Introduction
The actual question, and therefore the answer to "what are calories made of" is rather multi faceted, however; the calories that we are concerned with are the ones that add the pounds to our backsides. Knowing exactly what they are will give us a greater understanding of how to dispense with them, or rather their packaging, which we know more intimately as fat.
What are calories?
Calories, are units of energy (more about energy later) and as such do not have mass, they are weightless; however, the method we have evolved to store that energy, fat, has a great deal of both weight and bulk. What at one time would have been essential to our very survival has now become our nemesis. We in the developed world no longer experience famine and has such no longer require the ability to store several months supply of energy.
Calories, joules and energy
To do anything requires energy. In fact energy is often quoted as being the ability to move, lift, warm or light something. Typically; the units of energy are joules, however; prior to joules being defined, it was noted that to heat 1 gram of water by 1 Celsius requires a specific amount of energy. this amount of energy was termed a calorie. If you check the labeling on food packaging you will see the energy content shown in both calories and joules. A simple equation will show that one calorie is equal to approximately 4.2 joules.
What are food calories?
Where the calories in food are concerned the culinary and scientific interpretations differ; whether out of laziness or ignorance the reason is unclear. A calorie is a relatively tiny amount of energy and although our dietary requirements are often quoted as being between 1,500 - 2,500 calories, what they really mean 1,500 - 2,500 kilo calories (kilo meaning thousand).
A calorie defined
food, as with all molecules, are held together by energy. When we metabolize our food the energy is released for our use. Carbohydrates, starch and simple sugars all contain 4 kilo calories per gram, while a single gram of fat contains 9 kilo calories. Where the actual amount of work in one calorie is concerned; to lift an object weighing 1 lb to a height of 9 inches uses 1 joule. We can convert that into calories in two ways;
1 calorie = the energy used to lift 4.2 lb to a height of 9 inches
1 calorie = the energy used to lift 1 lb to a height of 36.8 inches
Conclusion
While energy, the ability to make things, is measured in joules, calories are the more commonly used units of food energy. Where our health is concerned; the problem is not with calories themselves, but with the highly visible way in which we store them for use later. Unfortunately we have developed the ability to store almost unlimited amounts which, as the medical world is keen to tell us, ultimately leads to a whole host of health problems unless we take it upon ourselves to control our calorie consumption and usage.
David G. Is the person behind DavidHealth Membership; a free membership which provides regular health news, tips, free books and access to software concerning fitness and weight loss. To join DavidHealth Membership, and receive your first free gift, visit David Health Membership
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