Tuesday 19 July 2016

Macronutrients 101 – What are Macronutrients?

Macros

Calories is the main term people hear when it comes to losing or gaining weight. While that is true the one aspect about our food that can be forgotten is the ratio of Macronutrients that each food contains. Macronutrients include Carbohydrates, Protein, and Fat. A successful diet will have a balance of Macronutrients and knowing your Macronutrients allows a person to be able to understand just how many
Calories they are intaking on a daily basis.

Carbohydrates

Each Macronutrient serves a specific role and function inside of the body. Carbohydrates or “Carbs” are the main culprit of diets. However what exactly are Carbs and why are they so bad? Carbs are chains of sugars where once ingested they are broken down into glucose, which is absorbed by the brain, and glycogen, which is used by the muscles and liver. The function of Carbohydrates is to provide an easily accessible energy source for our cells to use. Altogether Carbohydrates contain over 4 calories per gram.

Protein

Protein is another Macronutrient needed to maintain or build lean body mass and is mostly found in meat, dairy and some plants. Due to the promotion of lean muscle mass Protein is very effective for body fat loss! While building lean muscle is one of the functions of Protein, that is not the only purpose of Protein within the body. It is used to form body structures such as organs, hair, or any other tissues within the body. Protein as an energy source provides over 4 calories per gram.

Fats

The third Macronutrient that has a bad reputation is Fats. I know what you’re thinking. Fats should be avoided or limited at all costs! However I will explain that Fats are actually not that bad. Fats are vital to normal bodily functions and are the components of hormones as well as insulation for nerves, skin, and hair. One hormone that is most important in terms of body fat loss is the hormone testosterone, which leads to higher proportion of lean body mass! Out of all the Macronutrients Fats are the most energy dense and contain over 9 calories per gram.

Balance is the key

“The only secret to food combination is a balance of protein, carbs and fat – they all play a key role in our health.” – Jorge Cruise

As you can see there is more to Macros then we would imagine. Once we fully understand Macros then it makes planning our future meals that much easier. However knowing what Macros are is only one step towards reaching your goals. Learning exactly why Macros are important, what proper portions to take, and what are good food sources for each Macro should be your next step. Luckily for you here at Access Change we strive to provide everyone with the proper knowledge about Macronutrients and more!

 

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