Lesson 17.

Carbohydrate and Lipid Contents in Food Labels

Carbohydrates and lipids are essential for growth, movement, and other bodily processes.
Together with protein, these substances are collectively referred to as biomolecules, which provide the
body energy that in measured in calories. In physical sciences, a calorie is the amount of energy or heat
required to raise the temperature of one gram of water by one degree Celsius. In nutrition, however, a
food Calorie, capitalized, is actually a kilocalorie (1 kcal = 1 000 calories). About 4 kcal/g (17kJ) can be
obtained from carbohydrates, 9 kcal/g (37 kJ) from fats, and 4 kcal/g (17 kJ) from proteins.
Carbohydrates, fats, and proteins are also called nutrients, which along with some minerals needed in
large amounts, are called macronutrients. Micronutrients include vitamins and other minerals and are
required only in small amounts.

Energy requirements of humans depend on age, weight, gender, physical activity, medical
condition, and metabolic rate. On the average, young children, inactive women, and older adults need 1
600 calories. Older children, active adult women, and inactive men require 2 000 calories, while active
adolescent boys and young men must consume 2 400 calories. The Food and Nutrition Research
Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST) released the Recommended Energy
Nutrient Intake (RENI) for Filipinos.