What are macronutrients? Macronutrients are nutrients that provide our bodies calories or energy.
The 3 macronutrients are, carbohydrates, protein and fats. They are considered energy nutrients because they all provide carbon, which can be burned for energy production.
Most carbohydrates provide 4 calories of energy per gram. Some types of fiber, which is a type of carbohydrate found in many plant foods, provide 2 calories of energy
per gram, and sugar alcohols, which are also a type of carbohydrate, provide 0 to 3 calories of energy per gram.
Carbohydrates mainly function as a source of energy, but they also have a few other functions. They spare protein from being used as energy,
which is important because protein has many other life-sustaining functions. Carbohydrates can also be stored as energy,
in the form of glycogen, which is an excellent storage form because it can be easily converted back to glucose and used for energy.
The body does have limited storage space for glycogen, about 2000 calories worth. And fiber, a type of carbohydrate which was mentioned earlier,
aides in digestion and some types of fiber act as a prebiotic, increasing the growth of good gut bacteria. For most individuals,
it is recommended that carbohydrates make up 45 to 65% of their diet. So, based on a 2000 calorie a day diet, this would be 900 to 1300 calories,
or 225 to 325 grams of carbohydrates per day. And some quality foods high in carbohydrates include fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, such as wheat,
corn, rice, oats and quinoa, to name a few. Now for protein. Protein provides 4 calories of energy per gram.
While protein can provide energy, it has many other important functions, as it helps to make up hormones, which are chemical messengers
that travel throughout the body coordinating complex processes that often involve the interaction of several organs.
Protein is also important in building and maintaining tissue. Which is why the protein requirement is higher for growing children and athletes.
Protein also makes up enzymes, which function as catalysts, which speed up the rate at which metabolic processes and reactions occur.
Protein also helps makes up antibodies, which fight against bacteria and viruses in the body, and transport proteins enable nutrients to go to the right tissues.
For most individuals, it is recommended that protein makes up 10 to 35% of their diet. So, based on a 2000 calorie a day diet, this would be 200 to 700 calories,
or 50 to 175 grams of protein per day. However, for athletes and extremely active people, this needs to be higher.
Some foods high in protein include animal meats such as beef, pork, fish and chicken, eggs and dairy products, and there are plenty of plant foods also
high in protein, such as many types of nuts, beans, and seeds. Now for fats. Fat provides 9 calories of energy per gram,
so more than double that of carbohydrates or protein. While fats provide quite a bit of energy, it has many other important functions,
it insulates the body, as there is a thin fat layer underneath the skin that keeps heat inside the body, maintaining proper temperature.
This layer also protects the inner core from extreme temperature changes. Fat also surrounds major organs and acts like a cushion,
absorbing shock from a sudden impact and it is needed to absorb certain vitamins. Vitamins a,d,e and k are fat soluble,
which means, without fat they could not be absorbed into the body. And certain fats have nutrients the body needs.
Essential fatty acids are fats the body cannot produce itself, so, we must get them from food. For most individuals, it is recommended that fat makes up
20 to 35% of their diet. So, based on a 2000 calorie a day diet, this would be 400 to 700 calories,
or about 45 to 75 grams of fat per day. However, it is recommended to minimize saturated and trans fats.
And some foods high in good quality unsaturated fat and essential fatty acids include fish oils, many types of nuts and seeds, and certain types of vegetable oils
such as olive oil and avocado oil.
Alright my friends, hopefully you got something out of this video, I do have more videos right there for you, till next time, I am outta here.