Calories are a measure of energy. They refer to the amount of energy in foods and beverages, or the amount of energy you burn exercising.

Depending on where you live, energy may also be measured in kilocalories (kcal) and kilojoules (kJ).

This can create confusion, especially if you’re counting calories or comparing the calorie contents of various foods and drinks.

This article explains what calories are and how they compare with kcal and kJ, as well as how to convert between the two.

Main difference

When it comes to calories, they may be “small” or “large.”

If the “c” in calories is uppercase, it indicates a large calorie, and if it’s lowercase, it indicates a small calorie.

A large calorie estimates the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of 1 kg (2.2 pounds) of water by 1°C (34°F).

On the other hand, a small calorie estimates the amount of energy it takes to raise the temperature of 1 gram (0.035 ounces) of water by 1°C (34°F).

By these definitions, 1 large calorie equals 1,000 small calories, as 1 kg equals 1,000 grams.

To avoid confusion between large and small calories, it’s thought that the term kilocalorie — the prefix “kilo” meaning 1,000 — was created to refer to a large calorie.

However, the term small calorie is rarely used today outside of physics and chemistry research.

Instead, the terms calories — capitalized or not — and kcal are used interchangeably and refer to the same amount of energy in relation to food or energy burned with exercise.

Therefore, you don’t need to convert them, as 1 kilocalorie equals 1 calorie in nutrition.

Calories may also be expressed as kilojoules (kJ).

One calorie (kcal) equals 4.18 kJ or 4,184 joules (J).

To convert from calories to kJ, multiple calories by 4.18. Conversely, to convert from kJ to calories, divide kJ by 4.18.

For example, a medium-sized banana (118 grams) provides 105 calories (kcal) or 439 k

How are these terms used

Regulations require that food and beverage manufacturers display a nutrition facts label on their products. It lists, among other information, the amount of energy the item contains per serving or weight .

The nutrition facts label serves to help inform you about the healthfulness of packaged foods and beverages, as well as whether they contain ingredients that you may need to avoid due to an allergy, intolerance, or personal preference.

Depending on where you live, the nutrition facts panel may express the energy value of a food or beverage in calories, kcal, kJ, or a combination of them.

Below is a list of countries and which label they use for energy

• United States: Calories
• Canada: Calories
• European Union (EU): kJ and kcal
• Australia and New Zealand: kJ or both kJ and kcal
• China: kJ

Manufacturers determine the number of calories a food or beverage contains based on the amount of energy-supplying nutrients it contains.

The three main energy-supplying nutrients are protein, carbs, and fats.

Protein and carbs each provide about 4 calories (16.7 kJ) per gram, while fat provides 9 calories per gram (37.6 kJ) (

Alcohol also supplies 7 calories (29.3 kJ) per gram.

Manufacturers round to the nearest 1-gram increment, so if you were to quantify the number of calories or kJ from each of the macronutrients, they may add up to be slightly different than the number listed on the nutrition label.

Moreover, the nutrition labels of foods that contain fiber, which is classified as a carbohydrate, may contain fewer calories than what you calculate.

This is because fiber, depending on the type, is either indigestible or poorly digested, thus contributing zero or few calories.

The bottom line

Calories are a measure of energy in nutrition and exercise.

Calories and kcal are used interchangeably and refer to the same amount of energy.

Calories or kcal may also be measured in kJ, with one calorie (kcal) equaling 4.18 kJ.

Following the earlier directive on the suspension of new SIM registration by network operators, the Federal government has directed all operators in the country to disconnect every SIM card not synchronized with valid National Identity Number (NIN) by December 30th 2020.

This came after an urgent meeting of key stakeholders in the Communications industry convened by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami) on Monday, December 14, 2020

NCC assures no telecom subscriber’ll be disconnected
The meeting in its resolution insisted that all telecom operators must from Thursday, December 16, 2020 require all their subscribers to provide valid National Identification Number (NIN) to update SIM registration records.

You likely know the familiar expression, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.”

While the phrase was first coined in 1913, it was based on a Pembrokeshire proverb that originated in 1866.

In fact, Notes and Queries magazine was the first to publish the original quote: “Eat an apple on going to bed, and you’ll keep the doctor from earning his bread.”

Although research shows that eating more apples may not actually be associated with fewer visits to the doctor, adding apples to your diet can help improve several aspects of your health.

Health benefits

Apples have been associated with a number of benefits that could help promote long-term health.

Highly nutritious

Apples are loaded with important nutrients, including fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

One medium apple provides the following nutrients

• Calories: 95
• Carbs: 25 grams
• Fiber: 4.5 grams
• Vitamin C: 9% of the Daily Value (DV)
• Copper: 5% of the DV
• Potassium: 4% of the DV
• Vitamin K: 3% of the DV

In particular, vitamin C acts as an antioxidant to neutralize harmful compounds known as free radicals and protects against disease.

Apples are also a great source of antioxidants like quercetin, caffeic acid, and epicatechin.

Supports heart health

Studies show that eating more apples could be associated with a lower risk of several chronic conditions, including heart disease

In fact, one study in over 20,000 adults found that consuming higher amounts of white-fleshed fruits and vegetables, including apples, was linked to a lower risk of stroke.

This may be due to the presence of flavonoids found in apples, which are compounds that have been shown to reduce inflammation and protect heart health.

Apples are also loaded with soluble fiber, which may help reduce blood pressure and cholesterol levels, both of which are risk factors for heart disease.

Contains cancer-fighting compounds

Apples contain several compounds that may help prevent cancer formation, including antioxidants and flavonoids

According to one review of 41 studies, consuming a higher amount of apples was associated with a decreased risk of developing lung cancer.

Another study observed similar findings, reporting that eating more apples was tied to a lower risk of colorectal cancer.

Other research suggests that a diet rich in fruits and vegetable could protect against cancer of the stomach, colon, lungs, oral cavity, and esophagus

However, more research is needed to evaluate the potential anticancer effects of apples and determine whether other factors may be involved.

Other health benefits

Apples have also been linked to several other health benefits that could help keep the doctor away:

• Support weight loss. Due to their fiber content, apples have been shown to promote feelings of fullness, decrease calorie intake, and increase weight loss.
• Improve bone health. Human, animal, and test-tube studies have found that eating a higher amount of fruit could be associated with increased bone mineral density and a lower risk of osteoporosis.
• Promote brain function. Animal studies suggest that eating apples could help reduce oxidative stress, prevent mental decline, and slow signs of aging.
• Protect against asthma. Studies show that an increased intake of apples may be linked to a lower risk of asthma.
• Reduce the risk of diabetes. According to one large review, eating one apple per day was tied to a 28% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes, compared with not eating any apples at all.

Potential downsides

Eating an apple every day is unlikely to harm your health.

However, it’s possible to have too much of a good thing, and eating multiple apples each day may cause several adverse side effects.

In particular, rapidly increasing your intake of fiber over a short period of time can cause symptoms like gas, bloating, and stomach pain.

Like other fruits, apples also contain a good chunk of carbs in each serving.

While this is not a problem for most people, those following a low carb or ketogenic diet may need to moderate their intake.

Other healthy options

Rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, apples are an excellent addition to the diet and may offer several health benefits.

However, many fruits and vegetables offer a similar set of nutrients and can be equally beneficial for health.

Plus, incorporating a variety of other fruits and vegetables into your routine can add more flavor and nutritional value to your diet.

Here are a few other fruits and vegetables that you can swap in for apples from time to time:

• bananas
• blueberries
• broccoli
• carrots
• cauliflower
• grapefruit
• kale
• mango
• peaches
• pears
• pineapples
• raspberries
• spinach
• strawberries
• tomatoes

Although eating more apples may not literally be associated with fewer visits to the doctor, apples are rich in nutrients and offer several benefits for disease prevention and long-term health.

In addition to apples, many other fruits and vegetables provide a similar set of nutrients and health benefits.

For best results, enjoy a variety of fruits and vegetables as part of a nutritious, well-rounded diet.