Protein provides 3.2 calories per gram, not 4 calories per gram

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Saturday, February 24, 2007 1:34 am Email this article
How long have you heard that protein and carbohydrates provide 4 calories per gram of food, and fat provides 9 calories per gram? Probably forever. But these numbers are bogus according to a recent paper by Dr. Geoffrey Livesey. Proper calculation

Calculate calores after subtracting the calories required for metabolism and storage

The calorie content of food should represent the amount of calories left for your body to use after subtracting the calories required for metabolism and storage.

It is called Net Metabolisable Energy.

 

Protein

Protein : 3.2 calories per gram

After subtracting the calories required for metabolism and storage, protein contains 3.2 calories per gram, not 4 calories as we have always been told.

 

Fat

Fat : 8.7 calories per gram

After subtracting the calories required for metabolism and storage, fat contains 8.7 calories per gram, not 9 calories as we have always been told.

 

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates : 3.8 calories per gram

After subtracting the calories required for metabolism and storage, carbohydrates contains 3.8 calories per gram, which is what we have always been told.

 

Alcohol

Alcohol : 6.3 calories per gram

After subtracting the calories required for metabolism and storage, alcohol contains 6.3 calories per gram, not 7 calories as we have always been told.

 

Fiber

Fermentable fiber : 1.9 calories per gram

After subtracting the calories required for metabolism and storage, fermentable fiber contains 1.9 calories per gram, not 0 calories as we have always been told.

List of fermentable fibers

A list of some soluble (fermentable) fibers include:

• Psyllium
• guar gum
• cellulose
• oat bran
• barley
• inulin
• xanthan gum
• fructooligosaccharides (FOS)
• resistant starch
• sugar alcohols

REFERENCE

Livesey G. A perspective on food energy standards for nutrition labelling. Br J Nutr. 2001 Mar, 85(3):271-87.

AUTHOR’S CONTACT INFORMATION

Dr. Geoffrey Livesey
Independent Nutrition Logic
Pealerswell House
Wymondham, Norfolk, NR18 0QX, UK
fax +44 1953 600218
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Articles on the same subject can be found here:

• Alcohol

• Calorie content of food

• Carbohydrates

• Fat Intake (Dietary Fat)

• Fiber (Dietary Fiber)

• Protein (general)