In nutrition science, a Calorie (with a capital C) is best defined as which of the following?

• A. A unit of energy equal to 1 kilocalorie (kcal), the energy needed to raise 1 kg of water by 1°C
• B. A vitamin required for energy metabolism
• C. A unit of mass used to measure serving sizes of food
• D. Another term for carbohydrate, a macronutrient that provides 4 kcal per gram

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that in nutrition science, the term 'Calorie' with a capital C is a specific unit of measurement related to energy.
2. Recall that energy in food is often measured in terms of how much heat it can produce, which relates to raising the temperature of water.
3. Recognize that 1 Calorie (with a capital C) is equivalent to 1 kilocalorie (kcal), which is the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of water by 1 degree Celsius.
4. Eliminate options that describe vitamins, units of mass, or macronutrients, as these do not define what a Calorie is.
5. Conclude that the correct definition of a Calorie in nutrition is a unit of energy equal to 1 kilocalorie (kcal), the energy needed to raise 1 kg of water by 1°C.