What is the difference between Kcal and calories?

Still several people are confused when they come through these two terms Kcal and calories. Basically, calories is a measure of energy, body requires. It can be the amount of energy present in foods, beverages, or the amount of energy body is burning.

Depending upon your energy consumption and expenditure, it can be measured in kilocalories or Kcal. These two terms create confusion, especially if you are encountering calories or comparing the calorie content of various foods.

• Difference between calories and Kcal.

Calories can be considered a small proportion of energy. It is generally denoted by 'C' worldwide. But meanwhile a large amount of calories that estimate amount of energy to raise the temperature of one kilograms of water by 1°C.

A small calorie estimates the amount of energy it takes to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water by 1°C. Just converting all these definitions and scientific theories into simpler terms. One large calorie equals to 1000 small calories. So to avoid confusion between large and small calories , 1000 calories are mentioned as 1 Kcal.

Sometimes these calories are also converted into joules, which is the SI unit for energy. If you want to convert calories to joules just multiple the amount of calories with 4.18.

• The bottom line.

Hope after going through above mentioned facts and information you can easily differentiate between C and Kcal. In India, mostly the nutritional labels of the products use Kcal or kilocalorie unit.