Part 1/6:

Understanding Calories: An In-Depth Exploration

Calories play a significant role in our daily lives, particularly in the food industry, where they are used to convey the energy content of foods. This article aims to clarify what calories are, why they matter, and how different macronutrients contribute to our calorie intake.

What is a Calorie?

Originally defined in 1824, a calorie is a unit of heat or energy. Although the caloric measurement system isn’t frequently utilized in scientific contexts today, it remains pivotal in dietary discussions. Specifically, a calorie can be defined as the amount of energy required to heat one gram of water by one degree Celsius. In the metric system, this measure is roughly equivalent to 4.2 joules.