Macros are the talk of the town in the diet world. But what are macronutrients actually? Listen to find out why we need them all!

You know how I feel about macros, and why I don't discriminate. But what about the science behind it? Listen in as we hear from a registered nurse and nutritionist all about why they are so important!

Mama Jenn is a registered nurse, has a dietetics (nutrition) degree and is passionate about empowering others to take ownership of their health. She runs Eating4E, a fun, informative YouTube channel for parents on how to get enough protein, calcium & vitamin D through a plant-based kid & adult diet and so much more in a delicious way. All in 10 minutes or less!

They talk about the 4 E’s: Eating for ETHAN/EVAN, Eating for ENERGY, Eating for ENVIRONMENT and Eating for EMPATHY. They encourage the “5 to stay alive” challenge of eating 5 or more servings of fruits & veggies per day. Join in on the fun & together create a sustainable future!

What are macros?

Macros are a short term for macronutrients. If we break up the word, macro means large and nutrient means nourishments. So basically, macronutrients are nutrients we need in large amounts.

The key to a macronutrient is that it has to provide calories. The three main categories are carbohydrates, protein and fat.

Carbohydrates and protein provide 4 calories per gram and fat has 9 calories per gram.

There are other things our body needs in larger amount, for example fiber however fiber doesn't provide calories so it isn't considered a macronutrient.

Why our body needs macronutrients and what they do

Without macronutrients our body would not function at it's best, and for some instances it wouldn't function at all. Here are the main functions for each of the macronutrients:

Protein

Protein builds and repairs muscle tissue. When we eat protein, we are getting amino acids. There are 20 total amino acids, eleven are made by body and nine of them we get through food.

We used to think that we had to combine foods in one meal to get complete protein in order to get the amino acids, but research now shows that our body is super smart and can grab what it needs from the different foods throughout the day, so that myth was debunked.

Protein is found in many foods, even plants. Some complete proteins are quinoa, edamame, hemp seeds, chia seeds and buckwheat.

While about 96% of our country does not have a protein issue (and instead a fiber issue), if you're concerned about your protein intake, a good rule of thumb (as stated by the physicians committee for responsible medicine) is take your weight in pounds and multiply by .36 (for kids it would be .45).

Fat

Fats insulate the body and helps with vitamin absorption. Vitamins A, D, E, and K are fat soluble so they need fat to absorb them.

The brain is 60% fat and therefore also needs fat. Omega 3-fatty acids are important for learning and memory.

However the types of fat you are eating is important. The best fats are mono and poly unsaturated fats, things like nuts, avocado, seeds, etc. Getting fats from whole foods is the goal.

Saturated fats should be avoided or eaten sparingly. They are directly linked to heart disease and promote build up of plaque. The number one food consumed in our country that is filled with saturated fat is cheese!