All Glossary Terms
Nutrition
Calories
A unit of energy; the amount of energy food provides when consumed.
Calories are the energy currency of nutrition. Your total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) determines how many calories you burn. To lose weight, eat fewer calories than you burn (deficit). To gain weight, eat more (surplus). To maintain, match your intake to expenditure. Regardless of food quality, calories determine weight change - though food quality affects health and satiety.
Examples
- 2,500 calorie maintenance level
- 500 calorie deficit for 1lb/week fat loss
- Protein and carbs: 4 cal/g; fat: 9 cal/g