Carb/protein/carbohydrates - calories in each category

sunnshine1

I understand carbohydrate is 4 calories per gram, protein 4 calories, and fat is 9 calories a gram.
I have today input my figures, ie, carbs 37g protein 57g, and fat 93g, which is:
Carbs. - 37 x 4 =. 148 calories
protein - 57 x 4 =. 228 calories
Fat. 93 x 9 =. 837 calories
Total:- 1213 calories
Why is then that on MFP it gives me a total of 1168 calories?

It is very possible that I am doing something wrong and it is only a difference of 45 calories, but these do add up?
Apologies if this has come up before.

Mistizoom

I have no idea if this is it, but there is actually a rounding error when we say 4, 4 an 9 calories per gram for the macronutrients (so they are each actually a tiny bit higher or lower). I remember learning about this in biochemistry class, but I can't find a reference right now. If MFP is that sophisticated (and I'm not sure that it is), perhaps that is where the difference comes from.

ETA: Wikipedia says 3.87 kcal/gram for simple carbs and 3.57 to 4.12 kcal/gram for complex carbs, 8.8 kcal/gram for fats, can't find protein right now. So basically, calories in foods are all an estimate, anyway.

gbel1975

How many grams of fiber did you have? While they count toward the carb total in grams, they generally aren't considered to have caloric value. Since you had a difference of 45 calories, I'm going to guess you had 11 grams of fiber.

LolBroScience

Fiber, rounding, and improper entries

jacksonpt

gbel1975 wrote: »

How many grams of fiber did you have? While they count toward the carb total in grams, they generally aren't considered to have caloric value. Since you had a difference of 45 calories, I'm going to guess you had 11 grams of fiber.

Is this true? MFP doesn't count fiber towards your overall carb/calorie #s???

I assumed it was rounding, or more likely, incorrect entries in the DB. Either way, it happens pretty frequently, so it's not just you or something you are doing.

gbel1975

jacksonpt wrote: »

gbel1975 wrote: »

How many grams of fiber did you have? While they count toward the carb total in grams, they generally aren't considered to have caloric value. Since you had a difference of 45 calories, I'm going to guess you had 11 grams of fiber.

Is this true? MFP doesn't count fiber towards your overall carb/calorie #s???

I assumed it was rounding, or more likely, incorrect entries in the DB. Either way, it happens pretty frequently, so it's not just you or something you are doing.

I don't know if that's what MFP does. I meant to say that some sources don't consider fiber to have a caloric value. I can't verify that's even correct, but it was the first thing that popped into my mind when I read the OP's question.

gbel1975

jacksonpt wrote: »

gbel1975 wrote: »

How many grams of fiber did you have? While they count toward the carb total in grams, they generally aren't considered to have caloric value. Since you had a difference of 45 calories, I'm going to guess you had 11 grams of fiber.

Is this true? MFP doesn't count fiber towards your overall carb/calorie #s???

I assumed it was rounding, or more likely, incorrect entries in the DB. Either way, it happens pretty frequently, so it's not just you or something you are doing.

Found this. Not sure if it's 100% accurate but it does cite the FDA:

Fiber is essentially composed of a bundle of sugar molecules. These molecules are held together by chemical bonds that your body has trouble breaking. In fact, your small intestine—can't break down soluble or insoluble fiber; both types just go right through you. That's why some experts say fiber doesn't provide any calories. However, this claim isn't entirely accurate. In your large intestine, soluble fiber's molecules are converted to short-chain fatty acids, which do provide a few calories. A gram of regular carbohydrates has about 4 calories, as does a gram of soluble fiber, according to the FDA. (Insoluble fiber has essentially zero calories.)

http://www.menshealth.com/mhlists/facts_about_nutritional_fiber/printer.php

gbel1975

sunnshine1 wrote: »

Total:- 1213 calories
Why is then that on MFP it gives me a total of 1168 calories?

It is very possible that I am doing something wrong and it is only a difference of 45 calories, but these do add up?

I would also point out that this difference or error is less than 4%. I imagine that the things that we all measure in our lives such as food weight and volume, our body scales, and even the weights at the gym, probably all have a margin of error around 4%. I wouldn't sweat it.

jacksonpt

gbel1975 wrote: »

jacksonpt wrote: »

gbel1975 wrote: »

How many grams of fiber did you have? While they count toward the carb total in grams, they generally aren't considered to have caloric value. Since you had a difference of 45 calories, I'm going to guess you had 11 grams of fiber.

Is this true? MFP doesn't count fiber towards your overall carb/calorie #s???

I assumed it was rounding, or more likely, incorrect entries in the DB. Either way, it happens pretty frequently, so it's not just you or something you are doing.

I don't know if that's what MFP does. I meant to say that some sources don't consider fiber to have a caloric value. I can't verify that's even correct, but it was the first thing that popped into my mind when I read the OP's question.

gotcha.

gbel1975 wrote: »

jacksonpt wrote: »

gbel1975 wrote: »

How many grams of fiber did you have? While they count toward the carb total in grams, they generally aren't considered to have caloric value. Since you had a difference of 45 calories, I'm going to guess you had 11 grams of fiber.

Is this true? MFP doesn't count fiber towards your overall carb/calorie #s???

I assumed it was rounding, or more likely, incorrect entries in the DB. Either way, it happens pretty frequently, so it's not just you or something you are doing.

Found this. Not sure if it's 100% accurate but it does cite the FDA:

Fiber is essentially composed of a bundle of sugar molecules. These molecules are held together by chemical bonds that your body has trouble breaking. In fact, your small intestine—can't break down soluble or insoluble fiber; both types just go right through you. That's why some experts say fiber doesn't provide any calories. However, this claim isn't entirely accurate. In your large intestine, soluble fiber's molecules are converted to short-chain fatty acids, which do provide a few calories. A gram of regular carbohydrates has about 4 calories, as does a gram of soluble fiber, according to the FDA. (Insoluble fiber has essentially zero calories.)

http://www.menshealth.com/mhlists/facts_about_nutritional_fiber/printer.php

I've seen/read similar things.

sunnshine1

Many thanks, yes my fiber intake was 10, so it could be this. (10 x 4 = 40). Many thanks for the link which explains it well.

sunnshine1

Another problem with the site, but it could be the way I use it!
When I tot up the carbs, fat, protein, sat fat, in each meal there are occasional hiccups with the adding up, some include a extra 1, or minus 1 or 2. I haven't totted up the calories, as I am more interested in carb, protein, fat and saturated fat, so this could have the same problem. Has anyone else found this, and perhaps you can advise me?

I am from the UK so this may have a bearing on it? Many thNks

CyberTone

sunnshine1 wrote: »

Another problem with the site, but it could be the way I use it!
When I tot up the carbs, fat, protein, sat fat, in each meal there are occasional hiccups with the adding up, some include a extra 1, or minus 1 or 2. I haven't totted up the calories, as I am more interested in carb, protein, fat and saturated fat, so this could have the same problem. Has anyone else found this, and perhaps you can advise me?

I am from the UK so this may have a bearing on it? Many thNks

​If you are using the Web version and seeing this issue, it has been reported and MFP is working to fix this particular issue. On the Web version, the Meal totals are rounded, then the rounded numbers are used to calculate the daily totals. For me, using the View Full Report (Printable) provides the correct column totals.
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10190889/food-log-totals-differ-from-report-totals-web-version#latest

sunnshine1

@CyberTone Many thanks and for the link. I do use the web version. I guess I can cope with the odd discrepancy, until it's sorted and will KEEP CALM!
I never print my meals but will look at the 'View Full Report'. Thanks again.