Question

One of the first diets to limit the intake of carbohydrates was prescribed by Dr. William Harvey in 1862. This diet consisted of three meals a day containing equal amounts of protein per meal. If protein contains 4 dietary calories per gram, and the diet consisted of 672 dietary calories of protein per meal, how much protein, to the nearest ounce, was in each meal? (1 ounce is approximately 28 grams.)

Short answer

Each meal contained 6 ounces of protein, to the nearest ounce.

Step-by-step solution

Determine the relationship between protein, dietary calories and grams

We are given that 4 dietary calories per gram is the conversion rate for protein. This means that every gram of protein contains 4 dietary calories.

Calculate the protein in grams per meal

To figure out how many grams of protein each meal contained, we will use the conversion rate given, which is 4 dietary calories per gram of protein. We are also given that there are 672 dietary calories of protein in each meal. To find the protein in grams, divide the total dietary calories of protein per meal by the conversion rate: grams of protein = total dietary calories / calories per gram $grams\mathrm{\_}of\mathrm{\_}protein=\frac{672}{4}$

Calculate the protein in grams

Now, calculate the grams of protein by performing the division from the previous step: $grams\mathrm{\_}of\mathrm{\_}protein=\frac{672}{4}=168$ So, there are 168 grams of protein in each meal.

Convert the protein from grams to ounces

We are given that there are approximately 28 grams in 1 ounce. To convert the protein amount from grams to ounces, we will use this conversion rate: ounces of protein = grams of protein / grams per ounce $ounces\mathrm{\_}of\mathrm{\_}protein=\frac{168}{28}$

Calculate the protein in ounces

Now, calculate the protein in ounces by performing the division from the previous step: $ounces\mathrm{\_}of\mathrm{\_}protein=\frac{168}{28}=6$ So, there are 6 ounces of protein in each meal, to the nearest ounce.

Key concepts

Understanding Dietary Calories

When discussing dietary calories, it’s essential to know what they represent. Essentially, dietary calories measure the energy stored in food that our bodies utilize for daily activities. What we call a "calorie" in everyday language is actually a kilocalorie (1,000 calories).

As you consume food, your body breaks it down to extract energy. This energy is necessary for maintaining body functions like breathing, circulating blood, and physical activities. Knowing how to calculate the calories in your meals helps in managing dietary intake, sustaining energy levels, and supporting nutritional needs.

• Calories determine the energy content in proteins, carbohydrates, and fats.
• 1 gram of protein on average contains 4 dietary calories.

Knowing this conversion helps in understanding how much energy is obtained from proteins alone, which can be vital for those on specific dietary plans.

Protein Grams Explained

Understanding protein grams is fundamental since many diets focus on protein intake for structure and energy. Proteins are composed of long chains of amino acids and are crucial for body growth, repairing tissues, and maintaining muscle mass.

Each gram of protein contains approximately 4 dietary calories. In practical terms, this means if you know how many calories are coming from protein, you can easily calculate how much protein this equates to in grams. For instance, a meal with 672 dietary calories from protein contains:

$$\text{grams of protein}=\frac{totaldietarycalories}{caloriespergram}=\frac{672}{4}=168grams$$

• This calculation shows that energy derived from protein helps in tailoring meal plans to meet personal dietary goals.
• Ensuring an adequate amount of protein is crucial for overall health and fitness, especially for active individuals.

Calorie Conversion Basics

Calorie conversion is a vital tool for understanding nutritional content in food. In the context of proteins, the standard conversion is 4 dietary calories per gram.

To find out how much protein is in a meal based on calorie content, you use the formula:

• $\text{grams}=\frac{\text{calories}}{\text{calories per gram}}$

This conversion allows you to calculate how grams of protein relate to calories consumed.

Additionally, converting grams to ounces can be helpful, especially when recipes require measurements in ounces:

• To convert grams of protein into ounces, simply divide by 28, since there are roughly 28 grams in an ounce.

During this conversion:
$$\text{ounces of protein}=\frac{\text{grams of protein}}{28}=\frac{168}{28}=6ounces$$
Thus, understanding calorie conversion helps in adjusting dietary plans effectively, ensuring balanced nutritional intake.