Nutritional calorie (Calorie)

Definition

A nutritional calorie (Calorie), denoted with a capital 'C', is the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of water by 1 degree Celsius. It is equivalent to 1,000 small calories (cal).

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. One nutritional Calorie equals 4.184 kilojoules (kJ).
2. Nutritional Calories are commonly used to quantify the energy content in food.
3. In calorimetry, the energy released or absorbed by food can be measured in Calories.
4. The term 'Calorie' is often used interchangeably with 'kilocalorie' in dietary contexts.
5. The calorific value of macronutrients: carbohydrates and proteins provide about 4 Calories per gram, while fats provide about 9 Calories per gram.

Review Questions

Related terms

Calorimetry:

A method used to measure the amount of heat released or absorbed during a chemical reaction or physical process.

Kilojoule (kJ): A unit of energy equal to 1,000 joules; often used in conjunction with Calories for food energy measurement.

Specific Heat Capacity:

The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one gram of a substance by one degree Celsius.