Did you know there is an instrument that can measure caloric densities of nutrients? The bomb calorimeter is a type of scale that measures the caloric density of different nutrients. It is a steel cylinder filled with oxygen in which burning occurs. The food sample placed inside is burning due to a spark caused by passing an electric current through a platinum wire. According to the bomb calorimeter, 1 gram of carbohydrates is equivalent to 4 calories, 1 gram of fat is equal to 9 calories.

Did you know there is a full exchange list for diabetics to calculate their overall consumption of food throughout the day? There is a limited number of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats that an individual may consume in a day.