What is a calorie and What is an empty calorie?

Answer 1

A calorie is a unit of heat equal to the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one kilogram of water by one degree Celsius. An empty calorie however does not give your body any energy at all.

Answer 2

A calorie is a unit of energy. Your body requires three macronutrients viz. protein, carbohydrates and fats. Protein and carbohydrates supply 4 calories per gram, while fat contains 9 calories per gram, making it much more calorie-dense. Empty-calorie foods have either very little or no nutrient content. They are also calorie-dense, meaning a small serving contains a disproportionately large number of calories eg. sugary food, alcohol, junk food etc.

Answer 3

The difference between nutrient dense Calorie foods and empty Calorie foods lay in the nutritional content (Vitamin & Minerals) contained in the food.

Foods such as whole grains, fruits, nuts, etc. contain high amounts of nutrition (Vitamin & Minerals etc.). These are referred to as nutrient dense foods.

The term "empty Calorie" refer to foods such as candies, cakes etc. which have a high Calorie count compared to the essential elements contained within the food.