I get that is has something to do with energy, but so do a lot of things.
In: 0
A ‘calorie’ is a outdated measure of heat energy used in science. Specifically, it was a the amount of energy required to heat 1 gram of water 1 degree C. However, in modern science they tend to have kicked calories to the curb in favor units called ‘joules’. 1 calorie ~ 4 joules .
In food and nutrition we still measure energy in ‘kilo-calories’, or 1,000 calories (like “kilometer’ vs meter) but we’ve dropped the kilo- and just call them “calories”. but 1 calorie for food = 1,000 “science calories”.
They measure food with heat-energy because a long time ago they determined how much energy food had by burning in a special chamber. The amount of heat the food put out as it burned = it’s calories and more calories = more energy. Which makes some sense, you’d expect a bucket of bacon fat to burn hotter and brighter than a bowl of mung bean sprouts.
They go better than this though and now they measure calories in food in terms of the fat, protein, carbohydrates, and alcohol it contains (the 4 compounds humans can digest for energy).
Latest Answers