Whether you are trying to lose weight or gain muscle, paying attention to your diet can make a world of difference. While starting this journey, you may also end up learning about the importance of macronutrients.
To put it simply, macronutrients are nutrients that your body needs in a large quantity to perform its functions.
If you have an optimal balance of macronutrients in your diet, you can achieve your goals of wellness and fitness.
But if you fall behind on your daily intake of macronutrients, it can have adverse effects on your health and cause various risks for your wellbeing.
To help you unlock the secret to a better diet, hereās a quick guide to
macronutrients.
What Are Macronutrients?
First things first, macronutrients refers to a class of nutrients that your body needs in a large quantity.
This makes them different from micronutrients that your body only requires in smaller amounts to perform its daily functions.
By understanding the role of macronutrients in your diet, you can easily follow healthy eating tips for beginners and know exactly how to support your bodyās daily nutritional requirements.
Why Should You Consume Macronutrients?
Your body needs macronutrients to gain energy, stay healthy, and perform its daily functions. Each of the three macronutrients play a different role in supporting your health. You can find these nutrients in special supplements like protein pre-workout or regular ingredients like olive oil.
When you consume your required macronutrients daily, you can give your body the energy and nutrition it needs to stay alert and fit. If keeping track of your food is difficult for you, you can use solutions like a fitness app or a food journal to keep on top of what you are eating.
List of Macronutrients
There are three major types of macronutrients that include protein, carbohydrates, and fats. Each of these categories boosts your energy, while also bringing about distinct benefits for your health.
You can turn to methods like applying the FITT principles to eating in order to easily make
these nutrients a part of your regular diet.
Protein
Protein is extremely important for helping you develop and maintain body tissue. From weight loss to muscle building, protein supports different ways to reach your fitness goals. Additionally, protein-heavy diets can also support your efforts in the gym.
Carbohydrates
Due to the negative myths associated with carbs, itās common to think that they are bad for you. But the fact of the matter is that carbs are extremely important for your metabolism, cardiovascular health, and nervous system support.
Fats
Similar to carbs, fats get a bad rap for nothing. When you consume healthy fats, they can actually help you maintain energy levels, absorb vitamins, and regulate your hormones. Thatās why, even when you go big on exercise via a workout app, healthy fats should be a part of your diet.
How Much Macronutrients Do You Need a Day?
The amount of macronutrients that you need on a daily basis depends on different factors like your age, weight, and level of activity. Typically, you may want to get your daily calorie intake ratio between the following ranges.
ā Protein: 10-35%
ā Carbs: 45-65%
ā Fats: 10-30%
You can turn to solutions like a food diary app to see how well you are doing at the nutrient intake front. With that, you can also speak to a nutritionist to get professional guidance about your diet and adopt practices like taking the cleanest protein powders.
How to Ensure an Ideal Intake of Macronutrients?
Since macronutrient intake requirements vary from person to person, you need a personalized approach to ensure you are following an ideal approach. Besides using online apps and services, you can also reach out to professionals to find the right diet for you.
Along with macronutrients, you should also pay attention to micronutrients like vitamins and minerals.
This ensures that you can take proper care of your health with your diet, all without a huge burden on your shoulders.