How do scientists define calories? Understanding 'cal', 'Cal', and 'kcal'
                                
                                
                                •
                                
                                
                        
                                    
                                    3 min read                                
                            
                                Did you know that a single dietary Calorie (capital C) is actually 1,000 scientific calories (lowercase c)? This striking difference reveals the critical distinction in how scientists define calories versus how they are commonly presented on food labels.