How Are Calories Burned?

Introduction

A calorie is a measurement of one unit of energy. When calories are related to food, it is actually measuring kilocalories, regardless of the fact that food energy is usually referred to as calories. When calories are discussed in relation to food, a calorie represents the amount of energy the body can obtain from eating a specific food.

Types

Calories can come in three main forms: carbohydrates, protein and fats. Each type can differ in the amount of calories it contains. For example, a gram of fat has nine calories, while a gram of carbohydrates or protein has four. These numbers are important as they show how much energy can be produced when a calorie is burned in the body.

Metabolic Process

The "burning" of calories is actually the metabolic process of breaking down the fats, proteins and carbohydrates you eat, into products that your cells can use to create energy. Fats are broken down into substances called glycerol, proteins into amino acid, and carbohydrates into glucose. These substances are then released into the bloodstream and made available for the cells to absorb into themselves. The cells then use these products to create energy.

Energy

Any substances that are not directly absorbed by the cells continue on in the body until they are used in metabolism to create energy. To do this, the remaining substances are combined with oxygen, which forces them to release their stored energy.

References

• Human Fitness