Nutrients can be broken down into two categories: Macronutrients and Micronutrients.
Macronutrients are proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. Micronutrients are the vitamins and minerals the body needs in small amounts. For macronutrients, the amount needed of each seems to be an ongoing debate. Do we go 30% fat, 30% carbohydrate, 40% protein? High protein, low carbohydrate? High protein, high fat? No fat, or what kind of fat? No carbohydrates? Zone, Paleo, Atkins, If It Fits In Your Macros? It can get rather confusing. Right now let’s just look at what we need for the body to sustain itself and grow muscle.
Amino acids are the building blocks of protein and provide the raw material for all proteins. Our bodies use protein to build muscle and maintain bone density and mass. It is also important for tissue (muscle) growth and repair. Protein from meats are known as complete proteins. They supply all the amino acids that the body can’t make on its own. These amino acids stack together and bond to one another to create muscle tissue. Research says that the body needs 50-60 grams of protein a day. But I believe that it varies …show more content…
Fruits, vegetables, breads, pastas, sugars, beans, milk and so forth. Now the carbohydrate has gotten a bad rap in the last couple of years. The old food pyramid put it as the base of its recommended daily allowance. What happened? People started getting fat, developing diabetes and a host of other ailments. But what most people don’t realize is that you NEED carbohydrates to function. They are essential for brain activity. Guess what? They are also needed to convert into energy. Does that mean you can wolf down bread and pasta and that will make you fast and smart? No, but every now and then, indulge. Be smart. Eat complex carbohydrates. These will fill you up and not have you get that sugar crash
Macronutrients are proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. Micronutrients are the vitamins and minerals the body needs in small amounts. For macronutrients, the amount needed of each seems to be an ongoing debate. Do we go 30% fat, 30% carbohydrate, 40% protein? High protein, low carbohydrate? High protein, high fat? No fat, or what kind of fat? No carbohydrates? Zone, Paleo, Atkins, If It Fits In Your Macros? It can get rather confusing. Right now let’s just look at what we need for the body to sustain itself and grow muscle.
Amino acids are the building blocks of protein and provide the raw material for all proteins. Our bodies use protein to build muscle and maintain bone density and mass. It is also important for tissue (muscle) growth and repair. Protein from meats are known as complete proteins. They supply all the amino acids that the body can’t make on its own. These amino acids stack together and bond to one another to create muscle tissue. Research says that the body needs 50-60 grams of protein a day. But I believe that it varies …show more content…
Fruits, vegetables, breads, pastas, sugars, beans, milk and so forth. Now the carbohydrate has gotten a bad rap in the last couple of years. The old food pyramid put it as the base of its recommended daily allowance. What happened? People started getting fat, developing diabetes and a host of other ailments. But what most people don’t realize is that you NEED carbohydrates to function. They are essential for brain activity. Guess what? They are also needed to convert into energy. Does that mean you can wolf down bread and pasta and that will make you fast and smart? No, but every now and then, indulge. Be smart. Eat complex carbohydrates. These will fill you up and not have you get that sugar crash