Patient was educated on calorie yield of food elements as follows:
- The food consumed majorly consists of 2 types of nutrients – Macronutrients and micronutrients.
- Micronutrients are nutrients that are also very essential to the human body. These nutrients are needed in smaller quantities and are mainly divided into vitamins and minerals. There are about 28 micronutrients, putting together all the vitamins and minerals needed by the body, such as, vitamins belonging to B-complex group, Vitamins A, D, E, K, minerals such as, sodium, potassium, chloride, and calcium. Micronutrients, though are needed, do not contain any calories and so, do not directly yield any energy.
- Macronutrients are the nutrients that contain calories and yield energy upon metabolism for essential functions of the human body, such as, body metabolism, working, walking, thinking, and growth & repair. Macronutrients are needed in large quantities and are divided into three major groups – carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.
- Calorie yield per gram from each of these food groups is as follows:
- 1 gram of carbohydrate yields 4 calories – If your food has 20 grams of carbohydrate, the calorie yield of the food from carbohydrates is 20 times 4, which is 80 calories.
- 1 gram of protein yields 4 calories – If your food has 20 grams of protein, the calorie yield of the food from protein is 20 times 4, which is 80 calories.
- 1 gram of fat yields 9 calories – If your food has 20 grams of fat, the calorie yield of the food from fat is 20 times 9, which is 180 calories.
- If your food has 20 grams each of carbohydrate, protein, and fat, the total calorie yield from the food is 80 + 80 + 180 = 340 calories.
