What are Calories & Macros?

This module explains how calories and macronutrients relate to each other and how they combine to form your daily energy intake.

Calories and Energy Balance

• Calories are a unit of energy found in food.

• Your macros add up to your total daily calorie budget.

• If intake is above what your body needs, the excess is stored as fat.

• When calorie intake is too low, the body can draw on stored body fat to cover the gap.

• Kilojoules measure the same thing as calories; they are just a different unit system. 1 calorie = 4.18 kilojoules.

What Macros Are

• Macros is short for macronutrients.

• The main macros are: Protein, Carbohydrates, Fat & Alcohol.

• These macros combine to make up total calorie intake.

Calories per Gram

• Protein: 4 calories per gram

• Carbohydrates: 4 calories per gram

• Fat: 9 calories per gram

• Alcohol: 7 calories per gram