1.11 Calories (Food Energy)
Figure 1.111 Diagram of a bomb calorimeter1
Web Link
Bomb Calorimetry
Among the nutrients, the amount of kilocalories per gram are shown below.
Energy (kcal/g) No Energy
Carbohydrate (4) Vitamins
Protein (4)
Minerals
Lipids (9)
Water
As can be seen, only carbohydrates, protein, and lipids provide energy. However, there is
another energy source in the diet that is not a nutrient.....alcohol. Just to re-emphasize, alcohol
is NOT a nutrient! But it does provide energy.
Figure 1.112 Wine is a type of alcohol.
The following table lists the energy sources in the diet from lowest calories per gram to the
highest calories per gram. Knowing these numbers allows a person to calculate/estimate the
amount of calories the food contains if you know the grams of the different energy sources.
Energy Sources (kcal/g)
Carbohydrates (4)
Protein (4)
Alcohol (7)
Lipids (9)
References & Links
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Heat-loss_calorimeter.giftp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Heatloss_calorimeter.gif
Links
Bomb Calorimetry - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohyA9amFfsc