Dictionary of Cancer Terms
View in Spanish: Caloría
Calorie (KA-luh-ree)
A measurement of the energy content of food. The body needs calories as to perform its functions, such as breathing, circulating the blood, and physical activity. When a person is sick, their body may need extra calories to fight fever or other problems.
Source: National Cancer Institute Dictionary of Cancer Terms, available at www.cancer.gov/dictionary.