The breakdown of calories

Calories: the word that everyone seems to fear these days. Add in fats and carbohydrates, and you are bound to see someone in the fetal position. So what are calories? In one word: energy. Calories are a unit of heat and are the source of energy for the human body. Really, we mean to say kilogram calories. That is why sometimes you see kcal (kilocalorie) on food labels. However, most refer to it as just calories. They are essential for survival. The three main sources of calories are carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. These are all essential for proper body function. All carbohydrates, fats, and proteins are equal in terms of calories. Each gram of fat contains 9 calories. Each gram of carbohydrate or protein equals 4 calories. Thus, the reason for people being so scared of fat. Plus, the association with the word. Dietary fats are not the same as body fat (adipose tissue.) I will write a follow-up to this article on types of dietary fats, carbohydrates and proteins. Lastly, people generally do not get enough proteins in their diets. This could because of more emphasis being placed upon carbohydrates and fats, along with the fact that carbohydrates are in nearly every food. The daily amount for intake of carbohydrates is the highest between the three because it is the first thing used for energy meaning it is less likely to store as fat. The bottom line:

1 gram of fat - 9 calories
1 gram of carbohyrdrate - 4 calories
1 gram of protein - 4 calories