07/03/2023
WHAT ARE MACROS???
You may have heard a lot about Macros but aren't actually sure what they are. Here's a quick breakdown for you.
Macronutrients (Macros) are the 3 main categories that foods are broken into. Of course, most foods contain 2 or 3 different macros but are categorised by the macro that makes up the major proportion of the food.
The 3 categories are Carbohydrates (Carbs), Protein & Fats. Each of these have different roles in the body.
Carbs: Carbs are our quick burning fuel. They are broken down quickly into fuel for the body and are also used quickly. Some is stored as glycogen in the liver and muscles for quick fuel later on and then any excess is stored as fat - that's why we don't want to eat too many starchy carbs! Carbs come from fruit & vegetables (the best kind of carbs) as well as grains, legumes and sweeteners. We want to be eating mainly whole fruits & vegetables as our carbs as the fibre helps to slow the impact of the carbs on our blood sugar and also provides great food for our healthy gut bugs.
Proteins: Proteins are broken down into amino acids and are used as building blocks for muscles, neurotransmitters & hormones. Proteins are also a great source of long-lasting fuel which will help you stay full and energetic for longer. There are some amino acids that are essential - this means our body can't make these and we need to get them from our food. Animal foods are complete protein sources which provide the whole range of amino acids in a very bioavailable form unlike plant sources which only provide some amino acids and are harder for our body to utilise.
Fats: Fats are a great source of long-lasting fuel as well as providing the building blocks for cell membranes & hormones. There are 3 types of fat - monounsaturated, polyunsaturated and saturated - our body needs a variety of each of these fats in proportion for proper healthy and function. Choose fats with as little processing as possible (think avocado, fat from meats, nuts & seeds) and avoid highly processed seeds oils where possible - these create huge amounts of inflammation in the body. Mostly importantly - fat also makes our food taste great!
So, make sure you choose a variety of foods, with as little processing as possible. Everyone is different but a great place to start would be approximately:
40% carbs - from mostly non-starchy veggies & fruit
30% protein
30% fat
Give it a go and see how you feel! Drop a 🔥below if you're keen to give it a go!!
