The key to a more happy and more productive life is to have well-balanced and good health.
We spend most of our time working and grinding to climb up the ladder to achieve our goals. Skills and new learnings are important to us to achieve these goals, but there is one more secret recipe that we may have overlooked along the way — keeping our bodies strong and energized.
Macronutrients are essential in reaching our goals as it will give us the strength we need for our daily lives.
In this blog, we will help you understand what macronutrients are and how it will help you lead a better and improved lifestyle.
What Are Macronutrients?
Macronutrients supply the body with a sufficient amount of energy to keep your body functioning and working how it should be. To make it simple, it is like a fuel that gas up your car’s engine to keep it running smoothly for the whole day. Without macronutrients, the body systems will become weak and fragile.
Macronutrients — the word “macro” meaning big — are the nutrients that should be taken in large amounts. That is why many diets — especially diets for those who work out often — heavily focus on foods that are high in macronutrients. There are three types of macronutrients: carbohydrates, fat, and protein.
Carbohydrates
One of the many misconceptions about carbohydrates is that they’re bad for your health. Prior to what many believe, carbs are actually the most important part of macronutrients. When a food rich in carbohydrates is ingested by the body, it turns into glucose or sugar that gives the body energy to work on everyday tasks.
Moreover, there are two types of carbohydrates — simple carbohydrates and complex carbohydrates.
Simple carbs can be found in foods that are easy to digest but provide a short amount of energy to the body. Simple carbs are not necessarily good for the body as they release too much sugar in a short period of time. This leads to more food intake to sustain the energy needed by the body.
Common foods that are rich in simple carbs are:
- White bread
- Table sugar
- Chocolates
- Soda
- Milk
Complex carbs, on the other hand, are the opposite. They take longer to digest, which allows them to provide stable and long-lasting energy to the body. Eating complex carbs is ideal for those who do heavy work since complex carbs keep the body energized for the whole day.
Food that is rich in complex carbs are:
- Beans
- Whole grain
- Vegetables
- Honey
- Oats
Fats
Fat — as much as weight-conscious people do not like it — are an important part of macronutrients because they serve as storage in case you run low on sugar. When you’re low on energy, the body burns stored fats to supply an adequate amount of energy to your body.
There are many types of fat that can be found in everyday meals. One of these types is the healthy unsaturated fats. These can naturally be found in foods like nuts and fish. Another type is saturated fat which can be either good or bad for your health. Saturated fats should be taken in a limited amount — up to 10% of your calories for a day. Too much saturated fat may increase cholesterol in the body which may trigger heart disease.
Lastly, trans fat is commonly found in your favorite “junk food” such as pizza, fried chicken, and other processed foods. These types of foods are unhealthy for the body as they may increase the risk of heart diseases and other health-related problems. In a study conducted by Harvard University, trans fats “contribute to insulin resistance, which increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Even small amounts of trans fats can harm health: for every 2% of calories from trans fat consumed daily, the risk of heart disease rises by 23%.”
Protein
Protein is an essential part of your diet because it provides muscle strength. This is because of its building blocks called amino acids. Amino acids are responsible for building and repairing body muscles and bones.
Many bodybuilders focus their diet meal plan on foods that are high in protein. These provide the energy and strength that help build their muscles to achieve their dream body.
Foods that are rich in protein are:
- Chicken
- Egg whites
- Nuts
- Dairy products
Why Does It Matter?
Now that we have explained what macronutrients are, you might ask the question “so what?” If you are still wondering what the importance of all these is, the answer is that macronutrients come with a lot of benefits.
Here are some of the benefits of following and knowing macronutrients:
Gives Energy to the Body
We don’t want to see you at the end of the finish line feeling exhausted. Knowing and understanding what food gives you the most macronutrients is important. This way, you could continuously end your work day with full energy and be able to do minor tasks when you get home.
Supplies Nutrients To Keep the Body Healthy
Nutrients are essential to keep your body moving. Macronutrient deficiencies can lead to diseases. That is why we highly recommend knowing how macronutrients affect the body to keep yourself healthy.
Strength Building
This may sound cliche, but this is one of the many benefits of macronutrients. They help you become strong and keep up with your current tasks — whether they require physical or mental strength. Moreover, macronutrients provide stronger muscles that will help your body to perform any tasks you need to do, no matter how strenuous they are.
Conclusion
Now that you are well-equipped with the knowledge on macronutrients, go ahead and reach your goals with great energy and confidence. It will be a long journey to keep track of the food you eat. There will be times that you will feel tempted to quit, but once you get the hang of it, we know that you will become the best version of yourself.
If you want to know more or simply want to level up your knowledge in macronutrients, just set an appointment with a professional, and they will provide meal plans that work for you!