 2,000 per day is considered low for women and 2,500 for men.

Do You Need to Count Calories from Paper?

Paper is not a food item, so it may seem strange to consider its calorie content. However, people have raised questions about whether licking envelopes, eating paper, or consuming other non-food items requires counting their calories.

The simple answer is no. You do not need to count calories from paper if you accidentally eat some or decide to intentionally consume it. Here's why:

Paper is indigestible by humans. Our digestive systems cannot break down paper into energy or nutrients.
The components of paper like cellulose and lignin cannot be metabolized by the human body to produce calories.
Eating small amounts of paper is generally harmless, although larger quantities may pose choking hazards or contain contaminants like ink, bleach or other chemicals.
Any potential calories in paper would be negligible. Our bodies are unable to derive energy from paper, so for practical purposes its calorie content is zero.

Calculating Theoretical Calorie Content of Paper

While we cannot actually extract calories from paper, we can calculate the theoretical calorie content based on paper's components.

Paper is primarily composed of cellulose fibers from wood pulp or other plant sources. Cellulose is a polysaccharide made up of linked glucose molecules. Table sugar is also a polysaccharide composed of glucose.

Here is a theoretical calculation of the calorie content of a standard piece of printing paper:

Weight of a piece of paper: about 5 grams
Paper is about 99% cellulose
The calorie content of cellulose is about 4 calories per gram
For 5 grams of cellulose: 5 x 4 = 20 calories
For a 5 gram piece of paper at 99% cellulose: 20 x 0.99 = about 19.8 calories

In theory, a standard 5 gram piece of paper would contain about 19.8 calories. Again, this ignores the fact that humans cannot digest cellulose. So while paper contains a carbohydrate calorie source, we don't have the enzymes necessary to liberate those calories.

When Calorie Counting Paper May Be Appropriate

For most people, counting calories from paper is an unnecessary step that adds complications to monitoring your diet. However, there are some rare situations where it may be appropriate to factor in paper calories:

If you intentionally consume large amounts of paper, the fiber and bulk could potentially contribute calories. In rare cases, people eat paper due to medical conditions like pica.
If tracking every micro and macronutrient, you may want to account for the negligible calories in small amounts of paper you ingest.
If you need to follow an extremely strict diet under medical supervision, your doctor may advise counting all sources of fuel and energy input.

For the average person focused on weight management, counting calories from paper will provide no practical benefits for your diet. It is better to focus on the significant calorie sources from your normal food and drinks.

Health Effects of Eating Paper

While calorie counting for paper is unnecessary in most cases, consuming paper does come with potential health risks that are worth highlighting:

Choking hazard - Paper has little nutritional value and fibrous consistency. Swallowing large pieces could potentially obstruct airways.
Toxic ink - Certain types of ink on paper may be toxic. Consuming printed paper brings a risk of ink poisoning.
Contaminants - Paper can contain residues from processing, chemicals used in bleaching, or microplastics from recycling.
Cuts and scrapes - Paper has sharp edges that can scratch and cut the throat and mouth. This raises infection risks.
Digestive obstruction- While small pieces of paper likely pass through fine, large quantities could potentially obstruct bowels.

In addition, purposefully eating paper may be a sign of an underlying mental health condition like obsessive compulsive disorder or pica. These conditions require medical expertise to address the underlying cause of the behavior.

Is Eating Paper Ever Recommended?

Eating moderate amounts of paper is not recommended. However, there are some specific medical situations where a doctor may actually prescribe consuming small quantities of paper:

Fiber supplementation - For patients prone to constipation, doctors may recommend eating small amounts of paper as an indigestible fiber source to add bulk.
Bowel prep - Prior to a colonoscopy exam, a doctor may prescribe mixing a small paper slurry to help cleanse the bowels.
Emergency survival - In extreme emergencies without other food sources, paper can provide a small amount of sustenance and structure to stave off hunger.

If eating paper for medical or emergency reasons, avoid inked, glossy, or contaminated paper when possible. Focus on thin, clean paper like tissue paper instead.

Paper Alternatives for Chewing and Eating

For people who enjoy chewing or consuming paper-like products, there are some safer alternatives that provide less risk:

Rice paper - Often used in crafting or cooking, these edible thin sheets can be munched on.
Fruit leather - Dried sheets of blended fruit pulp provide fiber and nutrients.
Edible paper - Some companies make low-calorie paper from food starches that can be eaten.
Vegetable pulp sheets - Dried veggie and fruit pulp can be made into paper-like wafers.
Shredded wheat - The compressed wheat biscuit can be torn for a paper-like texture.

When an urge to chew paper strikes, redirecting to a safe, edible alternative can help curb the craving. Having unique textures and flavors can make them more appealing.

The Bottom Line

So do you need to count calories from paper? Generally, no. Here are the key takeaways:

Paper contains a negligible amount of calorie-containing cellulose that humans cannot digest.
Counting paper calories is unnecessary for the average diet.
Rare medical situations may warrant accounting for paper calories.
Eating paper does come with health risks like choking, toxicity, or bowel obstruction.
Doctor-approved situations for eating paper include fiber needs, bowel preps, and emergencies.
People with pica or OCD should get professional support for underlying issues.
Safer paper alternatives include rice paper, fruit leather, edible paper, pulp sheets, and shredded wheat.

Rather than counting paper calories, it is much more constructive to focus your calorie counting efforts on the significant dietary sources that actually provide energy. Aim for a balanced, moderate calorie intake from nutritious whole foods. This, coupled with exercise, is the healthy, effective way to manage your weight long-term.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.