Energy (calories)

kcal

NutritionThe energy a food provides. Counted as about 4 kcal per gram of carbohydrate or protein, 9 kcal per gram of fat, and 7 kcal per gram of alcohol.

Depends on contextDaily value 2,000kcalNutrition label item

Definition

The energy a food provides. Counted as about 4 kcal per gram of carbohydrate or protein, 9 kcal per gram of fat, and 7 kcal per gram of alcohol.

In the body

Used for basal metabolism and activity; what is left over is stored as glycogen and body fat. In a deficit, muscle and body fat are broken down.

Watch out for

The 2,000 kcal reference on labels is only an average adult figure. A low-calorie food can still be high in sugars or sodium, so read each line together.