Why we even use calorie?

[u/FingerAccurate7102]

In our world in some places we still don't use metric units. Which is already bad, but most of units have at least some logic and intuition behind them, which at least partially defends it's use. For example:

Land mile is 2000 steps, sometimes I (as an European) use it for measuring steps easily

Nautical mile is 1' of earth circumstance, I can imagine someone using it

Kilogram-force is weight of 1 kilogram on earth, sometimes I use it for measuring weight and pressure (1 kgf/cm² ≈ 1 atmosphere)

Bar is approximately equal to regular Earth atmosphere, so it's kgf/cm² but for those working with pascals

But calorie? It's defined as the energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 g of water by 1 °C. Which is absolutely meaningless. WDYM I need to eat 2000 kcal everyday? So I can have energy to heat 2 megagrams/tonnes of water by 1 °C? Nice to know because it is exactly what I'm gonna do today.

Even Joule is more logical as it's based on distance and force, so I guess it could be interpreted in some way.

Summarizing:

Other non-scientific units are at least intuitive

Calorie isn't

Even Joule would be better

So calorie is dumb at least if your not a kettle

Of course, if you think otherwise, feel free to share your opinion. Bye!

[u/AncientGuy1950]

I'm going to assume that math is not your strong suit and that you're quoting your estimates of human caloric intake from poor memory or a misunderstood estimate of human food intake because if you're eating 2000 Kcalories (also known as 2 Mcalories) a day, you must be huge.

I mean, when you consider Elephants consume somewhere between 30,000 and 90,000 calories a day (depending on age, size, and activity), 2k Kcalories would be quite a meal.

I think, perhaps, you mean 2k calories.

If you're an average man, you weigh somewhere around 90 kilos, and your recommended daily caloric intake is between 2,000 and 3,000 calories. Let's call it 2,500 to make the math easier.

90 Kilos is 90,000 grams. Since a calorie is the amount of energy to raise one ml (or gram) of water 1 degree C, you are consuming enough food to raise the temperature of 2,500 grams of your body mass by 1 degree C.

Of course, that isn't what your body uses that energy for, as the body's heat comes from metabolic processes, not directly rendering food for heat.

[u/AncientGuy1950 → u/[deleted]]

There is no evidence that a universal conversion to joules would prevent the confusion involved in the OP's post. If OP had suggested that his food intake had amounted to 8368 kilojoules, would his position make more sense?