Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) is an excellent place to start if you're trying to understand your body's essential energy requirements better. BMR measures the energy your body needs to carry out the daily functions that keep it balanced. The list of functions includes things that are automated but do require energy (calories or kilojoules).

So think digestion, brain function, body temperature regulation, breathing etc. This energy accounts for about 60% of the total energy used in the day and omits energy burned via activity. BMR is simply the amount of energy used to maintain homeostasis.

Use our basal metabolic rate calculator to find out how many calories or kilojoules your body needs at rest to fuel its normal metabolic activity.