Question

Define calories and explain how the body gets energy.

A. Calories help the body get energy because we burn them by exercising.
B. Calories are a measure of food taste and have no connection to energy.
C. Calories are units of energy, and the body gets energy by consuming food.
D. Calories are a measure of the body's energy reserves.

Answer 1

Calories are units of energy, and they are obtained by consuming food. The body uses the carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins found in food to power its various activities. Eating too much or too little food can lead to health issues.

Step-by-step explanation:

Calories are units of energy, and the body gets energy by consuming food. The carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins in the foods we eat are used for energy to power molecular, cellular, and organ system activities.

Eating too much or too little food can lead to serious medical issues. The amount of energy that is needed or ingested per day is measured in calories, with the nutritional Calorie (C) being the unit commonly used in nutrition.

When we eat, our bodies metabolize the food we consume through an oxidation process, releasing the chemical potential energy of food and converting it into work. This energy is measured in calories or kilocalories, with a kilocalorie being equivalent to 1000 calories.