What Is A Calorie?

What Is A Calorie?

When we speak of eating or exercising, we typically talk about calories. Restaurant menus will state the number of calories in each meal. Treadmills will show the amount of calories that are burned. Dieters keep track of calories every day at mealtimes, while others giddyly proclaim that calories don't matter on weekends.

But what exactly is an calorie , in the first place?

"The calorie is nothing more than a measurement, just like inches or kilowatts," says Lauri Wright the assistant professor of nutrition as well as dietetics, of the University of North Florida and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. "It just represents how much energy is contained in the food or how much energy is used by the body."

What's in a Calorie

When we talk about calories in our bodies as well as in our food , what we are talking about is actually the kilogramcalories Wright says.

A calorie, commonly known as a small calorie is the quantity of energy needed to heat 1 gram water by one degree Celsius. There are 1,000 calories in a kilocalorie, or large calorie. It determines how much energy is to increase the weight of a kilo of water in one degree Celsius. From a scientific point of view, if we refer to "calorie" on nutrition labels or menus, and on calorie counters , they really are quoting kilocalories. (This article will employ "calories" to refer to "kilocalories.")

Researchers can determine how much energy specific fuel or food has by burning it in a device that is known as a bomb calorimeter. The heat created by the reaction can raise the temperature of the water that is inside the device. The amount of temperature variations signifies the amount of energy that the food contains as per Wright.

A bomb calorimeter. (Credit: MEDIAIMAG/Shutterstock)

Foods are packed with calories as carbohydrates, proteins and fats. Carbohydrates, including sugars, are mostly found in vegetables, fruits and grain products. Protein is found in nuts, beans, legumes and animal meat. Healthy fats are derived from plants, fruits, the fatty fish and vegetables.

Proteins and carbs both have four calories per gram, and fats are loaded with 9 calories per Gram, Wright says. To make energy, your body transforms nutrients to glucose. Simple sugar powers the entire process within the body.about:blank

But, not all the energy that comes from these nutrients has the same quality, however. Our bodies were designed to utilize carbohydrates for energy to produce energy sources according to Wright. Carbohydrates are composed of many glucose molecules connected together according to her explanation, and our bodies are able to break into energy units that are capable of being broken down into smaller units. Fats and proteins are converted into glucose. This means that they're less efficient in the body.

Wright is adamant about comparing the human body as the luxury car engine. A luxury car is generally made to run on premium gas, with more the octane. In the event that you use regular gas to the tank, the engine still runs but not as effectively. Similar is the case for our bodies. The engine runs smoothly on carbohydrates however, it is not as smooth on proteins, and more so on fats.

This is the reason Wright claims that she as well as other nutritionists don't like the idea of keto diets. "Those ketones are alternate energy, so it's almost like putting leaded gasoline in your engine," Wright claims.

These fats and proteins can be used in other ways within the body, aside from being the energy source, Wright says. Proteins like these can be used to build muscle or antibodies to fight illnesses. Healthy fats , such as omega-3 acid and monounsaturated acids -- assist the body's absorption of vitamins and lessening the risk of developing heart diseases and diabetes type 2 from the Mayo Clinic.

It is vital to get your calories from a variety of sources. (Credit: Ekaterina Kondratova/Shutterstock)

Counting Calories

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In general dietary guidelines suggest that the average adult woman consumes approximately 22,000 calories per day, while men over the age of 2,500, Wright says. Although these figures are an estimation of calories required, they differ from person to person Wright adds. The amount of energy your body requires is dependent on many variables, including activity level and age, as well as the height of your body, and many other factors.

When you eat more calories than you're able to consume in a day your body will transform the energy that it's lost into muscles (short-term storage) or fat tissues (long-term storage). The body's defense system when you're not eating enough for your body, it will tap the stores of the stores to supply fuel for. "The body once again is this amazing machine," Wright affirms.

A diet that is too high in energy can result in weight gain as well as health problems. One of the primary reasons for weight gain across the U.S., where obesity affects more than 93 million adults are the foods that are a source of "empty calories." Soda is a prime example, Wright says. It's not nutritious and is stuffed with calories. When you consume food, it's important to get the most bang for your buck She suggests. Foods that supply calories along with other nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals proteins, fiber and vitamins.

In the end, calories aren't the enemy, Wright says. Many people who want to lose weight are caught up with the amounts; however in reality, it's best to consider calories as a function of your personal energy needs Wright suggests.

It doesn't matter if you're compiling a list of calories or ignoring them it's just a matter of energy. Making the most out of your energy is up to you.