Database error margins

p0wer_lifter

We know that food data is not precise, but I’m wondering which data to trust more, calories or macros. In particular, the screenshot shows what happens with accumulated errors. Macros are all above 100% yet total calories are not.

My food is almost entirely whole foods with minimal packaged food and almost all data is coming from industry databases rather than packaging labels. Also, I’m measuring total carbs and not having any alcohol, so the discrepancy should all be coming from database accumulated small errors

So, are the total calories in databases more accurate than total macro values?

AF7713F6-5E7B-4122-9A62-C2ACACD47E3A.jpeg

Karen_Cronometer

Hi p0wer_lifter,

Databases like NCCDB and USDA use more specific energy factors for different foods instead of using the average estimates for the macronutrients: 4/4/9 kcal per gram for carbs/protein/fat, respectively.

However, Cronometer does use the average energy values to set up your macro ratio targets. So your energy and macro intake values are not out from one another, just out from the average energy values, if that makes sense.

p0wer_lifter

Thanks for this, Karen