Definition of Calories
Nutritionist measure the amount of heat produced by metabolizing of food in units called kilocalories. A kilocalorie is the amount of energy it takes to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of water 1 degree on a centigrade (celsius) thermometer at sea level.
In common use, nutritionists substitute the word calorie or kilocalorie. This information isn’t scientifically accurate: strictly speaking, a calorie is really 1/1000 of kilocalorie. But the word calorie is easier to say and easier to remember, so that term we see whenever we read about the energy in food.
Calories provide fuel to keep the human body going. They provide our body with the energy that we require to perform all our body functions.
We require energy for survival – to breathe, pump blood and for all kinds of physical activity like walking, running, sitting and working.
Calories are required even when we are lying down or sleep. They also expended in digestion of food, and for making available the calories from that food to our body.
They are essential for maintenance of our body temperature. Thus, adults require calories mainly for physical activities and involuntary body functions.
In case of infants and children in their growing years, besides the above mentioned roles, calories perform they very vital function of supporting growth and development.
Definition of Calories
