Calorie

Definition

The calorie is a unit of energy used in food labelling throughout North America, the UK, and other countries. A food calorie is the approximate amount of energy required to raise one kilogram of water by one degree Celsius. A calorie is equivalent to 4.184 kilojoules and is abbreviated as C, or kcal.

Health considerations

The human body metabolizes energy to function; this energy is quantified as calories. Health agencies recommend, in general, between 1800 and 2400 food Calories a day for women and between 2200 and 3000 Calories a day for men to meet daily energy requirements. Physical activity, body mass and composition, and other factors may alter these requirements.

Keep in mind

A Calorie with a capital “C” is a kilocalorie, composed of 1000 calories (with a lowercase “c”).

References

USDA

Alternative Spellings and Names

large calorie, kilogram calorie, dietary calorie, food calorie, nutritional calorie