Chances are you have heard the term “macro” thrown around more times than you can count on social media. Maybe someone has asked you what your macros are. Have you ever wondered what “macro” stands for? Wonder no more! Nutrients are divided into 2 basic categories, macronutrients and micronutrients. Micronutrients are vitamins and minerals the body needs to function. The term macros you see so commonly is short for macronutrients and are your carbohydrates, fats and proteins that make up your diet.
Carbohydrates (bread, beans, milk, etc.) provide us with glucose which is converted into energy we can use for physical activity.
Fats (unsaturated, saturated and trans) are necessary for our body. We should try to limit unsaturated fat and eliminate trans fats.
Protein (meats, eggs, beans) is an essential macro. It’s found in almost every tissue in our body.
Low carb diets like Atkins and high fat diets like keto are based on eliminating one of these necessary nutrients. To figure out calorie content by macronutrients you simply have to multiply. Fats are worth 9 kcals per gram. So if your food items has 4 grams of fat per serving you are looking at 36 kcals of fat. Carbohydrates and protein are both worth 4 kcals per gram. So at 4 grams per serving you are looking at 16 kcals.
So why is all of this important? If you want to build muscle you’ll need a diet high in protein. If going keto is appealing to you, you’ll need to understand the difference in healthy fats vs unhealthy fats. If you are carb sensitive you may need to limit your carb intake. All of the macronutrients are important for a healthy body. Understanding the basics will help you make healthier choices. As always let me know if you have any questions!