A Brief intro to Macronutrients – What are they?

Alright, here we go!

Let’s talk about the three amigos of nutrition: fats, carbohydrates, and proteins. They each have their own unique roles in the human body, and boy, do we need ’em. Let’s dive into the science behind the roles of fats, carbohydrates, and proteins in the human body.

Fats:

• Fats are an essential component of cell membranes and are used to build hormones and other signalling molecules in the body.
• They provide the body with a concentrated source of energy, containing 9 calories per gram compared to 4 calories per gram for carbohydrates and proteins.
• We have 2 types of Fats – Saturated and Unsaturated.
• Fats also help to insulate and protect the body’s vital organs and serve as a storage depot for fat-soluble vitamins.

Carbohydrates:

• Carbohydrates are the body’s primary source of energy, with the simple sugar glucose being the preferred fuel for the brain and other tissues.
• Carbohydrates are broken down into glucose, which is stored in the liver and muscles as glycogen for quick energy needs.
• Carbohydrates also play a role in regulating blood sugar levels, with the hormone insulin being released in response to elevated blood glucose levels.
• Think maximise recovery

Proteins:

• Proteins are the body’s building blocks, used to build and repair tissues such as muscle, skin, hair, and nails.
• Proteins are made up of amino acids, which the body can either make on its own (non-essential amino acids) or must obtain from the diet (essential amino acids).
• And let’s not forget that proteins are essential for all you fitness buffs out there who are looking to gain some muscle mass. You can’t spell “protein shake” without “gainz”, am I right?

In summary, fats, carbohydrates, and proteins each have unique roles in the human body, ranging from providing energy to building and repairing tissues. By understanding the science behind these macronutrients, we can make informed decisions about our diet to ensure we are getting the nutrients our body needs to thrive. Let’s start to make some educated gains on nutrition and the importance of performance outside the gym, not just the 3-5 hours we spend in it per week. There are still 163 hours outside we can make a real change.

Ginge x