Macro, Shmacro...Here’s The Tea On Macronutrients

Man, just when you thought the world of nutrition couldn’t get hard enough, this whole “Macro” talk surfaces and once again, we’re lost!

Well, actually, macros have been around for as long as food has been around because macros are in every single food we eat. Macros are simply the 3 biggest nutrients in our foods that our body runs off of for energy, cellular function, and maintaining homeostasis within the body. 

They breakdown into 3 categories consisting of Proteins, Carbohydrates, and Fats. What is super cool about these Macros is that you can manipulate and adjust the calories you get from these Macros to work for your specific body type, goals, and even hormone balancing... pretty neat if you ask me. Before we dive into how to get these Macros to work for you, it’s important to understand what each Macro is and why it’s important for a well balanced diet.

Protein: And no, it’s not just found in mega protein shakes or protein bars. Proteins are the foundation of our cells and is the second most abundant in our bodies to water. So, we’re going to need a lot of it and not just to build muscle, which is a plus. They contain 4 calories per gram.

Carbohydrate: I know what you’re thinking, and it’s not all bad. Carbohydrates actually make up most of the fruits and vegetables we eat and are highly promoted in a well balanced diet. So why do we put it to shame? These puppies are the most used in energy throughout the body and is also needed for it’s Fiber content. Without carbs we wouldn’t have fiber, and without fiber we wouldn’t have a happy gut. I will say, it’s the quality of where these carbohydrates are coming from. Not just through bread, pasta, and rice. They contain 4 calories per gram. 

Fats: Yet another stigmatized Macro nutrient over looked for it’s qualities of proper digestion, hormone regulation, and second largest contributor for energy used in the body. Again, it is important to note the quality from where this dietary fat is coming from, making sure we’re decreasing fats coming from fried foods and fatty poultry meats.  Yet fat is the highest yielding count of calories per gram coming in at 9 calories per gram. 

Alright, so how does this all tie together? Each of these Macronutrients when eaten together provide some serious health benefits to our body and help our bodies run properly and smoothly. That’s why diets that heavily decrease or eliminate one of those macros is not always viewed as the healthiest and can cause adverse effects. Yet as I stated before, the quality from which these macros come from is going to impact the delivery and digestion within the body. Next to each of these macros is the number  of calories they have in each gram; yes, fat being the highest. In order to manipulate these macros to work for you and your goals you first need to establish what your goals are, your current weight, height, and sex. 

There are many macro calculators out there to use for guidance but ask a professional if you want a “second opinion” to make sure these calculations are correct for your needs. 

Next, is deciding how to navigate your new macro calculations and means of recording. I’m personally a fan of the MYFITNESSPAL app which gives you full macro breakdowns and has an extended library of foods. Keeping your macros accounted for and visually being able to see what a general meal looks like with your tailored macros can be a wonderful tool to use for your specific goals. Once you get the hang of it, you might not need to use the tracking methods as it will become second nature and your brain will start to think in macros. 

Need more guidance? Want to calculate your specific macros and discuss how these breakdowns look in your own diet? Message me and we can book at FREE 20 minute chat over the phone to discuss.