What Are Macronutrients and Why Are They Important?

You’re finally getting back on track with living a healthy lifestyle. You had a successful bunionectomy surgery, and you’re starting to run again and be more active. Yet, you’re struggling to figure out how to establish healthier eating patterns. There are many things to consider when adopting a nutritious diet, and one of those things is to include an adequate number of macronutrients. Which is why we’re here to help answer the question: what are macronutrients, and why are they important?

What Are Macronutrients?

Macronutrients are the nutrients our bodies require in large amounts to help maintain our energy levels and keep our bodies functioning correctly. The 3 macronutrients are protein, carbohydrates, and fats, and you mustn’t severely restrict any of the macronutrients – no matter what the fad diets tell you.

Protein 

Protein is a macronutrient that we’re all familiar with. Yet, what role exactly does this important macronutrient play in our health? Protein assists with many bodily processes like providing structure to body tissue, maintaining an acid-base balance, metabolism, hormonal production, and enzyme systems. Protein also helps with appetite regulation, as it makes you feel fuller. In turn, this can help prevent overeating, leading to obesity and subsequent health issues and disease.

Healthy Proteins:

●  White-meat poultry

●  Seafood

●  Whole Milk

●  Eggs

●  Black beans

●  Lean beef

●  Soy

Recommended Protein Per Day: 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight.

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are next on the list of macronutrients. Carbohydrates are our body’s main energy source breaking down into glucose, which our cells use to produce energy.  Not only do carbohydrates provide us with the necessary power, but glucose is essential to our brain function, as it’s the brain’s only fuel source. There are other important functions of carbohydrates, like helping with digestive health, providing fuel for intense exercise, and regulating our blood sugar level.

Healthy Carbohydrates:

●  Quinoa

●  Bananas

●  Beets

●  Sweet potatoes

●  Buckwheat

●  Oats

●  Brown rice

Recommended Carbohydrates Per Day: 45%-65% of daily calories should come from carbohydrates.

Fats

There’s a common misconception that fats are bad for you and could lead to weight gain. While it is true that fats can be bad for your health, that’s only if you don’t moderate them. Fats are essential for your overall health. This macronutrient is paramount for our bodies as it is an energy reserve. According to research, nearly 85% of our body’s energy reserves are stored in fat.

Healthy Fats:

●  Fatty fish (salmon, lake trout, herring)

●  Beans

●  Olive oil

●  Seeds

●  Avocado

●  Ground flaxseed

●  Beans

Recommended Fats Per Day: fats should consume 20-35% of daily calories.

Final Thoughts

Macronutrients, proteins, carbohydrates, and fats are essential for physical and mental health. Yet, just like with anything, it’s important that you eat in moderation. While these macronutrients are important for our well-being, consuming too much of anything could have the opposite effect leading to serious health issues. If you aren’t sure where to start when it comes to eating a balanced diet, you should consider scheduling an appointment with a nutritionist to help get you started.