What is a kilojoule?
The Calorie Counter helps you to find answers to scientific questions about weight loss and calories.
A kilojoule is a unit of energy. It also refers to the energy value of food and the amount of energy our bodies burn. The common term for this used to be 'Calorie'. Fats and alcohol are the most energy-dense foods. We eat food to fuel our bodies for energy, growth and repair. Carbohydrates, proteins and fats are broken down by the digestive system into their simplest components: simple sugars, amino acids and fatty acids. Carbohydrates are the body’s preferred fuel, although proteins and fats can also be converted into energy. Food energy is measured in kilojoules (kJ). The common term for this used to be ‘Calorie’, but ‘kilojoule’ is the term now accepted internationally. This unit of measurement allows us to talk about how much energy a food contains and how much energy is burned up during exercise.
Convert Kilojoules to Calories and Calories to Kilojoules with this counter:
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