The Washington times., 1916-01-12
Energy Value
OF Food Lies
In Heat Units
BY pr. I. <. HtRsHBERe.


~ GOD Is the first essential Of man.
- From It the human structure
grows. and from II arises work
and sweat of the brow and the
sineTy activities and heat that make
the wheels Of life go around.
The energy value Of ration IL. $50
10 speak. its smallest common denoini-
nator. Food gives strength and energy.
out II must also give new Tissues, as
wen as reserve forces. against disease
school children know that heat can
De changed to work. work to electricity,
electricity TO light. light to motion, and
so on. In fact. all types Of force can
DC transformed. II Is only necessary TO
measure the heat that any food gives
iorthfto know what power It has. For
example, the temperature to which a
given amount OF water is raised indi-
Gates Hhe heat 1t can produce. The
amount of heat required to elevate A
hlogram Of water one centlgrade de.
gree called heat unit or caiorie.
Determining Values.
To find the calorifc value OF any
given quantity of food. say one pound.
II Is placed in a vessel filled with oxy-
gen under pressure. This .'bomb'' "a
placed in vessel containing two
quarts OF water. into which an accurate
thermometer has been placed. A piah-
mum wire In contact with the food n
linked with an electric circuit. When
turned on the fire flashes and burns nm
the rood and oxygen. The heat gener.
Ateo Is taken up by the water. which
surred steadily and automatically.
me highest point of the mercury in the
thermometer is registered and multipli-,
Ssuon gives the number OF calories
meter. N"'"iA-
u the ordinary American thermometer
Fahrenheit were used, a cal0ric would
pc almost that amount of heat used To
raise one quart of water two degrees.
Aipumens give 81, fats 90 sthrches
ana sugars ~ Galleries for each is grains
or one gram. Fatty foods thus are
seen TO give most. energy, but sugars
ana starches taste better, and more OF
them can be beaten. To say that par
ucular FOOD gives 50 many Calories
means that when one pound IL burned
that particular number of salories IL
set free. sirloin steak has I190 calo-
IeS. nat Is each pound yields 1iS0
t holds 50 per cent water.
Other Food Values.
/ Olive oil has a caIorifc value OF f2a0.
IO teihCuse sueah mas only 100: corned
nSei' on the other hand. gives 1915,
wnlie salt pork does even better with
2555. and smoked bacon 2715.
Rump, round steak and ribs rim fr6n,
1000 to 1lOC calories Lamb and leg Of
mutton average near $50 calories fIoil
chops OF mutton, however range above
400 calories; Tenderloin Of beef. strange
20 say, furnishes as a rule less energy
than any of these. meats. having a Gallo
ritic value Of only s25. yet Il 10 often tins
most desirable and expensive. . y
Veal rs poorer IN value. containing onlys
100 calurics Chicken may be as low a.
500 calories. while turkey rises TO '110G.
Canned salmon gives 915. and Holsters
only lac calories Oysters, cod. mackerel
shad and halibut are disappointing. and
commonly run from 200 to $50 calories
Beans and butter have 1850 and 54OJ
calories, respectively. Cheese, eggs
cereals, bread. cakes, crackers, peas
and fruits have from 1900 to 1900 calories.
(copy't. 1915. by Newspaper Feature servlesD.