Virtually every conversation pertaining to diet and nutrition is in some way or another linked to calories. Still, few people truly understand what exactly calories are and why they are important for optimal functioning of the body. While daily calorie needs vary widely from person to person, all body types have a minimum amount that's required for weight management, disease prevention, and overall good health.
What Are Calories?
Calories are simply units of energy. They are typically used to measure the amount of 'energy' the body obtains when different foods and beverages are consumed. Calories are also used to describe how much energy the body expends (burns) during everyday physical activities and at rest to maintain normal body functions.
Where Do Calories Come From?
Calories are obtained from three essential macronutrients—carbohydrates, fat, and protein—and all foods and most beverages contain at least one of them. Macronutrients are measured in grams and each gram houses a certain amount of calories. Every gram of fat yields about nine calories while carbohydrates and protein only yield four calories per gram. As an example, a food with 10 grams of protein would contain 40 calories from protein while a food with 10 grams of fat would contain 90 calories from fat.
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Read the rest of the article here: http://nutrition.answers.com/nutrition/the-number-of-calories-you-actually-need-each-day
