Eating well for your health part 2

The Energy Providing Nutrients Of the five classes of nutrients, only 3 provide energy: Carbohydrates, Fats and Proteins. Energy is the body’s most basic need. Energy is used when you breathe, when the heart pumps blood, and when you sit, stand and walk. The more vigorous the activity, the more energy is required. The energy contained in a carbohydrate, fat or protein is measured in kilocalories, commonly shortened to “calories”. The calorie is a measure of energy available to the body. When you eat something, the number of calories it contains is the number of energy units it provides to the body for its needs. The calorie is also a measure of energy your body uses in everyday life or exercise. Where the Numbers Come From A bomb calorimeter is a special instrument used to measure calories in food. The food is first dried to remove water and then placed in a special container that rests in water. When the food is burned, heat is transferred to the water. The amount the burning food heats the water is the measure of calories. One calorie is the energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water 1 degree centigrade. The energy values of the 3 calorie-providing nutrients are as follows: 1 gram of carbohydrate = 4 calories 1 gram of protein = 4 calories 1 gram of fat = 9 calories Calories may also be added to food intake by consuming alcoholic beverages. Alcohol is not a nutrient because it cannot be used in the body to promote growth, maintenance, or repair. It is a toxin that is broken down as an energy (calorie) source and can be converted to fat. 1 gram of alcohol = 7 calories Nearly all foods supply energy or calories. However, some provide more calories than others. No single food or kind of food is “fattening” by itself. When the energy provided in food is not used – whatever food it is – the excess is stored in the body in the form of fat. Storage of too many excess calories results in being overweight. In my next blog I will discuss how many calories should be eaten on a daily basis. Be healthy everyone!

Let's connect at gaiaadventures@shaw.ca Catherine D'Aoust, Kinesiologist, Personal Training, Better Aging http://www.gaiaadventures.com 604 329.1257