kaloría

Kalória is a unit of energy used in nutrition and food science in Hungarian-language contexts. In everyday use it typically refers to the kilocalorie, the amount of energy that foods can supply to the body. A kilocalorie equals 1,000 small calories (cal). In scientific contexts, energy is also expressed in joules (J) or kilojoules (kJ), with 1 kcal approximately equal to 4,184 joules.

In nutritional labeling, the energy value of foods is often shown in kilocalories (kcal) or kilojoules (kJ). The energy provided by macronutrients is commonly cited as about 4 kcal per gram for carbohydrates and proteins, about 9 kcal per gram for fats, and about 7 kcal per gram for alcohol. These values are averages and can vary slightly with food composition.

Kalória play a central role in dietary planning and weight management. Energy balance depends on the relationship between caloric intake from foods and energy expenditure through basal metabolism, physical activity, and other processes. When intake exceeds expenditure, weight gain can occur; when it falls short, weight loss may result.

Historically, the term calorie originates from the French calorié, a unit used in thermodynamics. In Hungarian nutrition literature, kalória is the commonly used term for the energy content of foods, and it is typically aligned with the kilocalorie in international usage.