How do you calculate grams of carbohydrates?

The grams to calories calculator is a simple tool that allows you to convert the amount of macronutrients (expressed in grams) into calories. The article below shows how to convert grams to calories and how many calories there are in a gram of carbohydrate, protein, fat, and alcohol.

Not sure how many grams of each macronutrient you should consume daily? Check out our macro calculator!

Grams to calories conversion

Almost all food labels have information stating the number of total calories and grams of macronutrients, but you will rarely see the number of calories from each macronutrient. This grams to calories calculator helps you to understand the difference between calories and grams, and learn the conversion rules.

Knowing how to convert grams to calories allows you to:

• follow a healthy diet;
• check if you're meeting your energy requirements; and
• achieve healthy weight.

How many calories in a gram of carbohydrate?

Carbohydrates are the main source of energy in the human diet. They include sugars, starches, and fiber.

Carbohydrates consumed in food provide 3.87 kcal of energy per gram for simple sugars, and 3.57 - 4.12 kcal per gram for complex carbohydrates. These values are usually rounded to 4 kcal per gram of carbohydrate to simplify the calculation.

How many calories in a gram of protein?

Proteins are the major functional and structural component of every animal cell. They consist of amino acids, some of which humans cannot synthesize. It means you must obtained proteins from your diet.

As with every macronutrient, they also provide energy - 1 gram of protein provides approximately 4 kcal.

How many calories in a gram of fat?

Fat is the most energy-dense macronutrient - 1 gram provides 9 kcal.

You need fats for the construction and maintenance of cell membranes, to maintain a stable body temperature, and to supply fat-soluble vitamins.

How many calories in a gram of alcohol?

Alcohol contains quite a lot of calories – 7 calories per gram. The amount of alcohol consumed in grams may not be possible to find on the label, but, don't worry, there is an easy way to calculate it using the information provided on every product! Our grams to calories calculator uses the formula below to do it for you:

alcohol [g] = volume [ml] * alcohol by volume [%] * volumetric mass density [g/mL]

The last variable is constant and equals 0.78924 g/mL for alcohol, so we can also present the equation as follows:

alcohol [g] = volume [ml] * alcohol by volume [%] * 0.78924 [g/mL]

Calorie (cal) and kilocalorie (kcal) - is that the same?

Have you ever wondered if the phrase grams to calories and grams to kcal mean the same thing? We are here to give you the answer.

There are two main definitions of a calorie:

1. Small calorie or gram calorie (we usually denote it as cal).
2. Large calorie, food calorie, or kilocalorie (which we present as Cal, calorie, or kcal).

In nutrition, we commonly use the word calorie to mean the number of kilocalories (kcal) when providing nutritional information, therefore our grams to calories calculator uses the phrases grams to calories and grams to kcal interchangeably.

Convert grams to calories - practical example

Let's convert grams to calories using the following nutritional information as an example.

Macronutrient

Grams

Carbohydrates

23

Protein

4

Fat

9

To calculate the number of calories in this food product, you need to use the appropriate conversion rate for each macronutrient:

Carbohydrates (carbs) are one of three primary macronutrients that provide energy, along with fats and proteins. Carbohydrates are broken down in the body or converted into glucose, and serve as the body's main source of energy. They can also be stored as energy in the form of glycogen, or converted to fat (which can also be used as a source of energy).

Types of Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are often classified as either simple (monosaccharides and disaccharides) or complex (polysaccharides or oligosaccharides), originally to create a distinction between sugars and other carbohydrates. However, there are many foods that contain multiple types of carbohydrates, such as fruits and vegetables, which can make the classification of certain foods ambiguous. Although carbohydrates are not essential nutrients (nutrients required for normal physiological function that the body cannot synthesize), they are an efficient source of energy that can potentially reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, obesity, and type 2 diabetes if consumed in controlled amounts.

The three main types of carbohydrates are sugar, starch, and fiber:

• Sugars are the simplest form of carbohydrates and can be found naturally in fruits, dairy, and vegetables; they can also be found in processed form in candy, cookies, cakes, and many beverages.
• Starches are complex carbohydrates that can be found naturally in many types of beans, vegetables, and grains.
• Fibers are complex carbohydrates that can be found in fruits, whole grains, vegetables, and many types of beans. Fibers are essential for digestion.

Generally, complex carbohydrates have greater nutritional benefits than simple carbohydrates, which are sometimes referred to as "empty carbs." Added sugars, a common form of simple carbohydrates, have little nutritional value and are not necessary for survival. While the body does require some carbohydrates (which are broken down into sugar), it is not necessary to consume sugary foods to meet this need. Complex carbohydrates such as fiber-rich fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and others, also provide carbohydrates the body can use for energy to function, along with many other nutrients it can use. Complex carbs are also digested more slowly, allowing a person to feel full for longer periods of time, which can help when trying to control weight. On the other hand, foods comprised of mainly simple carbohydrates such as soda, cookies, juice, and other baked goods, often have large amounts of sugars and fats, which may potentially lead to weight gain and diabetes since they tend to be easier to consume in excess.

How Many Carbs Should I Eat?

While this estimate varies depending on a number of factors, the Institute of Medicine recommends that a minimum of 130 grams of carbohydrates be consumed daily for adults. Other sources recommend that carbohydrates should comprise 40-75% of daily caloric intake. Although carbohydrates are not essential nutrients, and there are many fad diets that highly restrict or even eliminate carb intake, there are benefits to consuming a controlled amount of "good" carbs (which will be described below). When carbs are consumed in excess of what can be stored as glycogen, they are converted to fats, which act as stored energy. In a case where insufficient carbs and fats are available to be used for energy, the body will start breaking down protein instead, which can be problematic. Proteins perform many essential functions in the body, including serving as the building blocks for tissues and organs, driving many chemical reactions throughout the body, facilitating communication throughout the body, transporting molecules, and many more. Refer to the Protein Calculator for more information.

It is worth noting that not all carbohydrates are made equal. Certain sources of carbohydrates are better than others. For example, whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and beans are better sources of carbohydrates than white bread, white rice, and those in processed foods. Within the context of carbohydrates in a diet, the main difference between simple and complex carbohydrates, sometimes referred to as "refined" and "whole," or even "bad" and "good" carbohydrates respectively, is that refined carbohydrates have been stripped of natural fiber. This is common in juices, pastries, bread, pasta, and many other common foods. Fiber is necessary for digestion, and it promotes healthy bowel movements and can, in some cases, decrease the risk of certain chronic diseases, according to the US Department of Agriculture. Whether or not carbohydrates are good or bad is often the subject of diet debates. This is because there is truth to both sides of the argument in that not all carbohydrates are the same and some are better than others, and carbohydrates can affect different people in different ways. Below are some of the key characteristics of good and bad carbs:

Good carbs:

• contain a low or moderate number of calories
• are high in nutrients
• do not contain refined sugars or grains
• are high in natural fibers
• are low in sodium and saturated fats
• are low in, or do not contain, cholesterol and trans fats

Bad carbs essentially are the opposite of good carbs and:

• are high in calories
• are low in many nutrients
• are full of refined sugars (ex. corn syrup, white sugar, honey, fruit juices)
• are low in fiber
• are high in sodium and may contain high levels of saturated fat
• may be high in cholesterol and trans fats
• are high in refined grains (ex. white flour)

How many carbohydrates a person consumes really depends on many personal factors. There are situations in which a low-carb diet can be beneficial, even life-changing, for one person, but having a lower-carb diet will not necessarily have health benefits for someone in a different situation. Many healthy foods that are filled with nutrients, such as vegetables, legumes, whole fruits, nuts, seeds, and whole grains contain carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are not inherently bad so long as sugary drinks, fruit juices, and processed foods like cookies and candy, are avoided, or consumed in moderation. Eat enough carbs to suit your lifestyle and maybe seek out a dietitian if considering any drastic changes to your diet.