Calorie Conversion

A Calorie is a unit of energy, commonly used to measure the energy content in food and drink. When you hear about calories in your diet, it refers to how much energy your body can get from consuming certain foods or drinks.

1. Energy from Food:

   • When you eat or drink something, your body breaks it down and converts it into energy. This energy is measured in calories. For example, if a slice of bread has 80 calories, it means that eating it gives your body 80 units of energy to use for various activities, like walking, thinking, or even just breathing.

2. Calories vs. Kilocalories:

   • Technically, when we talk about "calories" in food, we are actually referring to kilocalories (kcal). One kilocalorie is equal to 1,000 calories. However, in everyday language, we just say "calories" when we really mean kilocalories. So, when you see that something has 200 calories, it actually contains 200 kilocalories, or 200,000 regular calories.

3. Using Calories:

   • Your body uses calories as fuel. The more physically active you are, the more calories you need. If you eat more calories than your body needs, the excess is stored as fat. If you eat fewer calories than your body uses, you may lose weight because your body starts using stored fat for energy.

• Apple: A medium-sized apple has about 95 calories. This means eating the apple provides your body with 95 units of energy.
• Running: If you run for 30 minutes, you might burn around 300 calories, depending on your weight and speed.

• Energy Measurement: Calories measure how much energy food or drink provides.
• Balance: It’s important to balance the calories you consume with the calories you use to maintain a healthy weight.

In summary, a calorie is a way to measure the energy your body gets from food and drinks. It helps you understand how much fuel you're giving your body and how much you need to stay healthy and active.