THE ENERGY VALUE OF FOOD

WHAT IS THE ENERGY VALUE OF FOOD

When food nutrients reach the cells, some of them are used as fuel to generate energy. In the mitochondria, nutrients are oxidized (broken down). By-products include carbon dioxide, water and waste products. The amount of energy released is measured in:

CALORIES (CAL) OR KILOCALORIES --> (1kcal = 1000 cal)

JOULE (J) OR KILOJOULE (kJ) --> (1 kcal = 4.18 kJ)

The Joule is the unit of energy in the International System of Units (SI).

Each type of nutrient produces a different amount of energy.

Vitamins, minerals, water and fiber do not provide energy.

WHAT IS THE INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM OF UNITS?

The International System of Units, also known as the metric system, is the global measurement standard. It is based on the metre, kilogram, second, ampere, kelvin, candela and mole together with a set of prefixes to indicate multiplication or division by a power of ten.