4 Things About Macronutrients You Didn’t Know

Macronutrients: carbs, protein, and fat

You can get these macronutrients (carbs, protein, and fat) from the foods you eat on a daily basis. Our bodies need those in order to function normally, but sometimes, your body can make them or cannot make them in the needed quantities.

But that’s something you can adjust with your diet. As an example, when you eat protein-based meals, you provide your body with essential amino acids. When you eat fatty foods, you provide fatty acids. But fatty food doesn’t mean Chipotle, we mean things like salmon and avocado.

While some foods are generous in one specific macronutrient, others are rich in two nutrients. Let’s talk about which foods have these macronutrients that we need!

Sources of carbs: 

• Whole grains: brown rice, oats, farro, barley;
• Vegetables: peas, potatoes, corn, starchy veggies;
• Fruits: mangos, bananas, figs, apples;
• Beans and legumes: black beans, lentils, chickpeas;
• Dairy products: milk, yogurt.

Why do I need them?

Most of the carbs are broken down into glucose, or more specifically, sugar molecules. But there is one carb that doesn’t end like this, and that’s the dietary fiber. It’s a type of carbohydrate that doesn’t get to be broken down and passes through our bodies without being digested.

There is still some fiber that is fermented by bacteria in your colon. If you’ve wondered why it’s so important to include carbs in your diet (besides the fact that they taste good), some of the main functions are:

• Instant energy – glucose is the beloved energy source for your brain, central nervous system, and red blood cells.
• Storing energy – glucose gets stored in your muscles and liver as glycogen for later, when you need energy after fasting, for example.
• Digestion – as we all know by now, fiber is the number one promoter of a healthy bowel movement.
• Helps you feel full – fiber is also good for keeping you full for longer.

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