Human Nutrition 3(3+0)

Lesson 5 : Energy-Units, Methods of Measuring Energy Value of Food

Energy Units

The energy value of foods can be expressed in terms of Kilo calories (Kcal) or Mega Joules (MJ). The Unit ‘Kilo Calorie’ is in use now.

• Kilo Calorie
  One kilogram calorie is the quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of 1kg. of water through 10 C. It is one thousand times the small calorie used in physics.

• Mega Joule
  One kilo calorie equals 4.186 kilo joules. Hence, 1,000 kilo calorie equals 40186 mega joules.