Most people only associate calories with food and beverages, but anything that contains energy has calories. Food calories described on food labels are kcal. The US government pointed out that ordinary men need 2,700 kcal per day, while women need 2,200 kcal per day. Not everyone needs the same number of calories every day. People have different metabolisms, they burn energy at different rates, and some people have a more active lifestyle than others. The recommended daily calorie intake depends on several factors, including: general health, physical activity requirements, weight, height, body shape, etc. As we age, the daily calorie intake will decrease.
The human body needs calories to survive. Without energy, the cells in the body will die. If people consume only the number of calories they need each day, they may lead a healthy life. Low or high calorie consumption will eventually lead to health problems. The number of calories in food tells us the potential energy they contain. What matters is not only calories, but also substances that consume calories. The three main food calories are that 1 gram of carbohydrate contains 4 kcal, 1 gram of protein contains 4 kcal, and 1 gram of fat contains 9 kcal. For high-calorie meals served in restaurants or aimed at young people, people must pay close attention to the location of calorie intake.
Empty calories refer to food calories that provide calories but have little nutritional value. The portion of the food that provides empty calories contains almost no dietary fiber, amino acids, antioxidants, dietary minerals or vitamins. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, empty calories mainly come from solid fat and added sugar.