13 May What is a Macro?
Last week, we talked about food groups and the outdated (but still helpful) food pyramid. Today, I would like to share about another way that foods get categorized. Macronutrients, A.K.A. macros. There are three of them: carbohydrates, protein, and fat. Together, they provide the “macro” which is a “large” part of the “nutrients” our body needs. Along these lines, macros also tag team nourishing our body with micronutrients, which we’ll discuss next time.
For an in-depth explanation of each macronutrient, here is a fantastic article by Registered Dietitian Laura Ligos.
One thing to highlight, alcohol does not fall into the essential nutrient category that macros and micros provide. Rather, alcoholic beverages are considered “empty calories” since they don’t provide nutrition to our body. For awareness sake, I want to share the caloric breakdown of macros and alcohol because this is the part where we realize how and why alcoholic drinks add up quickly and can work against our health and fitness goals.
Carbohydrates: 1 gram = 4 calories
Protein: 1 gram = 4 calories
Fat: 1 gram = 9 calories
Alcohol: 1 gram = 7 calories
That is all for now. Jot down any questions you have about macronutrients and feel free to send them to victoria@coremotion.fitness.
By Victoria Emmitt RD
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