Energy Intake, Dietary Intake & Energy Density

A. Energy Intake

Energy intake is considered to be part of diet that is mainly regulated by the hunger of a person and the energy that is consumed by him/her. It is difficult to measure a person’s energy intake. The reason for this is that though a human being consumes varied amounts of every component of their daily diet, all the components in the food consumed do not provide energy. An example for this can be cited to be that of a person eating cake. The butter or eggs that are consumed are not likely to weigh the same each time. This is applicable to each vegetable or fruit that is consumed . A fruit of a specific category or from same tree is not expected to have the same energy (calorific) value. There are differences in sizes and the sugar proportions change as the ripening of fruit progresses. Components of a specific food which are digested, absorbed and required for usage in the processes of the body are termed as nutrients. Nutrients are further divided into categories-macronutrients (carbohydrates, proteins and fats) and micronutrients(minerals and vitamins) and water. While macronutrients, provide the requisite energy, micronutrients are the food groups that are required for the functioning of the body and are not the sources of energy in the body .

B. Dietary Intake

            Dietary intake includes all beverages and foods consumed orally. It is also defined as the average of the daily intake of a food or nutrient in the long-run . The dietary intake (recommended) relates to a particular quantity of specific type of nutrients which are required in single day for good health. Items which are not taken to be in the foods category like condiments and dietary supplements and those that contain nutrients or energy are included as part of energy intake. But this does not happen always. This is because the above items are not included in the dietary assessment intake . It is due to problems with information missing about their composition, quantification or identification.

C. Energy Density

            The amount of the energy stored in a specific region/system of the space /unit volume is termed as ‘Energy Density’ . In most of the cases energy that is useful/ extractable will be quantified while energy that is inaccessible chemically like the mass energy at rest will be ignored. Quantifiable energy is the energy that is quantified with respect to magnitude in terms of related units. The foods having lesser energy density do provide lesser calories/gram compared to foods having higher value of energy density. A person can consume greater portion of food for the same calories that is having lesser energy density as compared to foods having higher value of energy density.

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